---
title: "Creating Gantt Tasks: Required Fields, Resources & Dependencies"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/creating-gantt-tasks-required-fields-resources-dependencies"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-06-26T17:44:24.078Z"
---

# 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.

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## **➕ 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.

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## **✅ 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.

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## **🛠️ Optional Task Fields**

### 📓 Notes

Add internal details or warnings

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

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### **📊 Progress %**

Visual tracker on the Gantt bar

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

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### **🏷️ Label**

Choose from task status labels

(e.g., “Not Started”, “Delayed”)

Can be customized under **Settings > Labels > Gantt Labels**

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### **📆 Actual Start / End Dates**

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

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### **👷 Expected User Groups**

Add requirements by **role** or **label**

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

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### **👤 Assigned Users**

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

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### **📦 Materials**

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

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### **🏗️ Equipment**

-   Select equipment items from your **Equipment Database**

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### 🔗 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.

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### **💰 Cost Code**

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

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## **🧠 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

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## 🧭 **Summary**

| Field Type | Examples / Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| Required | Name, Start Date, Duration, Color |
| Scheduling | Actual dates, Dependencies |
| Resource Planning | Users, Labels, Materials, Equipment |
| Visibility | Notes, Labels, Progress, Cost Code |