Creating Gantt Tasks: Required Fields, Resources & Dependencies

📋 Creating Gantt Tasks: Required Fields, Resources & Dependencies
 

📘 Article Purpose

This article walks you through how to create tasks in Ontraccr’s Gantt Schedule—covering required fields, optional settings, and how to assign labor, materials, equipment, and dependencies.

➕ How to Create a Task

1. Navigate to any Gantt Schedule
2. Click the New button at the top
3. Choose Add Task
4. The Task Slider opens

🧠 You can also import tasks from a Microsoft Gantt (.mpp) file instead.

✅ Required Task Fields

You must complete the following fields to save a task:

• Task Name
• Start Date
• Duration (in working days)
• Color (can be blank, but a default color will apply)

The system will automatically calculate the end date based on the start date, duration, working days, and holidays.

🛠️ Optional Task Fields

📓 Notes

Add internal details or warnings

(e.g., “may be delayed due to supplier”)

📊 Progress %

Visual tracker on the Gantt bar

(e.g., set to 25% if task has just started)

🏷️ Label

Choose from task status labels

(e.g., “Not Started”, “Delayed”)

Can be customized under Settings > Labels > Gantt Labels

📆 Actual Start / End Dates

• Use these if the task begins or ends later or earlier than planned

👷 Expected User Groups

Add requirements by role or label

(e.g., “Need 2 Carpenters, 1 Supervisor”)

👤 Assigned Users

• Directly select specific users for the task
• Skips the need for expected groups

📦 Materials

• Click Manage Materials to add items from your Materials Database
• Specify quantities needed for the task

🏗️ Equipment

• Select equipment items from your Equipment Database

🔗 Dependencies

Parent Dependency

• Select another task that must be completed before this task starts

Child Dependency

• Select tasks that depend on this one

🔄 Dependencies help you sequence tasks correctly and identify blockers.

💰 Cost Code

• Link the task to a cost code from your global or project-specific list
• Helps with project costing and reporting

🧠 Tips for Task Creation

• Add labels and colors to organize work types visually
• Use expected user groups when the labor isn’t assigned yet
• Track progress directly on the timeline using progress %
• Sequence high-risk tasks with dependencies to prevent scheduling conflicts

🧭 Summary