Why is only the last task marked in the critical path? Big Picture

[Roberto Alejandro Treviño Lozano]

[Anna-SoftwarePlant · Accepted solution]

Hi @Roberto Alejandro Treviño Lozano 

The critical path is the longest sequence of tasks that determines the project duration. This feature highlights all the tasks on the critical path with the red color. Please note that the issues marked as the critical path are only those which directly influence the project end date, whether they are linked or not. 

I would like to ask you which version of BigPicture you currently use? In the previous versions, the critical path was interrupted if any time gap appears between linked tasks.  In your case plugin saw the weekend as time available time, so the following issues were not included in the critical path.

In the latest BigPicture 8.0.8 version, this problem was fixed. Currently, the non-working days are do not affect the critical path calculation. This means that if there are two tasks with a dependency on the critical path and the predecessor ends before a non-working day, the App will move the successor to start on a first working day, and both will remain on the critical path. Please look at my image: a critical path is not disturbed despite the time gap between tasks. Best,
Anna of SoftwarePlant

[Roberto Alejandro Treviño Lozano]

I’m using the version provided in Trello

[Roberto Alejandro Treviño Lozano]

Thanks !

[kate_corcoran]

Please could you confirm what the criteria is for defining the critical path? I want to show the critical path across a series of milestones. I have added dependencies between the milestones (manual period) but they are not appearing on the critical path view. Please advise how to resolve, thank you!

[Anna-SoftwarePlant]

Hello @kate_corcoran 

The issues marked as the critical path are only those which directly influence the project end date, whether they are linked or not. 

To highlight the entire sequence, you must define dependency links between tasks. Only the strong links that impact scheduling will determine the tasks on the critical path.

Once you establish task dependencies, the App will automatically draw the Critical path. To display it, click on View > Critical Path. See my image as a reference. 


If you have further questions, I will gladly answer them. 

Best, 
Anna

[kate_corcoran]

Hi Anna, many thanks for your reply. I have added 'end to start' dependencies to the key milestones on the plan. The dependencies are showing in the gantt chart, but these are not showing on the Critical Path view - see screenshots attached. Please could you advise if there is anything I can do to resolve?

[Anna-SoftwarePlant]

Hi Kate, 
Could you please attach also a screenshot of the Gantt timeline View? Please check also if you have marked "Critical Path" in the View menu. Thank you!

[kate_corcoran]

Hi Anna, yes please find the screenshot of the gantt timeline view attached. Critical path is marked in the view menu. There are 6 milestones which need to show on the critical path, they are all connected with strong dependencies (end to start)

[Anna-SoftwarePlant]

@kate_corcoran

I cannot see all of your timeline, but I noticed that the project is underlined in red, which mean that the other task/milestone is on the critical path. By default on the critical path is an issue that directly influences the project end date. Can you please confirm that another task is on the critical path as on my screenshot below? 

[kate_corcoran]

Yes another milestone that should be showing on the critical path is the org design sign-off milestone. Many thanks