Predecessors - Auto populate dependencies

Thomas Griffin

I am looking for a way to Auto populate/adjust Dependency length on my predecessors.

To further explain:

I have my projects setup with multiple Widgets. Each widget starts based off a lag time from the start of the widget before it. IE:

This is representing that mod 1 and 2 start on the same day, and mod 3 and 4 start on the same day, one day later than mods 1 and 2.

What I am wanting to be able to do it "auto" set the dependancy amount (IE: 1d) to be able to adjust for run rate differences of production. The current picture shows a 2/day start rate of the widgets. If i want to change it to 3/day or 1.5 a day, etc. currently I am needing to manually re-enter each cell, as the run rate pace adjusts.

The only way I have come up with to make this quicker, is to do an average for dependencies (IE 2/day creates an @rowSS=.5) and then do a CTRL F search and replace for all ".5" and change them to something like a ".33" for a 3/day run rate.

This is still a manual edit, and it also creates unevenness and doesn't keep an even pace of "Starts". It also requires to still put EVERY single predecessor row# in on the original setup, which can be hundreds of rows. So I am stuck Typing 883SS+.5, 884SS+.5, OR the 882SS, 883SS+1, ETC.

IS there a way to set a run rate of "SS" dependencies, and then have each rows predecessor look at the cell above it in the date column, to automatically know-then populate- the correct row/predecessor. Much like we can do if we had a formula looking at a certain cell, and just drag the formula down, auto filling the formula into the predecessor column?

Thanks in advance,

Thomas

Alejandra

Hi @Thomas Griffin,

At this time it's not possible to auto-populate the predecessor column or to create a formula inside of the predecessor column (when dependencies are enabled). When you have a moment, submit a Product Enhancement Request to let our Product team know that you'd like to have this functionality in Smartsheet. 

If needed, more information on this can be found in our help article: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/765737-project-sheet-columns-start-date-end-date-duration-complete-and-predecessors