# Deadlines and milestones

Learn how to add internal and contract deadlines in Gantt, use them as milestones, and show key deadlines in every view.

Language: en
Canonical: https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/deadlines-and-milestones

Deadlines mark dates that matter: handover, a watertight roof, a contractual completion date. In Sitedrive they are also how you mark milestones. Each deadline is a diamond on a work package's row, with a name and a date. There are two types:

Type

Colour

Use it for

**Internal**

Yellow

Your own targets, such as "Roof watertight". New deadlines are internal.

**Contract**

Red

Dates in the contract, such as "Handover".

## Before you start

-   You add deadlines in the **Gantt** view. Other views show deadlines but can't add them.
-   You need editing rights to the work package you attach the deadline to. The deadline columns and the **Deadlines** display option are available to **Refine** and above.

## Add a deadline

1.  In **Gantt**, select **Open deadline tools** in the toolbar. The **Deadline tools** bar opens.
2.  Select **Add new deadline**.
3.  Click the work package's row at the date of the deadline. The deadline is placed at the end of the time slot you click.
4.  Type a name and press Enter.
5.  To make it a contract deadline, select **Contract**. Select **Internal** to change it back.
6.  Close the bar with **×** or press Esc.

![Gantt with the Deadline tools bar open, showing Add new deadline and the Internal and Contract buttons](https://support.sitedrive.com/media/help/guide/deadlines-and-milestones/01-deadline-tools.webp)

Attach each deadline to the work package it belongs to. For a project-wide milestone such as handover, use the row of the phase or work package that must be finished by then.

_Open the deadline tools, select Add new deadline, click the row at the date, type a name and choose Internal or Contract._

## Edit, move or delete a deadline

Open **Deadline tools** first, then:

-   **Rename:** click the deadline and type a new name.
-   **Move:** drag the diamond to a new date.
-   **Change type:** select the deadline, then **Internal** or **Contract**.
-   **Delete:** select the deadline and press Delete (Mac: Backspace).

## Make a deadline stand out

Select a deadline and select the star, **Mark as critical (show more prominently in schedule)**. A starred deadline is drawn with its full line and name across the schedule, and it is also shown in the Takt and Line of balance views.

Starred deadlines are saved per view. Schedule and Site users can manage them in [view settings](https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/colouring-and-display) under **Starred deadlines**.

## Show or hide deadlines

-   Open **Select schedule visualization options** (the eye icon) and turn **Deadlines** on or off.
-   In Gantt, add the **Internal deadline** and **Contract deadline** columns with **Columns** to see and edit the dates in the table.
-   When printing, choose which deadlines to include. See [Printing and exporting](https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/printing-and-exporting).

## Good to know

-   There is no separate milestone object. Use a deadline, usually a starred contract deadline, as your milestone.
-   Sitedrive does not warn you when work runs past a deadline. Compare the bars with the diamonds yourself.
-   In Takt, when you select a phase, only that phase's deadlines are shown.

## Related

-   [Gantt](https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/gantt)
-   [Colouring and display options](https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/colouring-and-display)
-   [Comparing progress to plan](https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/comparing-to-plan)
-   [Printing and exporting](https://support.sitedrive.com/en/kb/printing-and-exporting)