Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about Project Planner. Use the section headings to jump to a topic, or browse through all the Q&A pairs below.
Data Structure
Where are tasks stored?
Every task is a plain Markdown file stored inside your Obsidian vault. Project Planner creates a
folder for each project and saves one .md file per task, with structured data kept
in YAML frontmatter. Your data never leaves your device.
Markdown Sync
What is Markdown Sync?
Markdown Sync is the bidirectional synchronisation engine that keeps your task files and the plugin's internal state in lockstep. Edits made in the plugin are written to disk immediately, and changes you make to the Markdown files are picked up automatically. See First Steps for an overview, or the Markdown Sync docs for the full reference.
What settings control Markdown Sync?
In Settings → Project Planner → Sync you can configure the sync interval, choose whether to sync on file open, and toggle auto-sync on or off. Disabling auto-sync lets you trigger syncs manually via the Command Palette.
Can I manually create tasks by writing Markdown files?
Yes. Create a .md file inside a project folder and add valid YAML frontmatter with
at least a title field. Project Planner will detect the file and import it as a
task on the next sync cycle.
What fields can I use in task frontmatter?
The supported fields are: title, status, priority,
due, tags, dependencies, created,
completed, and bucket. Any additional fields you add are preserved
but not displayed in the plugin UI.
Dashboard View
How do I create a new project?
Open the Dashboard and click the + New Project button. Enter a name and optional description, then click Create. The project folder and an index file are generated automatically.
How is completion rate calculated?
Completion rate is the number of tasks with a Done status divided by the total number of tasks in the project, expressed as a percentage. Tasks in any other status — including custom statuses — count as incomplete.
Grid View
Can I reorder columns?
Yes. In the Grid View, drag a column header to a new position. Your custom column order is saved per-project and persists between sessions.
How do I export grid data?
Right-click the grid header row and select Export to CSV. The exported file respects any active filters and sorting, so you get exactly the data you see on screen.
Board View
What are buckets and how are they different from status?
Buckets are custom grouping columns on the Board that you define yourself. Status is a built-in field (To Do, In Progress, Done). By default the Board groups by status, but you can switch to bucket-based grouping for a more flexible layout.
Can I customise buckets?
Yes. Open Board settings and click Manage Buckets. You can add, rename, reorder, and delete buckets. Tasks assigned to a deleted bucket are moved to the default bucket automatically.
Dependency Graph
What's the difference between FS, SS, FF, and SF?
These are the four standard dependency types:
- FS (Finish-to-Start) — Task B cannot start until Task A finishes.
- SS (Start-to-Start) — Task B cannot start until Task A starts.
- FF (Finish-to-Finish) — Task B cannot finish until Task A finishes.
- SF (Start-to-Finish) — Task B cannot finish until Task A starts.
See the Dependency Graph docs for visual examples of each type.
What happens with circular dependencies?
Project Planner detects circular dependencies in real time and highlights the offending tasks with a warning badge. You won't be able to save a dependency that would create a cycle. Resolve the conflict by removing or changing one of the links in the chain.
Timeline View
How do I change dates on the timeline?
In the Timeline View, drag the left or right edge of a task bar to adjust its start or due date. You can also drag the entire bar to shift both dates while keeping the duration the same.
What are the zoom levels?
The Timeline supports four zoom levels: Day, Week, Month, and Quarter. Switch between them using the zoom controls in the toolbar, or scroll while holding Ctrl/Cmd to zoom in and out smoothly.