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

# Plan project schedules with the Gantt timeline

> Visualize all active projects on a shared Gantt timeline, add phases and milestones, drag to reschedule, and share the schedule with clients.

The Timeline view gives you a Gantt-style overview of every project laid out across a single calendar. You can see which jobs overlap, spot scheduling conflicts before they become problems, and share a live schedule with clients without exporting anything.

## Opening the timeline

1. Select **Projects** in the sidebar
2. Click **Timeline** in the view switcher at the top of the page

Each project appears as a horizontal bar spanning its start and end dates. Bars are color-coded by project status so you can read the board at a glance.

## Navigating the timeline

* **Scroll horizontally** to move forward or backward in time
* **Zoom controls** let you switch between week, month, and quarter views
* **Click a project bar** to open the project detail panel without leaving the timeline

## Adding phases, milestones, and tasks

Open a project from the timeline and go to the **Timeline** section to add structure:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a project">
    Click the project bar on the timeline or navigate to the project from **Projects > All Projects**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to the Timeline section">
    Select the **Timeline** tab within the project.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a phase">
    Click **Add Phase**, enter a name, and set start and end dates. Phases group related tasks visually on the Gantt.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add milestones">
    Click **Add Milestone** within a phase. Milestones appear as diamond markers on the project bar and are useful for marking client-facing checkpoints like permit approval or substantial completion.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add tasks">
    Click **Add Task** under a phase. Set the assignee, start date, and due date. Tasks appear as sub-bars nested under their phase.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Timeline items are directly linked to the project's task list. Adding a task from the timeline creates it in **Project > Tasks** with the same dates and assignment. Changes made in either view stay in sync.
</Note>

## Setting start and end dates

Set or update dates directly on the timeline:

* **Drag the bar edges** left or right to extend or shorten the duration
* **Drag the full bar** horizontally to shift the start and end dates together
* **Click the date fields** in the project detail panel to type a specific date

<Tip>
  Set realistic buffer time between phases. The timeline makes it easy to see when phases are back-to-back, which is often the source of schedule slippage.
</Tip>

## Dependencies

Link tasks so that one can't start until another finishes. On the timeline, hover over a task bar to reveal the dependency handle on its right edge, then drag to the task it must precede.

When you reschedule a predecessor task, dependent tasks shift automatically to maintain the gap.

<Warning>
  Circular dependencies — where task A depends on task B and task B depends on task A — are not allowed and will be flagged when you try to save.
</Warning>

## Spotting conflicts and managing capacity

The shared timeline shows all active projects in one view, which makes it straightforward to identify:

* **Overlapping projects** that stretch your crew across too many jobsites at once
* **Back-to-back milestones** that leave no buffer if a phase runs late
* **Gaps in the schedule** where you have capacity for new work

## Sharing the timeline with clients

Clients can view a read-only version of the project timeline through the client portal. To share:

1. Open the project
2. Go to **Share > Client Portal**
3. Toggle **Timeline** on under the sections to include
4. Copy the portal link or send it directly from the app

Clients see the timeline in a simplified view — phases and milestones only, without internal task assignments or cost details.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Projects" icon="folder-open" href="/projects">
    Manage tasks, budgets, and documents on individual projects.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Calendar" icon="calendar" href="/tools/calendar">
    Day-by-day view of scheduled work across all sites.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>