Automatic Scheduling

With automatic scheduling, you can recalculate a project schedule based on the stored dependencies, task durations, and date constraints.

Scheduling can be performed either forwards from the project start or backwards from the relevant end date. The affected tasks are rescheduled according to their chronological relationships.

The function is available in both Gantt and the Timeline. The calculation is started manually and does not change the schedule automatically in the background.

What is taken into account during automatic scheduling

During the calculation, all project information relevant to scheduling is evaluated together.

• Dependencies
  The chronological links between tasks, subtasks, milestones, and phases are taken into account.
• Dependency types
  The calculation supports the Finish-to-Start, Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, and Start-to-Finish dependency types.
• Lags and leads
  Positive lags for time gaps and negative lags for leads are taken into account during the calculation.
• Task duration
  The stored duration determines how much time is allocated to a task within the calculated schedule.
• Date constraints
  Defined constraints determine how flexibly a task may be moved.

Schedule forwards and backwards

Depending on your scheduling objective, you can choose between two calculation directions.

• Forward scheduling
  The calculation begins at the project start and determines the earliest time at which dependent tasks can be scheduled, taking their duration and constraints into account. This shows the earliest possible project completion date.
• Backward scheduling
  The calculation begins at the relevant end date and works backwards to determine when the tasks must start at the latest so that this date can be met.

Forward scheduling is useful, for example, when you want to calculate a realistic new project schedule after a delay. Backward scheduling is helpful when a fixed end date or customer milestone must be met.

Select a scheduling option

Two different options are available for automatic scheduling:

• Automatic scheduling (preview)
  Displays the calculated date suggestions directly in the schedule without requiring you to apply or discard them immediately. You can keep the preview visible and continue making further adjustments to your schedule at the same time.
• Automatic scheduling
  Also creates a preview of the suggested changes. Afterwards, however, you must decide whether to Apply or Discard all changes before you can continue working.

Use automatic scheduling as a preview

With Automatic scheduling (preview), you can view the calculated scheduling recommendation directly in Gantt without immediately changing the current schedule.

This option is particularly helpful if you want to see how the tasks could be scheduled optimally based on the existing dependencies, durations, and constraints while continuing to work on the schedule yourself.

1. Open the desired project.
2. Switch to Gantt.
3. Open the automatic scheduling menu using the play icon.
4. Select Automatic scheduling (preview).
5. Define whether the schedule should be calculated Forwards or Backwards.

The calculated suggestions are displayed directly in the schedule. You can compare them with the current plan and continue editing dates or other scheduling information yourself.

Run automatic scheduling

With the Automatic scheduling option, you can calculate the entire schedule and then receive a preview of all suggested date changes.

Unlike the persistent scheduling preview, you must then decide immediately whether the calculated changes should be applied or discarded. Only after that can you continue working in the schedule.

1. Open the desired project.
2. Switch to Gantt.
3. Open the automatic scheduling menu using the magic wand icon.
4. Select Automatic scheduling.
5. Define whether the schedule should be calculated Forwards or Backwards.
6. Start the calculation and review the suggested changes in the preview.

After the calculation, two options are available:

• Apply
  The suggested start and due dates are applied to the project schedule.
• Discard
  The suggestions are discarded and the existing schedule remains unchanged.

You can only continue working in the schedule after selecting one of the two options.

No changes suggested

If the existing schedule already matches the stored dependencies, durations, and date constraints, no changes are suggested.

In this case, a corresponding message appears and the current schedule remains unchanged.

Related articles

• Scheduling Mode: Fixed Dates or Fixed Duration
• Dependencies in the Gantt view
• Deadline Restrictions for Tasks in Automatic Scheduling