Finding the critical path of tasks with predecessors and successors

[kpatel22]

I need a way to find unique paths for each row/task in a schedule based on their predecessors and successors, but not sure how to loop through the data if the path could be any length. My goal is to assign a unique "path ID" to each row to be able to filter for a specific task and what paths the task is a part of. 

Example:

Row #          Predecessors                         successors

160               Null                                        163, 213, 221

161              163                                         Null

162               163                                         Null

163               160, 161, 162                         Null

213               160                                         214

214               213                                         Null

219               Null                                         221

220               Null                                         221

221               160, 227, 228, 219, 220         234

Above is a part of the input. I would like to have a column that tells what rows are in the driving path for each row.

Output example: Path 1: 160, 161, 162 -> 163 END

Path 2: 160 -> 213-> 214 END

and what ever other possible paths there are... is this possible?

[ChrisTX]

Can you post the input data in a table or Excel file?

Which output format do you want?

you mentioned

a column that tells what rows are in the driving path for each row

(please provide sample output data)

and you also mentioned

Output example: Path 1: 160, 161, 162 -> 163 END

these seem like two different outputs. 

what's the "best" output format: one that would allow you to easily re-format for other needs?

[kpatel22]

Hi Chris, 

I have attached an example file with row numbers and Predecessor/Successor relationships. 

I would just like an automated way to highlight the full path possible for each task, or something to tell me which path each task is tied to so I can filter for paths...

For example, The input right now tells me that Task T1 is Row 15, and that Row 19 is tied to it as the successor. I have no way of knowing that Row 20 is also in the path from just looking at Task T1. (Row 20 is the successor for Row 19). 

Ideally, My final output would show me each tasks Full Possible Path from beginning to end. If there are multiple paths, it would show me all potential paths delimited by some character. 

Some tasks have multiple predecessors that are starting points for the path. Those could be separated to multiple paths or just separated by commas in the order when it could be any of them.

Thanks for your help in advance!

[ChrisTX]

How do you get Output example: Path 1: 160, 161, 162 -> 163 END ?

It seems like the example should be:

1) 160 > 163 > 161

2) 160 > 163 > 162

In the Excel file is this row:

Row Number	Task	Predecessors	Successors
163	T32	160FS-10d	[Null]

How would this row be processed, because Predecessor "160FS-10d" doesn't seem like it would match to anything.

Would you expect to see Task listed anywhere in the output?

Chris

[kpatel22]

Ah, that is my mistake... in the original example, I meant to make 163 the Successor for Rows 161 and 162 instead of predecessors. The attached excel file from the earlier response has the relationships correct

[kpatel22]

In the workflow, I will parse for and remove any lags or delays and just look for the Row number, so any letters can be ignored. I would ideally like to see the Task number in the final output in lieu of the row number. 

[ChrisTX]

To build a hierarchy, see the example workflow in this post: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/How-to-get-latest-replacement-...