Style Critical Path
The Critical Path tab tracks the lifecycle of a style through both predefined and manually added activities. These activities follow the structure of the Critical Path Template configured in Site Settings, ensuring visibility over key milestones, responsibilities, and timelines. This functionality is essential for coordinating teams, preventing delays, and maintaining clear oversight across all stages of product development.
This tab presents the complete timeline of activities associated with a style. It displays when tasks are scheduled, their current status, and any updates or changes made by team members. This feature plays a crucial role in:
- Ensuring activities are completed on time
- Identifying bottlenecks early
- Supporting transparent communication between departments
- Maintaining accountability across the workflow
By visually mapping tasks in sequence, teams can easily track progress and understand what needs attention next.
Quick Check - Before You Start
- Open the style record and confirm a Critical Path Template is selected in Style Details when you expect template-driven activities.
- Verify Groups and Activities are configured under Site Settings > Style > Activities so the tab is not empty.
- Large attachments must respect the 500 MB limit per file when approving or rejecting activities.
Group
Each activity is assigned to a group, such as Sales, Product Development, or QA. Groups reflect responsibility areas within the organisation.
Grouping helps streamline collaboration by ensuring that each activity is visible to the people responsible for completing it.
Setting Up Group
The Groups are configured when setting up the Site Settings > Style > Activities.
Activities
Activities represent the individual tasks or milestones that must be completed as a style progresses through its lifecycle. These may include automated tasks from the selected template or additional manual entries created on demand.
Activities form the backbone of the Critical Path, guiding users through required actions from start to finish.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Group | The team or department responsible for completing the activity (e.g., Sales, Product Development, QA). Ensures each task is assigned to the correct function for clear accountability and workflow coordination. |
| Activity Name | The specific task or milestone that must be completed. This name is defined by the template or entered manually, giving users a clear description of the work required. |
| Due | The deadline by which the activity should be completed. Due dates help teams track progress, identify delays, and ensure that style timelines remain on schedule. |
Setting Up Activities
The Activities are configured in Site Settings > Style > Activities.
Conditions
Conditions determine when an activity should appear for a specific style or order. They reference attributes such as details found under Style > Definition, ensuring activities are shown only when relevant data is present.
Notes
Notes play a vital role in maintaining accuracy and alignment throughout the Critical Path by ensuring that critical updates are captured directly within the activity record.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Notes | A short, high-level entry used to capture essential information, decisions, or instructions relevant to the activity. |
| Approval | Indicates whether the activity has been approved. This provides a clear and immediate reference for stakeholders who need to verify progress or confirm readiness to proceed. |
| Rejection | Marks the activity as rejected, often accompanied by guidance on required corrections or next steps. This ensures teams can promptly address issues and keep the workflow on track. |
| Date | Records the date the note, approval, or rejection was applied. Maintaining accurate timestamps is essential for reporting, auditing, and tracking the activity’s progression. |
Managing Critical Path
Add Critical Path Activities
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Select Template | Choose a Critical Path Template in the Style Details section. |
| 2. Auto-Populate Activities | Once selected, all template-configured activities will appear in the Critical Path tab. |
| 3. Add Manual Activities | Users may add manual entries via the plus (+) icon in any section, by which these: • Do not affect the template in Site Settings • Placed within the relevant section |
Approval & Rejection
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Approve/Reject | Click the green comment badge to approve or the red comment badge to reject. |
| Pop-up Actions | In the pop-up, users can: • Enter comments • Attach files (maximum file size: 500 MB) • Set or update dates • Mark the activity as complete. |
| Latest Comment | Displays in the table. Hovering allows replies via pop-up. |
Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Edit Activity | Activities are editable in-line directly within the table. |
| Approve Activity | Use the circle check icon to mark as completed. Automatically sets the Completed Date. Supports bulk approvals per section. When an activity is marked as complete, its name displays with a strikethrough for clear visual indication. Unchecking a completed activity removes the strikethrough. |
| Activity Status | • 🟢 Green: Completed on or before due date • 🔴 Red: Overdue • 🟠 Orange: Completed after due date |
| Delete Activity | Click the trash icon to activate deletion mode. Selected items can be bulk deleted. Manual deletions here do not modify the original template. |
Comments
Comments provide a detailed communication channel within each activity, allowing teams to document discussions, attach supporting files, and maintain a complete history of decision-making. Unlike Notes, which capture brief summaries, Comments are designed for richer context—making them essential for collaboration, accountability, and transparency across departments.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Comments | Used to capture detailed explanations, clarifications, or updates related to the activity. Ideal for documenting ongoing conversations or instructions that require context. |
| Attachments | Allows users to upload supporting documents—such as reference files, approvals, screenshots, or communication records stored in one place. The maximum file upload size is 500 MB. |
| Reply Thread | Enables users to respond to existing comments, keeping discussions organised and allowing teams to follow contextually grouped conversations. |
| Date | Records the timestamp of each comment or reply. Accurate dating is essential for reporting, accountability, and understanding when decisions were made. |
| @ Mentions | Use the dedicated @ icon in the textbox tool panel or press @ while typing to mention multiple suppliers or internal members at once. The dropdown list shows up to 10 results, making it easier to find and mention colleagues in larger teams. This multiselect feature allows you to notify multiple people simultaneously in a single action. When you type "@" in an activity comment, the system displays "Internal: All members" as an option, allowing you to quickly mention all members associated with the Style in a single action. Each mentioned user displays an X button next to their name, making it easy to remove them if needed. |
Helpful Tips
- Select the correct template before entering activities to avoid discrepancies.
- Use the manual activity feature to account for exceptions without disrupting template logic.
- Regularly review comment threads for insights into delays or issues.
Related Actions
- Configure Critical Path Template in Site Settings
- Configure Critical Path Activities in Site Settings
Troubleshooting
Why is my Critical Path tab empty or missing expected activities?
Activities are driven by the Critical Path Template on the style and by Site Settings > Style > Activities configuration. Conditions may also hide activities until matching style data exists.
Steps to resolve:
- In Style Details, select the correct Critical Path Template and save.
- Confirm template activities exist in Site Settings > Style > Critical Path and Activities.
- Check Conditions on this page—activities tied to definition fields only appear when those fields are populated.
I deleted activities from the style—did I break the template?
Deletions and manual adds on the style do not change the Site Settings template.
Steps to resolve:
- Re-add manual activities with the plus (+) icon if needed.
- To restore template-driven rows, reselect or refresh from the template per your internal procedure (template definitions remain in Site Settings).
Why is an activity red, orange, or green?
Status colours reflect completion relative to the Due date: on time, overdue, or completed late.
Steps to resolve:
- Adjust Due dates inline if deadlines have moved.
- Mark completion with the circle check when work is finished so the Completed Date and strikethrough state stay accurate.