ProjectLibre Academy · Portfolio, Project & Views

Network Diagram

How the Network Diagram maps task dependencies and critical path, and how to edit, zoom and filter links there.

Tagline: See why the schedule hangs together — nodes, links, and critical path — before you commit to a deadline.

The Network Diagram is ProjectLibre Cloud’s flowchart of task logic. While the Gantt Chart shows when work happens, Network shows why — dependencies and sequence. Treat it as a dependency network rather than classic PERT estimating.

Watch: Network Diagram (~1:58) — primary UI walkthrough for this chapter.

Gantt = when · Network = why / logic

Open Network when you need to spot bottlenecks and inspect the project’s dependency “DNA” that a timeline can hide. Each task is a node; each dependency is a directed link. Colors and shapes explain critical path vs float and summary / task / milestone kinds at a glance.

Network Diagram full node map for New Project Network canvas — task nodes and dependency arrows (demo: New Project) — from Network Diagram

How to open — Project → Network

Open a project (demo title: New Project).
Left sidebar: expand Project (chevron).
Click Network (highlight / left accent when active).

Path: Project → Network. Peers under Project in this build: Gantt | Usage | Network | WBS.

Sidebar Project expanded with Network hover; WBS label visible Expand Project → hover/select Network (sibling WBS labeled) — from Network Diagram

Network view active in left nav Network active — flowchart workspace open — from Network Diagram

Nodes, shapes, and colors

Node fields on boxes include: task name, id, duration, start, and on Summary also finish.

Kind	Shape	Demo examples
Summary	Grey parallelogram	Summary (id 1)
Normal task	Rectangle	Design, Development, Document, Test
Milestone	Pointed / elongated hexagon	Rollout (id 6, duration 0d)

Color	Meaning	Typical demo nodes
Red / pink	Critical path	Design, Development, Test
Blue / purple	Non-critical (float)	Document, Rollout
Grey	Summary	Summary

Steady-state topology after restore: Design → Development and Document (parallel); both → Test → Rollout; Summary floats above with rolled duration.

Network red critical vs blue non-critical nodes Red = critical path · Blue = non-critical — from Network Diagram

Summary task as grey parallelogram on Network Summary = grey parallelogram with rolled duration — from Network Diagram

Network colors and geometric shapes together Colors + shapes on one canvas — from Network Diagram

Rollout milestone pointed hexagon shape on Network Milestone Rollout — pointed / elongated hexagon, duration: 0d — from Network Diagram

Edit dependencies — delete, drag-draw, type + lag

Delete a link

Click a dependency link (arrow between nodes).
Dialog Delete Dependency opens — copy: “Remove this link?”
Choose Cancel or Delete (red).
After Delete, the link is gone; dates/layout can shift (demo: Summary duration briefly dropped from 30d toward 25d).

Delete Dependency dialog Remove this link Delete Dependency — “Remove this link?” · Cancel | Delete — from Network Diagram

Draw / restore a link on the canvas

Drag from one node to another (demo: Design → Development).
While dragging, a bright pink arrow previews the link.
Drop on the successor → dependency created (default Finish to Start until edited).

Drawing pink dependency arrow Design to Development Drag-draw link — pink preview arrow Design → Development — from Network Diagram

Edit Task Dependency — type + lag

Click an existing link → Edit Task Dependency.
Review read-only Predecessor / Successor.
Set Dependency Type: Finish to Start (FS) · Finish to Finish (FF) · Start to Start (SS) · Start to Finish (SF).
Set Lag (Days) (demo: 0 → 2).
Click Save Changes (primary) — or trash Delete / Cancel.

Edit Task Dependency type menu FS FF SS SF Dependency Type menu — FS / FF / SS / SF — from Network Diagram

Edit Task Dependency Lag Days set to 2 Lag (Days) = 2 with SS selected — then Save Changes — from Network Diagram

Sync tip — Network Gantt

Gantt Predecessors column showing 2SS+2d after Network edit Back on Gantt — Predecessors 2SS+2d after Network edit — from Network Diagram

Zoom, Filter, and Field Configuration

Control	Where	Example
Zoom out / in / fit	Top-right Network toolbar	Zoom controls
Filter	Funnel icon	Tooltip shown; isolate critical paths — filter results not fully exercised
Gear / configure	Opens Field Configuration	Panel opens; Active Fields listed

Field Configuration : title Field Configuration; preset Default; section Active Fields with Manage +; fields include Name, ID, Duration, Start, Percent Complete; Cancel at bottom. For Active vs Available fields, see Gantt Field Configuration / Field Configuration.

Network zoom toolbar controls Network Zoom toolbar — from Network Diagram

Network Filter tooltip on funnel icon Filter tooltip — isolate critical paths

Field Configuration panel for Network node fields Gear → Field Configuration — Active Fields for node data — from Network Diagram

When to use Network vs Gantt

Prefer Network when…	Prefer Gantt when…
You need the web of dependencies / bottlenecks	You need dates, bars, baselines, assignments
Cleaning logic (click link → type / lag / delete / drag-draw)	Building day-to-day schedule and status
Stakeholders think in predecessors / successors	Stakeholders think in calendars and handoffs

Both stay in sync — switch freely via Project → Gantt / Project → Network. For schedule math (critical path, calendars, constraints) go deeper in Scheduling.

Watch the Network Diagram video

Network Diagram (~1:58) — open path, shapes/colors, delete link, drag-draw, Edit Task Dependency (FS→SS + 2d lag), Gantt sync, Zoom / Filter mention, Field Configuration.

Network Diagram closing overview Closing overview — logic sound before you commit to a deadline — from Network Diagram