Gantt Charts for Project Management in scalenow AI
The Gantt charts module in scalenow AI provides a comprehensive timeline view of work packages, enabling teams to collaboratively create and manage project plans.
This tool ensures project timelines are accessible to all team members and keeps stakeholders informed with up-to-date progress.
In scalenow AI, users can define start and end dates, make real-time adjustments using drag-and-drop functionality, and establish dependencies, predecessors, and followers directly within the chart for seamless workflow management.
Activate Gantt Charts:
In scalenow AI, the Gantt chart view can be activated for a single project or at a cross-project level to visualize timelines for multiple projects.
- For a specific project: Access the Gantt charts module from the project menu on the left.
- For multiple projects: Use the Gantt charts option in the Global Modules menu to consolidate timelines across projects.
- Alternatively: Apply the "Include projects" filter to customize and display timelines for selected projects.
Gantt chart views
In scalenow AI, When you open the Gantt charts module, the default view displays all open work packages.
The view can be customized using filters or by selecting from the following options:
- Favorite: Displays all Gantt chart views marked as favorites.
- Default: Includes predefined views, such as:
- All Open: Shows all work packages with an open status.
- Milestones: Displays work packages categorized as milestones or recognized as such.
- Public: Lists all Gantt chart views designated as public.
- Private: Shows only your personally saved Gantt chart views.
Gantt chart view
In scalenow AI ,when you select the Gantt chart view, you can access the quick context menu by right-clicking on any work package.
Tip:
If you're using the work packages view in the Work Packages module, the options in the quick context menu may vary slightly compared to those in the Gantt chart view.
Available Options in the Quick Context Menu:
- Open Details View: Displays the details of a work package on the right side of the screen.
- Open Fullscreen View: Opens the detailed view of a work package in full-screen mode.
- Copy Link to Clipboard: Copies a short link to the selected work package for easy sharing.
- Move to another Project: Moves the selected work package to a different project.
- Duplicate: Create a copy of the workpackage.
- Delete: Deletes the selected work package (requires confirmation).
- Add Predecessor: Adds a predecessor to the selected work package, prompting you to select another work package in the Gantt view.
- Add Follower: Adds a follower to the selected work package, prompting you to select another work package in the Gantt view.
- Show Relations: Opens the details view of the work package and displays its Relations tab.
- Create New Child: Creates a new work package that is automatically linked as a child of the selected work package (not available for milestones).
Create a new element
In scalenow AI,to add a work package (such as a phase, milestone, or task) to a Gantt chart, click the + Create (new work package) link located at the bottom of the work package table view.
You can assign a subject to the work package and modify fields such as type, status, or others as needed.
In the Gantt chart, schedule the work package by using drag-and-drop functionality to adjust its position and duration.
To reorder items in the Gantt chart, use the drag-and-drop icon (six dots) on the left-hand side of the work package row.
Drag the item to the desired position, guided by the blue horizontal line indicating the drop location.
Adjusting Duration of a Work Package
In scalenow AI ,to modify the duration of a work package in the Gantt chart view:
- Adjust Start and End Dates: Hover over the work package, and use the small arrows on either end to change the start or finish dates, extending or shortening its duration.
- Move Along the Timeline: Click and drag the work package to reposition it on the timeline. This updates both the start and finish dates while maintaining the same duration.
Important Notes:
- Non-Working Days: Non-working days appear with a darker background in the Gantt chart when zoomed in to the daily level. By default, a work package cannot begin or end on these days unless the "Working days only" option is disabled for that work package. Refer to the documentation on Working Days and Duration for further guidance.
- Impact of Non-Working Days: The visual length of a work package adjusts based on non-working days.
- For example, a 3-day task starting on Thursday and ending on Monday spans 5 calendar days due to the weekend.
- If shifted to start on Tuesday and end on Thursday, it spans only 3 calendar days.
- In both cases, the task duration remains consistent at 3 working days.
Managing Relations
In scalenow AI,to add a work package (such as a phase, milestone, or task) to a Gantt chart, click the + Create (new work package) link located at the bottom of the work package table view.
You can assign a subject to the work package and modify fields such as type, status, or others as needed.
In the Gantt chart, schedule the work package by using drag-and-drop functionality to adjust its position and duration.
To reorder items in the Gantt chart, use the drag-and-drop icon (six dots) on the left-hand side of the work package row.
Drag the item to the desired position, guided by the blue horizontal line indicating the drop location.
Managing Dependencies
In scalenow AI, the Gantt chart allows you to track dependencies between work packages (e.g., phases, milestones, tasks), providing a clear overview of task sequences and what needs to be completed to achieve milestones.
Interpreting Colors and Lines
In scalenow AI,
- Blue Line: Represents the dependency between two work packages, indicating a predecessor-follower relationship.
- Vertical Red Dotted Line: Marks today's date on the timeline.
- Black Clamp: Indicates the duration of a work package, spanning from the start date of its earliest child work package to the finish date of its latest child.
- Red Clamp: Functions similarly to the black clamp but turns red when the dates derived from child work packages fall outside the manually scheduled dates of the parent work package. The clamp remains black if the derived dates align with the parent’s scheduled dates.
- Diamond Symbol: Denotes a milestone.
- Bar: Represents standard work packages, such as phases or tasks.
configuration
In scalenow AI, to access the Gantt chart configuration, click the settings icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of the work package module. Select Configure view… and navigate to the Gantt chart tab.
In this section, you can:
- Adjust the Zoom Level: Set a specific zoom level or choose Auto zoom, which automatically optimizes the view to fit your browser size.
- Customize Labels: Add up to three additional labels to the chart—on the left, right, and far-right. Choose the information you want displayed, which can be particularly useful for printing the Gantt chart.
After making your changes, click the Apply button to save and implement them.
Exporting Data
In scalenow AI,
You can export data from your Gantt chart using the following methods:
- Export via the Work Package View: Generate and export data directly from the work package table.
- Synchronize with Excel or MS Project: Transfer data between scalenow AI and Excel or MS Project for seamless integration and further analysis.More detailed instructions coming soon
Configuration
In scalenow AI, to access the Gantt chart configuration, click the settings icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of the work package module. Select Configure view… and navigate to the Gantt chart tab.
In this section, you can:
- Adjust the Zoom Level: Set a specific zoom level or choose Auto zoom, which automatically optimizes the view to fit your browser size.
- Customize Labels: Add up to three additional labels to the chart—on the left, right, and far-right. Choose the information you want displayed, which can be particularly useful for printing the Gantt chart.
After making your changes, click the Apply button to save and implement them.
Printing Data
In scalenow AI,
You can print the Gantt chart using your browser’s print function, which is optimized for Chrome.
Prepare the Chart:
- Add the necessary labels (e.g., Start Date, Finish Date, Subject) in the Gantt chart configuration.
Adjust the View:
- Click the Auto zoom button at the top of the Gantt chart to optimize the display.
- Drag the Gantt chart to the far left so that only the chart is visible on the screen.
Print the Chart:
- Press Cmd + P to open the print dialog.
- Select Landscape as the print layout.
- Enable Background graphics in the print settings for a complete view.
- Click Print to finalize.
Export the Chart
In scalenow AI, to export a Gantt chart as a PDF, click the More icon (three dots) in the top-right corner and select Export.
Multi-Project Views
The Gantt charts in scalenow AI, allow you to create overarching timelines that span multiple projects.
- Create Unified Timelines: Display all activities, phases, and milestones from your main project and its sub-projects in a single view.
- Filter and Include Projects: Use the Filter button within the parent project to select sub-projects for inclusion in your timeline. Aggregation by project is also available for a consolidated view.
- Customize Your Timeline: Apply filters and grouping options, similar to those in the work packages table, to tailor your timeline to your needs.
Tips:
- Save your customized timeline for future use.
- For better organization, adjust the work package table by filtering, sorting, or ordering your work packages. Refer to the work package table configuration for guidance.
