Simon Sez IT

Online software training and video tutorials for Microsoft, Adobe & more

  • Course List
    • Adobe
      • Dreamweaver
        • Dreamweaver CC
        • Dreamweaver CS6
        • Dreamweaver CS5
        • Dreamweaver CS4
      • Flash
        • Flash CS5
      • InDesign
        • InDesign CS6
        • InDesign CS5
      • Photoshop
        • Photoshop CS6
        • Photoshop CS5
        • Adobe Photoshop CS4
      • Photoshop Elements
        • Photoshop Elements 2022
        • Photoshop Elements 2019
        • Photoshop Elements 2018
        • Photoshop Elements 15
        • Photoshop Elements 14
        • Photoshop Elements 13
        • Photoshop Elements 12
        • Photoshop Elements 11
        • Photoshop Elements 10
        • Photoshop Elements 9
        • Photoshop Elements 8
    • Microsoft
      • Access
        • Access 2019
        • Access 2019 Advanced
        • Access 2016
        • Access 2016 Advanced
        • Access 2013
        • Access 2013 Advanced
        • Access 2010
        • Access 2010 Advanced
        • Access 2007
      • Excel
        • Excel 2021 Advanced
        • Excel 2021 Intermediate
        • Excel 2021 Beginners
        • PivotTables for Beginners
        • Excel Dashboards
        • Advanced Formulas in Excel
        • Excel for Business Analysts
        • Advanced PivotTables
        • Power Pivot, Power Query and DAX in Excel
        • Excel 2019 Beginners (Mac)
        • Excel 2019 Beginners
        • Excel 2019 Advanced
        • Excel 2016 Beginners
        • Excel 2016 Intermediate
        • Excel 2016 Advanced
        • Excel 2013
        • Excel 2013 Advanced
        • Excel 2010 Beginners
        • Excel 2010 Advanced
        • Excel 2007
      • OneNote
        • OneNote Desktop and Windows 10
        • OneNote 2016
      • Outlook
        • Outlook 2019
        • Outlook 2016
        • Outlook 2013
        • Outlook 2010
        • Outlook 2007
      • Power Automate
        • Introduction to Power Automate
      • PowerPoint
        • PowerPoint 2021
        • PowerPoint 2019
        • PowerPoint 2016
        • PowerPoint 2013
        • PowerPoint 2010
        • PowerPoint 2007
      • Project
        • Project 2019
        • Project 2019 Advanced
        • Project 2016
        • Project 2016 Advanced
        • Project 2013
        • Project 2013 Advanced
        • Project 2010
        • Project 2010 Advanced
      • Publisher
        • Publisher 2013
      • SharePoint
        • SharePoint Online
        • SharePoint Foundation 2013
        • SharePoint Server 2013
        • SharePoint Foundation 2010
      • Teams
        • Microsoft Teams
      • VBA
        • Macros and VBA for Beginners
        • VBA for Excel
        • VBA Intermediate Training
      • Visio
        • Microsoft Visio 2019
        • Visio 2016
        • Visio 2013
        • Microsoft Visio 2010
      • Windows
        • Windows 11
        • Windows 10 (2020 Update)
        • Windows 10
        • Windows 8
        • Windows 7
        • Windows Vista
      • Word
        • Word 2021
        • Word 2019 Advanced
        • Word 2019
        • Word 2016
        • Word 2013
        • Word 2010
        • Word 2007
    • QuickBooks
      • QuickBooks
        • QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2022
        • QuickBooks Pro 2021
        • QuickBooks Online Advanced
        • QuickBooks Online
        • QuickBooks Canada
        • QuickBooks Pro 2020
        • QuickBooks 2019
        • QuickBooks 2018
        • QuickBooks Pro 2017
        • QuickBooks Pro 2016
        • QuickBooks Pro 2015
        • QuickBooks Pro 2014
        • QuickBooks Pro 2013
        • QuickBooks Pro 2012
        • QuickBooks Pro 2011
        • QuickBooks Pro 2010
        • QuickBooks Pro 2009
    • Web Development
      • AngularJs
        • AngularJS Crash Course
      • Dreamweaver
        • Dreamweaver CC
        • Dreamweaver CS6
        • Dreamweaver CS5
        • Dreamweaver CS4
      • Bootstrap
        • Bootstrap Framework
      • Html/CSS
        • HTML/CSS Crash Course
        • HTML5 Essentials
      • Python
        • Pandas for Beginners
        • Introduction to Python
      • Java
        • Java for Beginners
      • JavaScript
        • JavaScript for Beginners
        • jQuery Crash Course
      • MySql
        • MySQL for Beginners
      • PHP
        • PHP for Beginners
        • Advanced PHP Programming
      • XML
        • XML Crash Course
    • Data Analysis
      • Financial Modeling
        • Financial Risk Management
        • Financial Forecasting and Modeling
      • Alteryx
        • Introduction to Alteryx
      • Power BI
        • Power BI – Beyond the Basics
        • Power BI
      • Qlik Sense
        • Qlik Sense
      • R Programming
        • R Programming
      • Tableau
        • Tableau Desktop Advanced
        • Tableau Desktop
      • Python
        • Pandas for Beginners
        • Introduction to Python
    • Work Productivity
      • Google Sheets
        • Google Sheets for Beginners
      • Confluence
        • Introduction to Confluence
      • Monday
        • Getting Started in Monday.com
      • Asana
        • Asana for Employees and Managers
        • Introduction to Asana
      • Jira
        • Getting Started in Jira
  • For Business
  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Membership
    • About Us
  • Pricing
  • Free Resources
  • Sign In
  • Sign Up
Home > Microsoft Project > Linking Tasks in Microsoft Project

Linking Tasks in Microsoft Project

This Linking Tasks in Microsoft Project tutorial is Suitable for users of Project 2013/2016/2019.   

Objective 

Understand the different methods for linking dependent tasks to other tasks in Microsoft Project.  

Why do we link tasks in Project? 

In any large project or even small ones, you will need to link tasks together at some point to create an accurate project plan. Linking is the process of taking a dependent task or tasks and linking it to its predecessor.  

For example, if you are creating a project plan for a wedding and you have a task for ‘Book Caterer,’ you are going to need to know how many guests will be attending first to ensure you order enough food. Necessarily, the ‘Book Caterer’ task cannot start until the ‘Finalize Guest List’ task has finished.  

In this scenario, you would create a link between both tasks using the FS (Finish to Start) link type.  

There are 4 different link types you can choose when linking tasks.  

FS (Finish to Start) The dependent tasks start date is linked to the predecessor tasks finish date. 
SS (Start to Start)   The dependent tasks start date is linked to the predecessor tasks start date. 
FF (Finish to Finish) The dependent tasks finish date is linked to the predecessor tasks finish date. 
SF (Start to Finish)   The dependent tasks finish date is linked to the predecessor tasks start date. 

If you change the duration of a task that is linked to other tasks, Project will reschedule everything accordingly for you if you have Auto-Schedule mode turned on. If you have any constraints set on tasks, Project will prompt you before rescheduling.  

Video Tutorial 

To see Linking Tasks in action, please watch the following video tutorial.  

Method 

In this example, I will be using tasks that are part of a Wedding Plan.  

Linking tasks using the ribbon 

  1. Select the predecessor task 
  1. Hold down the CTRL key and select its dependent 
  1. From the Task tab, in the Schedule group, select Link Selected Tasks 

When you link tasks using this method, the default link type of FS (Finish to Start) will be applied. This is by far the most common link type. Once linked, the predecessor’s task number will appear in the Predecessors column next to the dependent task.  

The Gannt Chart will also update to show the link between the two tasks.  

Linking tasks using the drop-down menu (Project 2019 only) 

If you have Project 2019, there is an alternative way of linking tasks using the drop-down menu in the Predecessors column. This method does not require you to select both tasks before linking them.  

  1. Click in the Predecessors column for the dependent task 
  1. Click the drop-down arrow 
  1. Select the task you want to link to 

Linking multiple tasks 

You can link multiple tasks sequentially or non-sequentially.  

  1. Select the tasks you want to link 
  1. From the Task tab, in the Schedule group, select Link Selected Tasks 

To link non-sequential tasks, hold down the CTRL key when selecting.  

Unlinking Tasks 

You can unlink any linked tasks.  

  1. Select the tasks you want to unlink including the predecessor.  
  1. From the Task tab, in the Schedule group, select Unlink Selected Tasks. 

Changing the Link Type 

The default link type is an FS (Finish to Start) link. This means that the previous task must finish before the next task starts. This link type can be changed to an SS, FF or SF link type at any stage (see table at the top of this blog post for descriptions of each link type).  

  1. Select the tasks you want to change  
  1. From the Task tab, in the Properties group, select Information 
  1. From the Task Information dialog box, click the Predecessors tab 
  1. Select the desired link type from the Type drop-down menu 

Alternatively, you can double-click on the link arrow on the Gannt chart and select a new type from the Task Dependency box.  

Rescheduling Linked Tasks 

If you are working in Auto-Schedule Mode and decide to change the duration of any linked task, Project will adjust the plan accordingly.  

In this example, I have changed the duration of the ‘Finalize Guest List’ task from 2 days to 3 days. The Gannt chart and the dependent tasks have been rescheduled, and the changed tasks are highlighted in blue, so it is easier to see which tasks have been affected by the change.  

This blue highlight will disappear when you save the project plan.  

For more information relating to linking tasks in Microsoft Project, please check out the following links: 

Microsoft – Link tasks in a project 

Sensei Project Solutions – Quickly and Easily Create Cross-Project Dependencies 

For more free training resources on Microsoft Project take a look at:

  • Free Microsoft Project Training Course
  • Microsoft Project 2019 – Ribbon and Toolbar
  • How to Open an MPP file without Microsoft Project

Take a look at the full range of Microsoft Project courses available from Simon Sez IT.

Deborah Ashby

Deborah Ashby is a TAP Accredited IT Trainer, specializing in the design, delivery, and facilitation of Microsoft courses both online and in the classroom. She has over 11 years of IT Training Experience and 24 years in the IT Industry. To date, she's trained over 10,000 people in the UK and overseas at companies such as HMRC, the Metropolitan Police, Parliament, SKY, Microsoft, Kew Gardens, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. She's a qualified MOS Master for 2010, 2013, and 2016 editions of Microsoft Office and is COLF and TAP Accredited and a member of The British Learning Institute.

30 day vertical banner

Most Popular Posts

  • How to Insert a Checkbox in Excel? 3 EASY Examples
  • How to Autofit Excel Cells? 3 Best Methods
  • XLOOKUP Google Sheets – 4 Best Alternatives!
  • Dashboards in Excel Using Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts and Slicers
  • Free Microsoft Project Training Course
  • Free Microsoft Access Tutorial for Beginners (3.5 Hours Video)
  • How to Use Blending Mode With Layers in Adobe Photoshop Elements 15
  • How to Create Charts and Graphs in Microsoft Excel 2016

Similar Posts

How to Create an Invoice from an Estimate in QuickBooks Pro 2017

How to Superscript in Word? 4 Easy Methods

Basics of Formulas and Functions in Microsoft Excel 2016

How to Rotate Text in Excel? 3 Effective Ways

More Tips with PowerPoint 2010 Shapes and Pictures

How to Enter Data into a Microsoft Excel 2016 Spreadsheet

Course Categories

  • Web Development
  • QuickBooks
  • Microsoft
  • Adobe
  • Data Analysis

About Us

  • About Us
  • Free Resources
  • Affiliates
  • Become an Instructor

Products

  • Pricing and Plans
  • Business Pricing
  • Government Discounts
  • Non-Profit Discounts

Support

  • FAQ’s
  • Contact Us
  • DVD support

Connect

YoutubeFacebook
© 2022 Simon Sez IT, Inc.
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
888.817.6665 Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ET)