The new Notion features just keep on rolling in. This latest lets you create dependencies between items in databases, directly from your timeline view. For those of you who may have used other project management software--this one will be a welcome introduction from the Notion team.

Let's take a closer look at how it works, and how you can start setting up your own dependencies in Notion.

How To Create Notion Timeline Dependencies

1. Open the database you want to work with and click on or create a 'Timeline' view;
2. Add an item (in this case a 'Task') to the timeline by clicking on the on the dates of the timeline you'd like to add to.
3. Hover over the right end of the item box and click on the '->o' icon to create a new item that is dependent on the original task.
4. Drag the icon into the timeline and drop it where you'd like to create the new item.
5. In the 'Dependencies' menu, name the dependency properties and specify the type of relationship between the two tasks.
6. Click into your new item and check its details to see which tasks it is blocking, and which it is blocked by. Your dependency is now live!

Step 1: Create a timeline view of your database

To get started, open the database you want to work with and click on or create a 'Timeline' view.

Step 2: Add an item to the timeline and give it a name

Next, add an item (in this case a 'Task') to the timeline by clicking on the dates of the timeline you'd like to add to. Give your task a name and any other details you want to include.

Step 3: Hover over the right end of the item box and click the '->o' icon

To create a dependency, hover over the right end of the item box and click on the '->o' icon.

Step 4: Drag the icon into the timeline and drop it where you'd like to create the new item

Now you can drag the icon into the timeline and drop it where you'd like to create the new item. A 'Dependencies' menu will then pop up where you can name the dependency properties.

Step 5: Name the dependency properties

In the 'Dependencies' menu, you can name the dependency properties and specify the type of relationship between the two tasks. For example, you can specify that one task is blocking another, or that it is being blocked by another.

Step 6: Check the details of your new item to see which tasks it is blocking, and which it is blocked by

To see which tasks are blocking or being blocked by others, click into your new item and check its details. You can see which tasks it is blocking, and which it is blocked by, in the 'Dependencies' section of the page. This is especially useful when you have filtered views of your timeline, but want to see the full details of all tasks that are blocked by or blocking a specific item.

Examples & When To Use It

Here are a few examples of how you might use timeline dependencies in Notion:

• Managing a project: If you're working on a project with multiple tasks, you can use timeline dependencies to see which tasks are blocking or being blocked by others. This can help you better understand the dependencies between your tasks and prioritize your work.
• Collaborating with a team: If you're working with a team, you can use timeline dependencies to see which tasks each team member is responsible for and how their work is interdependent. This can help you coordinate your work and ensure that all tasks are completed on time.
• Tracking progress: You can use timeline dependencies to track the progress of your tasks and see how they are moving through your workflow. This can help you identify any bottlenecks or delays in your process and take action to resolve them.

To get started with dependencies, take a look at the project management system template below and see if you can't add your own dependencies to the Project timeline 👀