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Plan and execute projects with a deadline

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Asana gives you multiple time-based views so you can plan, track, and communicate your project schedule the way you prefer. Use Gantt or timeline to plan work with start/due dates and dependencies; use calendar to see upcoming deadlines at a glance. You can switch views anytime from a project’s view picker.

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When to use timeline

Timeline view works best for projects that have:

  • Multiple tasks with specific start and end dates
  • Dependencies between tasks (where one task must finish before another can begin)
  • Complex scheduling requirements
  • Need for visual project tracking and communication

How to use timeline

You can view timeline for a single project or a set of projects in portfolios. It works best when you add start and due dates, and task dependencies to visualize a schedule. Get started by clicking the Timeline tab in a project or portfolio.

Timeline view 

The timeline displays your tasks as bars, with the length representing the duration from start to due date. Tasks without dates won't appear in timeline view.

Adjust your timeline with drag and drop

Timeline view makes it easy to update your project schedule:

  • Drag task bars left or right to change start and due dates
  • Drag the edges of task bars to extend or shorten duration
  • Move tasks to different time periods by dragging them to new positions

Changes you make in timeline view automatically update the task details and sync across all project views.

Key Timeline features

Dependencies

Dependencies show which tasks rely on others to be completed first. When you create dependencies:

  1. Click on a task bar in timeline view
  2. Look for the dependency connector (small circle) at the end of the task
  3. Drag the connector to the task that depends on it
  4. A line will appear showing the dependency relationship
Note iconNote

When you complete a task with dependencies, assignees of dependent tasks receive notifications that they can begin their work.

Critical path

The critical path shows which tasks must be completed on time to avoid delaying your entire project.

  1. Click Options in the upper right
  2. Click Layout options
  3. Toggle on Highlight critical path
  4. Critical tasks will be highlighted in yellow

Critical path identifies which dependent tasks are crucial for project completion.

Milestones

Mark important project moments with milestones:

  1. Create a new task or select an existing one
  2. Click the task to open the task details
  3. Click the Mark as milestone option
  4. Milestones appear as diamond shapes on your timeline

Use milestones to highlight key deliverables, deadlines, or project phases.

Plan and communicate with Gantt

Gantt is a presentation-ready, time-based view that shows tasks as horizontal bars with start and due dates, durations, and dependencies—ideal for mapping how work fits together and communicating the overall plan.

  

How to use Gantt

  • In your project, switch the view picker to Gantt.
  • Set dates and sequence: Add start and due dates to tasks, then link tasks to create dependencies so you can see how changes cascade.
  • Adjust the plan visually: Drag bars to reschedule or extend durations as timing shifts; the chart updates in real time.
  • Highlight what matters: Use filters to focus the view..

Stay deadline-driven with Calendar

Calendar shows tasks on their due dates in an intuitive week or month layout—perfect for teams that plan around deadlines and upcoming milestones.

How to use Calendar

  • In your project, switch the view picker to Calendar (choose Week or Month).
  • Calendar displays tasks that have due dates, so you can scan near-term work and spot overloads or gaps.
  • Add or adjust quickly: Click a date to create a task with that due date; use filters to narrow what you see.
  • Coordinate and share: Use Calendar during standups, content planning, or events to align the team around what’s due when. 

Timeline vs. Calendar vs. Gantt

Timeline, calendar, and Gantt give you different insights and should be used for different purposes. They’re all project views, so you can always toggle between them, but here’s what to consider:

ConsiderView timeline if...View calendar if...View Gantt if…
DeadlineYour project has an end dateYour project is ongoingYou need to communicate a start-to-finish plan with durations and milestones
WorkflowYour project has dependencies and work happens in a certain orderTasks are more independent of each otherWork has multiple phases and complex dependencies you want to visualize and manage
ScheduleYou want to create a project’s schedule, and see progress towards itYou want to get a glimpse of work happening this week or monthYou want to present and adjust the full schedule (durations, overlaps, and potential slippage) at a high level
AudienceYou want to share the plan with executives, other teams, stakeholders on the projectYou’re looking at your own schedule in My tasks, or your team’s overall scheduleYou need to communicate the big picture to leadership or external stakeholders and call out milestones and dependencies

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Plan and Execute Projects in Asana with Timeline