Explain the problem as you see it
I'm actually surprised that other Tana users haven't suggested this as an idea yet, but for a long time, in Notion, for example, and also other PKM apps, a much-requested feature was the Gantt chart or Timeline view. This is a problem, because the currently available views are not a sufficient alternative (list, table, cards, tabs, calendar). A Gantt chart is an indispensable project management tool that illustrates task start and finish dates, milestones, dependencies between tasks, and assignees.
Why is this a problem for you?
In our industry of construction and project development of real estate projects, a Gantt chart is simply indispensable, because it is actually the only way to keep a good overview of the countless tasks and milestones, from large to small, different (sub) contractors, with emphasis on the interdependencies (think, for example: if the earthworks have not yet been completed, the foundation work cannot yet be started). The chart could be maintained in a separate application, but that would be double work, and it would of course be so convenient to enter all relevant data (interlinked) into Tana, but certainly also to retrieve it from it.
Suggest a solution
MS Project has traditionally been used in our industry, but personally, as indicated, I prefer all data in one application and that is why I am charmed by the timeline implementation of Notion, the necessary dependencies of which were only introduced fairly recently in Dec 2022: https://www.notion.so/help/guides/tasks-manageable-steps-sub-tasks-dependencies
In addition, I have experience with the implementation of ClickUp which is also quite good: https://clickup.com/features/gantt-chart-view
10 Comments
Also being in the construction industry I agree that this would be a massive improvement for project management
I'm in IT, but as a Programme and Project Manager, I fully support the idea of being able to display a GANTT chart or at least a timeline feature. Task dependencies, constraints, and all this is also crucial for my work and is why I can't use Tana as a team tool (I use it only as a personal task manager, which is already very good, but it could become much more).
I am not a big fan of Gantt charts, but currently run my business on ClickUp. I would say that their implementation is not great (sometimes if feels like they go for quantity of features rather than quality).
The specific problems I have with their implementation are
^^^ these push the Gantt features towards the realms of proper project scheduling tools, but I think a simplistic implementation purely for visualising timelines, whilst useful for comms purposes, are not so useful for functional utility
This has the bigger ask of dependencies - which I'd love to see. And a visual view of tasks would be great!
I also want a timeline view for those sequential tasks, especially the repetitive ones. (a gannt view could function as this in a pinch)
The more I use TANA the more I realise how useful dependencies would really be!
Absolutely, I'm 100% behind this idea!
Implementing a Gantt or Timeline view in Tana would be a game-changer. As someone who values efficient and effective project management, I see how crucial this feature is. It's not just about adding another view; it's about enhancing our ability to visualize project timelines, dependencies, and milestones in a way that's intuitive and integrated within our existing Tana workflow.
Having everything in one place, without the need to juggle multiple apps or platforms, would not only save time but also reduce the risk of errors. This feature would bring a whole new level of organization and clarity to complex projects, which is something I believe many of us in the community have been longing for.
I wholeheartedly support this feature and can't wait to see it come to life in Tana!
Let's make project management smoother and more seamless for everyone!
Would love a "year" calendar view, similar to the roadmap timeline in Linear.
I've added a separate "idea" for dependency management that is closely related to this idea. Consider upvoting it if you upvoted this.
https://ideas.tana.inc/posts/490-new-semantic-function-dependency-of
Implementing a "Dependency of" function, along with corresponding search operators and potential integration with field value functions for automatic status updates, could transform how users manage tasks in Tana. It would allow for more sophisticated and dynamic task management, better suited to the complexities of modern projects and workflows.
Given the potential benefits for project planning, task prioritization, and workflow automation, your idea certainly merits consideration and, arguably, an upvote from those looking to enhance their project management tools. It addresses a tangible need for better task dependency management in a way that could streamline workflows and improve productivity.
Asana, also graph-based, has implemented this beautifully. I would love to see this in Tana. Especially if we also can see dependencies, connecting the nodes (projects).