Overview

Use dependencies to visually represent the relationships between work items on your roadmap. Linking work items as predecessors and successors allows you to show how work is sequenced and where dependencies may impact timing.

Showing Dependency Lines

To display dependency lines on the Gantt chart:
  • Click the View Settings icon (top-right toolbar, slider icon)
  • Enable Show Dependency Lines
Dependency lines will now appear between linked work items if both are present on the roadmap.

Screenshot of view settings menu

Customizing Dependency Line Appearance

To adjust how dependency lines look:
  • Click the Settings icon (gear icon in the top-right toolbar).
  • Open the Visual Styles section.
  • Configure the following:

    Line Color: Select a custom color.

    Line Style: Choose between Flowchart (right angles) or Bezier (curved).

Screenshot of visual styles menu

These styles apply to all dependency lines across the roadmap.

How dependencies work

Dependencies are based on Azure DevOps predecessor/successor links. As long as both linked items are on the roadmap, a line will appear between them.
  • Predecessor: The work item that must be completed first.
  • Successor: The work item that depends on the predecessor.
  • Configure the following:

    Line Color: Select a custom color.

    Line Style: Choose between Flowchart (right angles) or Bezier (curved).

If only one of the linked items is on the roadmap, you’ll see a link icon on the visible item instead of a line.

Viewing All Dependencies

To see all linked dependencies (even those not currently shown on the chart):
  • Click the link icon on the visible item.
  • A modal will open showing all predecessor and successor relationships for that item.

Screenshot of dependency modal

This allows you to track dependencies across the full network of work—even when some items are out of view.