Create, Edit, and Delete Links

Information

• Links are dependencies between tasks that (can) have an effect on the calculated dates.
• PLANTA project distinguishes between three link types: internal links, external links, and external tasks. Here, internal and external links have an immediate impact on the calculation of dates. external tasks are of informative nature and only show dependencies.

Note

• There can be multiple links between two tasks. In the calculation of the schedule, the most unfavorable relationship takes effect, i.e. the link that causes the latest start date.

Details

• Links can be created, edited, and deleted in the following modules:
  • for projects in the Project Schedule module,
  • for programs in the Program Schedule module,
  • for individual tasks of a project or of a program in the Task module (task data sheet).
• Links can be created, edited, and deleted either in "table form" or graphically. When using the table form approach, link records are represented as lines which contain all parameters contained in the record (in F1 and F2 in the schedule and in the task core data), When using the graphical approach, links are represented graphically in the form of connecting lines between the task bars in the Gantt chart. The graphical option is not available in all modules and not for all link actions.

Internal Links

Information

• Internal links are links which connect tasks within a project/program.

Create Link

Internal links can be created both in table form or graphically

In table form

• in the project Schedule and program Schedule modules
  • To do so, right-click on the required task and select the Insert Link context menu command.
• in the Task module,
  • To do so, right-click in the module and select the Insert Link context menu command.

• Fill the following fields in the new link record:
  • Task successor
  • Link type (here the "ES" link type is preset by default).
  • Time interval (if required).
• Save and recalculate the schedule (by clicking on the calculation button in the toolbar).

Graphically in the project Schedule and program Schedule modules

• Move the mouse pointer to the bar from which a link is to be created (source bar). Instead of the mouse pointer, a cross will be displayed.
• Set the cross to the beginning or to the end of the source bar depending on which Link type you wish to create (e.g. for the Finish-Start relationship, set the cross to the end of the source bar).
• Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the beginning or to the end of the target bar depending on what link type you wish to create (e.g. for a Finish-Start relationship drag the mouse to the start of the target bar). As a result, a connection line between the two bars will be displayed.
• As soon as the destination bar is reached, the start position in the source bar and the destination position in the destination bar are marked by yellow arrows.
• Release the left mouse button. The new link will be created and will be visualized as a connection line.

Graphical editing of links in the Task module is not possible.

Edit Link

Information

• Every link can be edited in the respective fields of the table view by changing the required link parameters. The most important are:
  • Link type ( this parameter can also be changed in graphical view by right-clicking on the required link line)
  • Time interval
  • Soft link

Delete Link

In table form

• Mark the required link line.
• Click on the delete symbol in the toolbar.

Graphically

• Click on the required link line in the Gantt chart to have it highlighted.
• Then right-click and select the Delete link context menu command.

Note

• You can only delete links graphically in particular module variants of the Schedule module (e.g. the Base variant).
  • If you try to delete a link in module variants in which graphical deletion is not allowed, the following message is displayed: Cannot delete in this area

External Links (Cross-Project Links with Impact on Schedule)

Information

• External links connect the tasks of different projects.
• They work in the same way as links within a project. You can define any type of link (SS, FS, SF, FF), time intervals, as well as fixed and soft links.

Details

• In PLANTA project, external links are one of the three options for illustrating dependencies between projects.
  • Two alternative options are: Dependencies between projects and External Task
• By linking projects via cross project links (fixed and soft), a total network plan of all projects involved is created during calculation. Projects which have XP links to the project selected by the user are hence automatically included in the calculations. For further information, see here.
  • For fixed external links, please note: If date changes are made in the source task, they directly affect the dates of the target task. If external links exist, it is therefore advisable to explicitly inform the project managers of the affected projects once changes are made to the source project.

Typical application in practice

• 1: The development of an important component may be a precondition for further tasks in other projects.
• 2: An important milestone, which is maintained on the highest project level, is a prerequisite for tasks in subprojects.

Create external links

Notes

• It is not possible to create graphical links to tasks in other projects.
• If the Cross project links soft parameter is activated, only soft links to the tasks of external projects can be created.
  • To do so, the Soft links checkbox must be activated immediately after the project has been selected. Only then you can select tasks of the external project.

See also: Consideration of the cross-project links in the calculation of schedules

External Tasks (Cross-Project Links without Impact on the Schedule)

Information

• In PLANTA project, external tasks are one of the three options for illustrating dependencies between projects.
  • Two alternative options are: dependencies between projects and external links
• This function allows you to display tasks of another project in the schedule of a project/program.
• Milestones that are decisive for your own project can therefore be displayed and ensure clarity within the project.

Notes

• From a technical point of view, external tasks are links (links with activated External task parameter), but in contrast to the internal or external links, they have no effect on the dates of the own or dependent project. If one of the projects involved is calculated, the other projects are not automatically calculated as well (cf. Calculation of projects with external links).

The procedure for displaying an external task is identical in project and program schedules.

• Right-click on the required task.
• Select Insert External task from the context menu.
• Select the required project/program and the required task from the respective listbox.
  • The selected external task is displayed in the schedule of your own project/program.