Indefinite Lag Times?

Nick Noe

Hi, 

I am trying to set up some predecessor relationships between tasks that don't have a definite lag time associated with it. I just need the relationship to require Task A to wrap up before Task B. Task B doesn't need to start immediately after Task A is done, but it CAN NOT start before.

For example, I am doing a building project, and I need to have the drywall hung and finished before the painters can get in. To me, it doesn't matter if the Drywall gets finished an hour before the painter shows up, or a week before, it just has to happen in that order. I'd like Smartsheet to guard against my process going out of order, but also want the flexibility to move stuff around as needed to manage multiple projects concurrently. 

I'd like to be able to tie one task to the one it proceeds, but need the flexibility to link them without knowing the exact lag time.

Currently, I find myself abandoning predecessors in these situations but worry it's going to get me out of order sooner rather than later. 

 

Thanks. Hopefully I'm just overlooking something obvious. 

 

-Nick

Paul Newcome

Try working backwards. Instead of Task B cannot start until after Task A, set your predecessors and whatnot to say Task A must be complete before Task B.

 

Setting your end date and then working from there means that you will have what essentially amounts to the absolute latest something can be done to keep on track.

 

This way if Task A finishes up early, it won't move everything back because the start for Task B is based off of the End Date minus the Duration.

 

I hope all of that makes sense...

Nick Noe

Thanks Paul. This makes some sense to me, and an approach I can noodle with. I'll reply back on this thread if it's not working, but after reading through this a couple of times I feel like I'm picking up what you're putting down. 

Paul Newcome

Happy to help! 

 

Definitely let me know if you can't get it working, and I'll try to explain in a different way.