---
title: "Lag time."
canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/DLP/298192950/Lag%20time."
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)

## Introduction

You can set the Lag time to add time to the start or finish of a predecessor task which creates a gap in timing. The Lag time delays the start of the successor task, although you can set it as a negative value as well.  If the value is a positive number the tasks will be separated by the given number of days. If on the other hand, the Lag time is a negative value then the tasks will 'overlap'. The working and non-working days are both included in the Lag time calculation. Parent tasks can start/finish on non-working days when Lag time is applied.

## Set Lag time

To set the Lag time create a dependency first and click on the created link to open the details dialog. Next, enter the Lag time.

For example, a period almost always exists between sending out a Request for Quote for a service and receiving the quote. When you show a lag, you show the plus (+) sign and then the amount of lag. For example, a lag of one week is shown as +5.

![image](media://d2ce5969-f3ce-48b2-9423-053c86fd0eda)

As a result, a 5-day gap will be maintained by the App and when the ASAP mode is enabled the tasks will be scheduled such that the gap is reduced to the set minimum:

![image](media://6cb25aae-e268-46e2-b169-2343e612fce0)

Another common case is sequential tasks starting on the same date or a couple of days before the end date of the predecessor. Let's set a negative Lag time (-1):

![image](media://e2aa8a54-740b-49dc-8501-063bf4836e80)

As a result, both tasks can start on the same date while having the 'End to start' dependency:

![image](media://19e9aa9e-aeb2-4a9f-8e9f-0872f8ac109d)

## Lag time and non-working days

When you set the Task Period to one of the auto-modes the App will move the linked task such that it does not start on a non-working day.

For example: You can set the Lag time to +1, +2 or +3 but as the task there are non-working days the result position of the tasks remains unchanged:

![image](media://4e874938-8027-432e-81f2-4f32a0f1e956)

## Lag time and Scheduling mode

The Scheduling mode has priority over the Lag time as explained in [on this page](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DLP/pages/350421234). When the task is set to Manual or Locked mode, the dependencies do NOT work then with no Lag time being applied.

For example: The Lag time between the OA-36 and OA-135 is set to 10 days but as the OA-135 is in manual mode, the Lag time is not effective.

![image](media://cb24537e-7e6e-4f54-a8a2-cf7e8c498132)