Cross-Project Links

Information

• Cross-project (external) links connect the tasks of different projects.
• They work in the same way as links within a project. You can define any type of link (SS, FS, SF, FF), time intervals, as well as fixed and soft links.

• Cross-project links can be created, edited, and deleted just like regular relationships in the Schedule and Task modules.

Details

• In PLANTA project, cross-project (external) links are one of the three options for mapping dependencies between projects. The two other options are: to create direct dependencies between projects and external tasks. For further information on this, please click here.
• By linking projects via cross-project links (fixed and soft), of the respective projects an overall network plan of all projects involved will be created during the calculation of the respective project. Projects which have XP links to the project selected by the user are hence automatically included in the calculations. For further information, see Taking into Account of Cross-Project Links in the Calculation of Schedules.
  • For fixed cross-project external links, please note: If date changes are made in the source task, they directly affect the dates of the target task. If external links exist, it is therefore advisable to explicitly inform the project managers of the affected projects once changes are made to the source project.

Details

• In each project, all of its external links are visualized, both outgoing (from the respective project to another project) and incoming (from another project to the respective project itself)
  • the respective external link record is available in table view and is marked with the respective icon:

    

    for incoming cross-project links and

    

    for outgoing cross-project links.
  • in the Gantt chart,
    • the respective arrow will be displayed next to the respective task bar:

      

      for incoming and/or

      

      outgoing links. When you click on an arrow, the respective task will be expanded and the link line is marked.
    • and the respective arrow or both arrows (in case there are both types of external links) will be displayed next to the project bar. When you click on one of the arrows, all tasks of the project with external links will be expanded and the last link line of the schedule, which corresponds to the type of the arrow you have clicked on, will be marked.

Typical application in practice

• 1) The development of an important component may be a precondition for further tasks in other projects.
• 2) An important milestone, which is maintained on the highest project level, is a prerequisite for tasks in subprojects.

Create Cross-Project Links

Procedure

• Right-click on the required task in the Schedule module or right-click on the External links area heading in the Task module to open the context menu and select the Insert → External link context menu command.
  • In the new record, insert
    • the target project in the PR successor field for a new external link and select the target task in the Task field.
      • ThePR successor field is preset with the ID of the opened project by default.

Notes

• It is not possible to create graphical links to tasks in other projects.
• If the Cross-project links soft parameter is activated, only soft links to the tasks of external projects can be created.
  • To do so, the Soft links checkbox must be activated immediately after the project has been selected. Only then you can select tasks of the external project.

Edit Cross-Project Links

Information

• Every link can be edited in the respective fields of the table view by changing the required link parameters. The most important parameters are:
  • "FS" link type
  • Time Interval
  • Soft link

Delete Cross-Project Links

Procedure

• Mark the required link line in the Schedule or Task module.
• Click on the delete symbol in the toolbar.