Project Gantt Chart

The Project Gantt Chart enables graphical planning of Tasks with drag and drop functionality and color visualization for Usage vs. Budget. The Gantt Chart can be used to create an overview of the Project at the Task level.

Open Gantt Chart

There are different ways to open the Project Gantt Chart:

• Access from the Role Center by selecting Actions > Resource Planning > Project Gantt.

• Choose the Search icon, enter Project List, choose the related link. Select a Project to open the Project Plan, or choose Project from the menu to open the Project Card. From either page click on Project > Gantt Chart.

• Use the Search icon, enter Project Gantt, choose the related link.

Open Task Card from Gantt Chart

1. Open the Gantt Chart for a Project. For more information, see: Gantt Chart.

   

2. Click the Task Description on the left side of the chart to view General Settings, Start and End (Planning) Dates, Discount, and Invoicing information.

Tip

Task and Description Columns: Hover over the Task or Description column to display information about the Task. Note that the Start Date and End Dates fields do not display dates initially by design unless the Dates are already added in the Task Card > Planning FastTab > Start Date (Planning) and End Date (Planning) fields. The actual Start and End Dates of each Task are displayed when the Dates are set for the unplanned task. >

Tip

Bar Chart Column: Hover over the Bar Chart column to display the default Project Task Start Date based on the Duration FastTab on the Project Card, if the Task Start Date (Planning) and End Date (Planning) dates in the Task Card > Planning FastTab are blank. Users can manually change the information by grabbing and moving or extending the dates.

Additional fields with visibility into Budgets, actual costs, Subcontract amounts, and Subcontract Invoices are available. To view these fields, click the solid vertical line between the Description column and the first Date column and slide it to the right.

Field Name	Description
% Effort Completed	Specifies the percentage of time the Resource has spent on the Task relative to the total amount of time spent on work-related activities. The percentage is manually entered by a Project Manager Resource.
Original Budget Cost	Specifies the initial, expected amount, to be incurred, for Resources, Items, or Expenses, to complete the Task.
Active Budget Cost	Specifies the amount currently planned for use of Resources, Items, and Expenses for Task completion. If Budget Revisions have not been recorded, the Original and Active Budget costs will be the same.
Actual (Total Cost)	Specifies the Total Usage Amount for work posted to the Task for Resources, Items, and Expenses.
Completed %	Specifies the calculation of the Total Actual Cost divided by the Active Budget Cost as a percentage of work finished for the Task.
Subcontract Request %%	Specifies the Payment Request Amount as a percentage of the Subcontract Amount for the Task.
Subcontract Invoiced	Specifies the amount paid, Posted Purchase Invoices, to one or more Vendors, for work on the Task.
Subcontract Total Amt	Specifies the Subcontract Total Amt minus Subcontract Invoiced.
Subcontract Remaining	Specifies the Subcontract Total Amt minus Subcontract Invoiced.
Budget to Actual	Specifies the Amount difference between the Active Budget Cost and the Actual (Total Cost). A negative amount indicates the Actual (Total Cost) exceeds the Active Budget Cost.
Planned Work	Specifies the total Quantity of Resource Hours, Budget plus Work Assignments, designated for the Task.
Usage	Specifies the quantity of hours, Items, or Expenses posted to the Task.

Define Task Dates (drag-and-drop)

1. Open the Gantt Chart for a Project. For more information, see: Gantt Chart.

2. Hover the mouse over a Taskbar.

3. Drag-and-drop the Taskbar to change the Task dates.

Note

The Start Date can be changed by drag-and-drop on the left edge of the Task bar and the End Date on the right edge.

Gantt Chart Ribbon Options

Ribbon Option	Description
Select Project	Click to display a Project List and choose a Project to view in the Gantt Chart.
Select Progressus Method	Select the method to calculate planned/consumed work and progress. Options:
	- Planned Work vs Usage
	- Task Dates vs Days Elapsed
	- Budget vs. Usage
Save as PDF	Export the Gantt Chart as a PDF file.
Related > Project Card	Opens the Project Card for the current Project
Project Events	Opens a list of Project Events for the current Project. For more information on Project Events, see: Create Project Events

Tip

Project Events can be also be found by using the Search icon and type Job Events.

Project Task Dependencies	Opens a list of Project Task Dependencies for the current Project. For more information on Task Dependencies, see: Create Task Dependencies

Create Project Events

Project Events are used in Resource Planning > Project Gantt > Related > Project Events. Use to default values into the Gantt Chart.

Ribbon Option	Description
Description	Specifies the description of the Project Event.
Date	Specifies the Date of the Project Event.
Date Calculated From	Specifies the Project Event from which the current Project Event Date should be calculated.
Date Calc. Formula	When completed, the current Project Event Date will be calculated using this formula. For more information on Date Calculation Formulas, see: Work with Calendar Dates and Times
Comment	Specifies additional information about the Project Event.
Completed	Specifies if the Project Event has been completed.
Remind User	Specifies the user that should be reminded about the current Project Event..
Remind User Name	Specifies the Name of the User that should be reminded about the current Project Event.
Reminder Formula	The reminder to the user will be issued before the Project Event Date depending on this date formula.
Project No.	Specifies the Project for this Project Event.
Project Description	Specifies the Project Description for this Project Event.
Customer Name	Specifies the Name of the Customer for the selected Project.
Mail Reminder Date Sent	Specifies the date and time the e-mail reminder is sent.
Mail Reminder Sent	Specifies, if selected (true) that the e-mail reminder was sent.

Create Task Dependencies

Task Dependencies are the interrelations that exist between Project activities. These Task Dependencies determine the order in which Project Tasks must be executed. For example, some tasks need to be executed in sequence, meaning one Task must be completed before the next can begin.

Task Dependencies

With Task Dependency fields, you can now define how Tasks relate to each other in time so that Planning Dates are calculated automatically when the template is applied to a project. This eliminates manual date entry and ensures consistent planning across projects.

Dependency Fields on Task Lines

Each Task line can include the following fields:

Field Name	Description
Predecessor	Specifies another Task line that this Task depends on.
Relation Type	Defines how the Task is related to its Predecessor:
	- Finish-to-Start
	- Start-to-Start
	- Finish-to-Finish
Offset (Workdays)	A positive or negative number of working days:
	- Positive = lag (delay)
	- Negative = lead (overlap)
Duration (Workdays)	The number of working days required to complete the Task.

Note

All fields are optional. If no predecessor is defined, the task is treated as a root task.

How Working Days Are Calculated

All Offsets and Durations are calculated using working days:

• Weekends are excluded entirely.
• Only weekdays are counted.

Examples:

• A 7-day Offset starting Monday lands on Wednesday of the following week.
• A 5-day Duration starting Monday ends on Friday of the same week.
• Public holidays are not considered.

When Planning Dates Are Assigned

A Task receives calculated Start Date (Planning) and End Date (Planning) when:

• It is part of a Dependency Chain (has a Predecessor or is referenced by one), or
• It has a defined Duration.

If a task has a duration but no dependencies:

• It starts on the Project Start Date.
• Its End Date is calculated based on Duration.

If a task has no Dependency and no Duration, no dates are assigned

Project Start Date as the Anchor

The first Task in each Dependency Chain (a root Task) always starts on the Project Start Date. This behavior cannot be overridden

Date Calculation Logic

Dates are calculated when the Task Template is applied to a Project.

The system:

• Orders Task lines based on Dependencies.
• Starts with root Tasks using the Project Start Date.
• Calculates all Dependent Tasks in sequence.

Calculation Rules by Relation Type

• Finish-to-Start
  • Start = Predecessor End + Offset + 1 working day
  • End = Start + Duration − 1
• Start-to-Start
  • Start = Predecessor Start + Offset
  • End = Start + Duration − 1
• Finish-to-Finish
  • End = Predecessor End + Offset
  • Start = End − Duration + 1
• Start-to-Finish
  • End = Predecessor Start + Offset
  • Start = End − Duration + 1

Note

Note: For Finish-to-Start with Offset 0, the Successor always begins on the next working day after the Predecessor ends.

User Interface

The following fields are available on the Task Template Line page:

• Predecessor
• Relation Type
• Offset
• Duration

The Predecessor field includes validation to prevent circular dependencies during entry.

How to use the Gantt Chart

1. Open the Gantt Chart for a Project.

2. Hover the mouse over a Taskbar to display two gray circles at the beginning and end.

   

3. Hover the mouse over one of the gray circles until it is white.

   

4. Drag-and-drop the small circle on the right side of a Taskbar.