> ## 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 Multiple Plan Levels

> This guide explains how to display a multi-level plan hierarchy in the Nextedy GANTT Plans Gantt widget, showing releases, iterations, and work items together.

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}
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};

## Understanding the Plan Hierarchy

A typical multi-level setup looks like this:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/none-17b4493f/umKaPvHwUHw-ZQFM/gantt/diagrams/guides/plans/plan-level-configuration/diagram-1.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=umKaPvHwUHw-ZQFM&q=85&s=5a5250297e6bb85313110464eb91551a" alt="diagram" style={{ maxWidth: "360px", width: "100%" }} width="360" height="340" data-path="gantt/diagrams/guides/plans/plan-level-configuration/diagram-1.svg" />
</Frame>

The Plans Gantt widget displays Polarion Plans as first-class task bars. By configuring the **Load Children** parameter and **Work Item Types Configuration**, you control how many levels of the hierarchy are visible.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Configure the Plans Dataset">
    Open **Widget Parameters > Plans Dataset** and set up a dataset filter to select the top-level plans. For example, filter by template to show only Release plans:

    * Set the Plans dataset to show plans with **Template: Release**

    This defines the first level of the hierarchy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Load Children Depth">
    Navigate to **Widget Parameters > Load Children** and set the number of sub-plan levels to load:

    | Load Children Value | Levels Displayed                                                            |
    | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | `0`                 | Top-level plans only (e.g., Releases)                                       |
    | `1`                 | Top-level + one child level (e.g., Releases + Iterations)                   |
    | `2`                 | Top-level + two child levels (e.g., Releases + Iterations + Sub-iterations) |
    | `3`                 | Three levels of nested plans plus work items                                |

    For a typical Release > Iteration > Work Package structure, set **Load Children** to `2` or `3`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Plan Types">
    In the **Plan Types Configurations** section of the widget parameters, define which plan template types you use and their hierarchy:

    1. Add each plan type (e.g., Release, Iteration)
    2. For each child type, specify which plan types are allowed as parents
    3. Plans do not use dependency link roles -- only parent-child relationships apply
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Work Items Under Plans">
    To show work items beneath their parent plans, scroll to the **Show Plan Work Item** section:

    1. Set **Enable Show Items** to `Yes`
    2. Configure the **Data Mapping** fields:
       * **Start Field** -- the work item field used for task start dates
       * **End Field** -- the work item field used for task end dates
       * **Duration Field** -- the work item field for duration
       * **Progress Field** -- the work item field for completion percentage
       * **Parent Role** -- the link role defining parent-child relationships between work items
       * **Dependency Role** -- the link role for dependency links between work items
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Work Item Types">
    In the **Work Item Types Configuration** section, add entries for each work item type that should appear under plans:

    * Set the **Item Type** for each type (e.g., Work Package, Task)
    * Configure the **Gantt Presentation Mode** (Item, Derived Schedule, Milestone, or Auto-Mode)
    * Set **Parent Mode** to control hierarchy placement

    <Warning title="Dependency links apply to work items only">
      Plans do not support direct dependency links. Dependency links only apply between work items. If you need scheduling dependencies at the plan level, manage them through work items within those plans.
    </Warning>

    <Warning title="Work item creation is limited to the lowest plan level">
      Currently, you can only create new work items at the lowest displayed plan level. If you need to add items at different plan levels, use separate Gantt widget instances configured for each level.
    </Warning>

    <Tip title="Use page parameters for level toggling">
      If you need to switch between viewing different plan levels, configure a page parameter that controls which plan template the dataset filter uses. This lets you toggle between Release-level and Iteration-level views without editing the widget configuration.
    </Tip>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Verify

After applying the configuration, reload the Gantt chart. You should now see your plan hierarchy displayed with the correct number of levels -- releases at the top, iterations nested beneath them, and work items under the iterations. Expand and collapse plan nodes to navigate the hierarchy.

## See also

* [Set Up a Plans Gantt Chart](/gantt/getting-started/setup-plans-gantt)
* [Show Plans and Work Items Together](/gantt/guides/plans/plans-and-work-items)
* [Sync Work Item Dates to Plans](/gantt/guides/plans/sync-to-plans)
* [Configure Page Parameters](/gantt/guides/layout/page-parameters)

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