Gantt: Connectors

Configure Gantt chart connectors to display task dependencies and relationships. Improve project planning by visualizing task flow, sequencing, and timeline impact.

What Are Connectors in Gantt Charts?

Connectors in Gantt charts visually represent dependencies between tasks.

In enterprise planning scenarios, projects will have multiple inter-dependencies. Connector lines show how tasks are linked, the sequence of work, and how delays in one task can impact the overall project timeline.

Gantt chart with connectors

Setup guide for connectors in Gantt charts

The Connect to, Connector type, and Connector ID data wells can be used to configure connectors in your Gantt charts. These fields have been highlighted in the sample dataset shown in the image.

Sample dataset for plotting connector lines

1. Connect to

This field is mandatory to plot connector lines. It identifies the predecessor task for the current task, i.e., the task that the current task depends on.

Plotting connector lines with the Connect To data well

2. Connector type:

Determine how the start or completion of one task affects another. In the images below, notice how the connector lines are plotted at the beginning or end of the progress bar based on the connector type.

Connector type - Finish Start (FS)

Connector type - Finish Finish (FF)

Connector type - Start Start (SS)

Connector type - Start Finish (SF)

Connector Type	Description
FinishStart (FS)	The task can begin only after the predecessor task is completed.
StartStart (SS)	The task can start only after the predecessor task has started. Both tasks may run in parallel.
FinishFinish (FF)	The task can finish only after the predecessor task has finished. The tasks may start at different times but complete together.
StartFinish (SF)	The successor task can finish only after the predecessor task has started.

3. Connector ID

Uniquely identifies each dependency. In this example, we have 'UI/UX' subtasks under the 'Design' and 'Requirements' tasks - adding a connector ID ensures that the dependency is plotted correctly. Notice how the Task ID is used in the Connect To field instead of the subtask name.

Using connector IDs

Map the Connector ID field to ensure dependencies are plotted accurately even if the task/subtask descriptions change in the source.

Mapping connector IDs