Suggestion: Gantt chart - calculate missing dates to take into account dependencies and time estimate

[Keith Collyer]

In the Gantt chart view, there are options to calculate missing dates. I want to suggest additional options:

• For missing start dates, add option to be later of "calculated date (as in current option)" and "end date of task it depends on"
• For missing end dates, add option to be later of "today" and "start date (calculated if necessary) plus estimated time"
  

[.dan.g.]

Thx Keith, I will consider your requests.

[Keith Collyer]

Thanks

in case it isn't obvious to others, the reason for these requests is that they will make Gantt charts more realistic, in particular unstarted tasks would be less likely to appear entirely to the left of "Today". If you cannot start a task until another has finished, it makes sense for that to be shown in the Gantt chart. Also, for the end dates, thinking about it, a better option would be a choice between "today plus estimated time remaining" and "start date (calculated if necessary) plus estimated time remaining".

I know this makes things much harder as all dependent task dates potentially need to be re-calculated any time anything changes, but I do think it will make the chart more realistic.

[.dan.g.]

Hi keith

It occurs to me that there are already preferences to keep start and due dates synchronised with time estimates, and to recalculate dependency dates as dates change.

Is this not adequate in some way?

[Keith Collyer]

Hi Dan

It doesn't seem to - I know I reported a similar issue before and that was an ID10T user error, so I checked that setting out.

I have had dependent tasks showing before "Today", when the tasks that they depend on are shown on the Gantt chart in the future. 

I wonder if this is related to something I noticed the other day. If I make a task dependent on another, it doesn't move straight away. One way I found of making it move was to change the unit on the time estimate. So I wonder if what I have noticed is simply that the recalculation doesn't occur when a dependency is created, but changing the unit forces it to happen?

My current Gantt chart looks annoyingly correct. I'll look into it more when I get a chance, the way the settings interact is a bit obscure to me ;)

[.dan.g.]

>> the way the settings interact is a bit obscure to me

I hear you :)

>> So I wonder if what I have noticed is simply that the recalculation doesn't occur when a dependency is created but changing the unit forces it to happen

I will look into this possibility but if you could also narrow down that would be helpful. 

I'm sure you will agree that if  there are bugs in the synchronisation then those need to be fixed rather than adding more functionality which would make the interactions even more complicated.

Dan

[Keith Collyer]

OK, I looked into this a bit more, using the following sequence:

1. created new task list
2. created two tasks, using all defaults (no dates defined, time estimate 1d)
3. made second dependent on first
1. no change to date for either task
4. set start time on first to Today
1. no change to date for either task
5. changed units on first task to D
1. time estimate changed to 1.4
2. second task moves to start tomorrow

• All Gantt "calculate" boxes are checked
• Keep task time estimates synchronised with start and due dates (and vice versa) is checked
• Display due date and start date as assigned are checked

So it does look like forcing the time to recalculate forces the dependant task to re-calculate its dates, but setting the start date of the original task does not
Hope this helps, I can provide the tasklist and .ini if it would help

[.dan.g.]

Thx Keith.

It looks like setting the Start date is failing to calculate the Due date which is what would trigger the dependent task to be updated. I'll look into it.

ps. Can you confirm that 'Automatically adjust a task's dates when its dependency's dates change' is also enabled?

[Keith Collyer]

Hi Dan

yes, it is set (that's the one I forgot when I reported the previous "bug" that wasn't)

[.dan.g.]

Fixed in 7.1.B3?

[Keith Collyer]

All looks good so far. I will keep an eye on it and report any problems