1. Gantt overview
Contents
1.1 What is the Gantt scheduler?
Wikipedia states that the Gantt chart is a type of bar chart, developed by Henry Gantt in the 1910's, that illustrates a project schedule. It represents the phases and activities of a project work breakdown structure (WBS) so that they can be understood by a wide audience.
In IBM TRIRIGA, the Gantt scheduler is the graphical representation of tasks that are grouped in such a way that they allow the completion of a project. The Gantt scheduler is used to create projects for building construction, store opening, software development, or any other type of use. These types of charts (or schedulers) allow tasks to be created for every step and milestone of the project. With the ability to create dependencies, projects within projects, and lead/lag start times, among others, projects can be created and tracked through every step and process through time.
This content helps you to understand how the Gantt scheduler functions within the IBM TRIRIGA application. This content gives general guidelines and some unique guidelines. It is not meant to be an all-inclusive document for the Gantt scheduler.
1.2 Related forms
The Gantt scheduler is available in the following IBM TRIRIGA forms and tabs.
- tab
- tab
- tab
- tab
- tab
a. Projects > Capital > Schedule tab > Project Tasks Gantt section
1.3 Legacy versus current
Most features in the legacy Gantt scheduler are in the new Gantt scheduler. Several limitations exist in the new Gantt scheduler and several features are replaced with different functionality.
a. Legacy versus current Gantt scheduler
| Feature | Legacy (Java) | Current (JavaScript DHTML) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | The Gantt scheduler is a Java applet. | The Gantt scheduler is a JavaScript-based DHTML component. It is not an applet. |
| Window View | The Open Gantt in New Window action provides the space to display larger Gantt charts in its own window with no other sections. |
The Open Gantt in New Window action from the legacy Gantt scheduler is not supported in the current Gantt scheduler. In older applications, the button might be visible, but it has no function. Instead, your application administrator can set up the Gantt scheduler to display on its own tab of the project. See Gantt chart interface > Tab view. |
| Calculate Project From | The Calculate Project From "Both" option is provided. | The Calculate Project From "Both" option is deprecated. Use Start or End. |
| Gantt Strict Mode |
The Calculate Project From value determines the placement of tasks at creation. For example, if Calculated Project From is set to Start, the project Plan Start date determines task placement when they are created and when no relationship or constraint exists for the task. This is known as Gantt Strict mode. Let's say that a task is created to start on the 15th of the month in a project that has a Plan Start on the 1st of the month. The task start date updates to start on the 1st of the month. The task start date can be changed only if a constraint is placed specifically on the individual task for it to start on the 15th of the month. |
With Gantt Strict mode, you can emulate the legacy behavior. For details on Gantt Strict mode, see Gantt project creation. By default, Gantt Strict mode is disabled. The placement of the tasks is controlled by each task's Planned Start date. That is, unless they fall outside of the project Plan Start date where the tasks "snap" to the Plan Start date. |
| Planned End Date |
You cannot edit the Planned End date in the Gantt scheduler task table. You can only resize it by dragging it on the Gantt chart or in the task record. However, in the task record, if you edit the Planned End date, the Planned Start date is updated based on the working hours. |
You can edit the Planned End date in the Gantt scheduler task table, or the Gantt chart, or the task table. However, in the task record, if you edit the Planned End date, the behavior is different than when you change the Planned End date in the Gantt scheduler. The Total Planned Working Hours do not change. The Planned Start date is changed to accommodate the new Planned End and Total Planned Working Hours. |
| Task Slack | A line displays on the bars in the Gantt chart that indicates the slack (or float) when you click a button on the Gantt scheduler toolbar. | You can display a column in the task table that contains the slack value in hours for each task in the Gantt chart. |