> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.nextedy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure Link Lag and Delay

> Add lag (delay) or lead (overlap) time between dependent tasks in Nextedy GANTT so that a successor starts a specified number of days after -- or before -- its predecessor finishes.

export const LastReviewed = ({date}) => {
  if (!date) return null;
  const formatted = new Date(`${date}T00:00:00Z`).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
    year: "numeric",
    month: "long",
    day: "numeric",
    timeZone: "UTC"
  });
  return <p className="mt-10 text-sm text-gray-400 dark:text-zinc-500 not-prose">
      Last reviewed on {formatted}
    </p>;
};

## Prerequisites

* Advanced dependency types enabled (`nextedy.gantt.default.advanced_dependencies=true`)
* The `gantt_dependency_metadata` custom field exists on your work item types (see [Dependency Metadata Storage](/gantt/guides/dependencies/dependency-metadata))

## How Lag Works

Each dependency link carries an optional **lag** value measured in days:

| Lag Value             | Effect                                                             |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `0` (default)         | Successor starts immediately per the dependency constraint         |
| Positive (e.g., `2`)  | Successor is delayed by 2 days after the constraint is met         |
| Negative (e.g., `-1`) | Successor can start 1 day before the constraint is met (lead time) |

Lag is stored alongside the dependency type in the `gantt_dependency_metadata` custom field on the work item.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/none-17b4493f/Jklvz9qm2AdmIvBG/gantt/diagrams/guides/dependencies/link-lag/diagram-1.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=Jklvz9qm2AdmIvBG&q=85&s=606f8287cae61918ce64bcebf6e542bc" alt="diagram" style={{ maxWidth: "480px", width: "100%" }} width="480" height="120" data-path="gantt/diagrams/guides/dependencies/link-lag/diagram-1.svg" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Edit the Lag Value">
    1. Enter **Edit mode** on the Gantt chart.
    2. Double-click a dependency link arrow between two tasks to open the link editor.
    3. Set the **Lag** field to the desired number of days. Use a positive number for delay or a negative number for lead time.
    4. Click **Save** to apply the change.

    <Info title="Verify in application">
      The exact UI for editing lag may vary by Gantt version. If double-clicking the link arrow does not open an editor, check that your Gantt version supports lag editing.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Lag Persistence">
    After saving, reload the Gantt page. Hover over the dependency link arrow to see a tooltip displaying the link type, role name, and lag value.

    <Warning title="Lag values may reset on older versions">
      Some earlier Gantt versions had an issue where lag values were not persisted correctly and would reset to 0 on page refresh. If you experience this behavior, update to the latest Gantt version and verify that the `gantt_dependency_metadata` custom field is properly configured.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Combine Lag with Auto-Scheduling">
    When [auto-scheduling](/gantt/guides/scheduling/configure-auto-scheduling) is enabled, the Gantt takes lag into account when calculating successor start dates. A Finish-to-Start link with a lag of 3 means the successor will be scheduled to start 3 working days after the predecessor finishes.

    <Tip title="Use negative lag for overlapping tasks">
      If two tasks can partially overlap -- for example, testing can begin 2 days before development finishes -- set a negative lag value (e.g., `-2`) on the Finish-to-Start dependency link between them.
    </Tip>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Verification

You should now see:

* The lag value displayed in the dependency link tooltip
* The successor task bar shifted by the specified number of days relative to the predecessor
* Lag values preserved after saving and reloading the Gantt chart

## See Also

* [Configure Advanced Dependency Types (FS, SS, FF, SF)](/gantt/guides/dependencies/advanced-dependency-types)
* [Dependency Metadata Storage](/gantt/guides/dependencies/dependency-metadata)
* [Configure Auto-Scheduling](/gantt/guides/scheduling/configure-auto-scheduling)
* [Create and Configure Dependency Links](/gantt/guides/dependencies/create-dependency-links)

<LastReviewed date="2026-07-02" />