Managing task dependencies

Unica Marketing Operations has several options for managing dependencies on tasks as new rows are added to the spreadsheet and existing rows are removed.

Normal: no dependencies are automatically created. If you need dependencies for the new tasks and stages, create them manually.

Sequential: insert the new task in an existing chain of tasks.

Parallel: insert a new task branch parallel to an existing chain of tasks.

Inserting tasks in sequence

Insertion in sequence makes the new task dependent on the task before it, and then makes all items that were dependent on that task dependent on the new task.

You insert a task in sequence when it can only start after the previous task has completed. For example, in the figure below, if task X cannot be worked on until task B has been completed, you insert task X in sequence.

Inserting tasks in parallel

Insertion in parallel makes the task dependent on the items (tasks or stages) that the task before it was dependent on, and makes the items dependent on the previous task dependent on the new task as well.

You insert a task in parallel when it can be worked on at the same time as another task. For example, in the figure below, if task X can be worked on simultaneously with task B, you insert task X in parallel.

Deleting tasks

Deleting a task removes the selected task from the chain, but re-links the two remaining segments of the chain together so that it is one continuous chain again.

When a task is deleted its dependents are made dependent on its dependencies before the deletion takes place. This preserves all sequential chains of dependencies.

Default and "last used" modes

To make adding a task as simple and consistent as possible, Unica Marketing Operations provides the following behavior.

The default mode is "in series;" when you begin an editing session, this is the insertion mode.

There is a "last used mode," remembered for each editing session. Once you select a mode from the menu, this mode is used each time you add a task during the remainder of your session.

For example, to add several tasks in parallel, you only need to select the in parallel mode once; then every time you insert another task, the system inserts it in parallel, unless you explicitly select another mode.