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Tasks, milestones & dependencies

This page covers the structure and scheduling elements of the chart: the task hierarchy and how it's ordered, milestone markers, and dependency arrows between tasks.

The task hierarchy​

The hierarchy comes from the Category field — each column is one level of nesting (see Fields → Category). This section covers how it's displayed and controlled.

Expand & collapse​

Every parent row has a toggle to expand or collapse its children. The state is remembered — if you collapse a project in editing and save, viewers see it collapsed. Collapse and expand state is also captured by Power BI bookmarks, so you can build guided views.

📷 Screenshot: The task list with one project collapsed and another expanded, showing the expand/collapse arrows.

Row numbers (WBS)​

Format → Project hierarchy → Row numbers

Turns on a Work Breakdown Structure number column to the left of the task list (e.g. 1, 1.1, 1.2, 2). Off by default.

Color swatches​

Format → Project hierarchy → Show color swatches

Shows a small color chip next to each project/parent name in the task list, matching its bar color. On by default.

Completion checkmarks​

Format → Project hierarchy → Show completion checkmarks

Shows a green checkmark next to tasks that are 100% complete (requires a Progress bar field). On by default.

📷 Screenshot: The task list with WBS row numbers on, color swatches visible, and a green checkmark next to a completed task.

Sorting tasks​

Format → Sort by

Controls the order of sibling rows within each level of the hierarchy.

SettingOptionsDefault
Sort byStart date · End date · Duration · Task name · Data orderStart date
DirectionAscending · DescendingAscending
  • Data order keeps the exact row order delivered by Power BI (for example, from the visual header's sort menu or a model "Sort by column").
  • Direction is ignored when sorting by Data order.

📷 Screenshot: The Sort by card open with the "Sort by" dropdown showing all five options.

Milestones​

Milestones are key dates plotted as markers on a task's row. Add one to five date columns to the Task milestones field (see Fields → Task milestones).

📷 Screenshot: A few task rows showing milestone markers of different shapes on the timeline.

Choose a symbol per milestone​

Format → Milestones → Symbols

Each milestone column gets its own symbol picker. Available symbols: Circle · Diamond · Square · Triangle · Star. This lets you distinguish, say, a "Review" milestone (diamond) from a "Go-live" milestone (star).

📷 Screenshot: The Milestones card expanded to the Symbols group, with a symbol dropdown open showing the five shapes.

Marker options​

Format → Milestones → Options

SettingWhat it doesDefault
Hide markers outside barsHides milestone markers that fall outside their task's start–end range.Off
Marker size (%)Size of markers as a percentage of task bar height (10–80%).30%

Dependencies​

Dependency arrows show that one task can't start until another finishes. They require two fields: Task ID and Predecessor ID.

Set it up​

  1. Add a unique identifier column to Task ID (e.g. 1, 2, 3).
  2. Add the predecessor column to Predecessor ID. Each value lists the IDs this task depends on, separated by commas or semicolons.
Task IDTaskPredecessor ID
1Discovery
2Design1
3Build2
4Launch2;3

Here "Launch" depends on both "Design" (2) and "Build" (3), so it receives an arrow from each.

📷 Screenshot: A Gantt with dependency arrows connecting Discovery → Design → Build → Launch, including the two arrows into Launch.

Style the arrows​

Format → Dependency lines

SettingWhat it doesDefault
ShowTurns dependency arrows on or off.On
ColorArrow color.#323338 (dark gray)
StyleSolid, Dashed, or Dotted.Solid
WidthArrow line thickness, 1–5 px.1 px
caution

Arrows only appear when both Task ID and Predecessor ID are populated and the IDs match. If an arrow is missing, check that the predecessor value exactly matches an existing Task ID and that IDs are unique.