Suggestion: Gantt functionality

[zajchap]

  As mentioned, I have been using MS project, but prefer to use TDL.   I was wondering if you had thought further on some items related to the Gantt chart, which would really improve its use.  Specifically:

• The dependencies, you currently only have FS.  Have you considered SS, FF?  Have you considered adding a delay time for the dependency (e.g. task a starts x days after task b finishes)?
  
• Gantt chart printing?
• Ability to select which columns to show

   I am really just asking for an update on your thinking.  

[.dan.g.]

>> Have you considered SS, FF? adding a delay time for the dependency?

Not yet. Both of these would entail significant development but it's probably coming if I want the Gantt plugin to be taken 'seriously'.

>> Gantt chart printing?

7.2.DP3 offers printing the Gantt Chart as an image (File > Save Task View as Image)

>> Ability to select which columns to show

Did you have any specific attributes in mind?

[zajchap]

Thanks for the considerations Dan. 

I look forward to the printing of the image.  As I understand it, it will print the whole window, rather than just what is visible.  I will trial that when I am able.

Showing of columns in the Gantt view.   Mainly I would want to:

• hide the Allocated to (show that on the chart itself),
  
• show column for duration (Time estimate)
  
• show column for Dependency (showing the dependent task number (or Position?))
• Note, this is really only useful if you were able to edit the dependency in the grid, rather than via the current mechanism
  
• show column for Task ID (Task number) and Position (Work Breakdown)
• This is very useful when discussing with others - can zero in to a task more easily
  
• I have also sometimes wanted one or two of my custom columns, but that is very much a nice to. 
  
• In future, a column for 'Delay' and the type of Dependency would also be needed (e.g. 'FS, 2d' for a finish - start, 2 day delay dependency).
  

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[Ricarte]

Hi, Dan!

   Do you have any updates on the different dependency types? That would be a very useful function!

[.dan.g.]

Welcome Ricarte

No updates yet unfortunately.

[TonyG]

> The dependencies, you currently only have FS.  Have you considered SS, FF?

> Have you considered adding a delay time for the dependency (e.g. task a starts x days after task b finishes)?

I came here today looking for this topic. Quite happy to wait for the features if/when they are added.

For now I think I've solved the challenge as shown in the image.

- Task 15 takes some number of weeks. It's dependent (FS) on #14.

- Task 16 should start about 10 days before the due date of task 15.

- I created a new task at the bottom of the parent called Timings, to be used just to regulate the timings of tasks above it.

- I created a subtask #25 under that to manage this relationship between #15 and #16.

- #25 is also set as dependent (FS) on #14, so it starts when #15 starts.

- #25 has a due date that is 10 days less than #15.

- #16 is then set to be dependent on #25, not #15. It starts at the end of this placeholder task which finishes 10 days before #15 finishes.

Ideally we'd be able to set #16 to #15-10d.

I can think of another way to do this, but it's a real hack.

Assume a new custom text field called CalcDueDate. I'm going to make up syntax that represents a calculation which will be set in this CalcDueDate field for task 16:

(Task15.DueDate)-10

With a new UDT, execute a program that loops through all fields that begin with the text Calc. In task 16 we see the field Calc DueDate and we know we're going to put the result of the calculation in the DueDate field. Parse the formula. Use the TDL CLI to get the required field DueDays from task#15. Do the calculation. Use the CLI again to poke in the new DueDate for #16.

Some care needs to be added to avoid recursion and for data types.

Dan, I'm sure I'd be able to do that with the (now outdated) library that I wrote. But from that description do you think the API functionality that's in there now could be used for this? I'm thinking not, because I think of the API as being for new views. But I'd be VERY happy to be wrong.

Thanks!

[Ricarte]

I'm looking forward to hear updates on this topic!