How do I set up a workflow to notify someone if a predecessor task has been completed?

Grayson Gammill

I am currently trying to develop a project plan sheet, and I am wanting to be able to notify someone when the predecessor task was completed so they know they can start working.

For example if John has to do a Data Source Identification and validation but he can't do it till Mark has converted and cleaned up the data I want to be able to automatically notify John when Mark marks his conversion and data cleanse row as completed. How would I go about doing this?

Heather Duff

Hi Grayson! It looks like this topic has appeared a few times on the community. Here's one:

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/75593/formula-to-indicate-a-task-is-ready-because-predecessors-are-complete-solution

Heather Duff

I would sure hope that there's an easier way to do it, but I'm not sure there is. I'm going to play with it a little and see if I can come up with an alternative.

Thanks,

Heather

Min

I know it's been over a year since this question was posted but I recently found a simpler method that works my team.

Instead of trying to set up a complex formula, we add a "Successor Responsible" column next to the "Task Responsible" column. Then in the "Successor Responsible" column, we assign names of people who are in charge of the successor task. Doing this allows us to let WorkFlow inform the people in charge of the next task instead of those in charge of the current task.

For visual reference:

Hope this helps!

Keri

Love your suggestion, @Min , thank you!