Deadline Restrictions for Tasks in Automatic Scheduling

Not every date can be moved freely. Some tasks may only start from a specific date, while others have a fixed end date that must not be moved. With date constraints, you define how much flexibility Automatic scheduling has for each task.
 

What does this help you achieve?

Automatic scheduling moves tasks based on their dependencies and duration. Date constraints allow you to define fixed limits. smenso then schedules around these limits instead of moving tasks beyond fixed dates.
 

Available constraints

• As soon as possible (default): The task is scheduled as flexibly as possible, meaning as early as possible and entirely based on dependencies and duration. This is the right choice for most tasks.
• Start no earlier than: The task may not start before this date, but it may start later if dependencies require it.
• Start no later than: The task must have started by this date.
• Finish no earlier than: The task may not end before this date.
• Finish no later than: The task must be completed by this date.
• Must start on: Fixed start date. The task is scheduled exactly on this date.
• Must finish on: Fixed end date. The task ends exactly on this date.

Set a scheduling constraint in the task details

1. Open the desired task
2. Click the date constraint field in the dependencies section (default value: As soon as possible).
3. Select the appropriate constraint from the list.
4. Also define the reference date (start or due date) to which the constraint applies.
5. Automatic scheduling takes the constraint into account immediately.

Show scheduling constraints as a column in the list and Gantt views

If you want to see the constraints for many tasks at a glance or manage them quickly, show them as a column:

1. Open the list or Gantt view.
2. Open the column management using a column’s options menu.
3. Select the Date constraint column.
4. Set or change the constraint directly in the row of the respective task.

Interaction with automatic scheduling

Date constraints only apply to automatic forward and backward scheduling. When you start scheduling, smenso moves dependent tasks while adhering to the constraints you have defined. A task with Must finish on remains in place, while the other tasks are arranged around it.