How to prevent entire Gantt timeline from shifting when updating activity dates? (Float reduction instead)

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some guidance on how Smartsheet handles float and dependencies in a Gantt project schedule.

I’ve built a Gantt plan with several tasks linked through dependencies, and I can see the calculated float/slack between activities. When a small delay occurs on one activity, I update the start date to a later date. However, instead of Smartsheet reducing the available float for that task, the entire timeline after it shifts later — while the float value stays the same.

What I expected:

If I push a task’s start date later within its float, I would expect the float to decrease.

What actually happens:

Smartsheet shifts all dependent tasks forward automatically, keeping the float unchanged.

My questions:

* Is there a way to configure Smartsheet so that float decreases first, instead of shifting the whole schedule?
* Are there best practices for handling float in Smartsheet when updating activity dates?
* Has anyone else run into this, and how do you manage it in your schedules?

I’d really appreciate any insights, tips, or even examples of how you handle this in your own project plans.

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

Jeff_ry · Answer

Thanks for your kind support, Adrien.

I guess the critical path wont show correctly, but at least it is method to visualise buffers and be able to make changes.

Cheers

Jeff

Adrien Leduc · Answer

Right it needs a bit more work. On line 144 put 142, 143 as predecessors so both have to finish before it can start and on line 146 put 144, 145 for the same reason.

I believe if you change the start date of Activity 1 by less than 5 days it should "use" the buffer without moving the overall timeline. For activity 2 if it is late, you should change it duration or deadline, but if you want to change its start date, it's the deadline of the previous task (Activity 1) that you should change.

I think I get what you want but Smartsheet is not exactly built to work this way so this is the best I can think of right now.

Jeff_ry · Answer

Hi Adrien,

Thanks for your suggestion.

Could you please elaborate a bit more on your proposed solution? If I increase the duration to 25 days, how does that help in situations where changes occur later in the project?

Also, how would I adjust (delay) the start date of an activity without shifting the entire timeline? I understand this can be done manually, but I’m wondering if there is a more robust or “smarter” approach within Smartsheet.

What would you consider best practice in this case?