Ganttic’s Task Timing parameters let Users specify the Task´s timing details - either via standard calendar time (Used Time, non-business hours and days included), actual business hours and days (Busy Time, only business hours and days included), or through Resource capacity for the Task (Task Utilization %). Find out all the ways you can use Task Timing to make scheduling as accurate and convenient as possible.
Must Know
- All Owners, Admins and Users with Resources’ Task edit rights can specify the Task Timing parameters.
- You can find all the Task Timing parameters inside the Task Edit Dialog of each Task.
- From the same section, you can also control if the Task repeats itself or if it lasts All day.
- If you use a certain Timing parameters frequently then set it up as default from Settings > Task timing. A default option must always be applied.
- Your default Task Timing parameters are green. These are added manually. The rest will be calculated by Ganttic automatically.
- Default Task Timing parameters can be overwritten manually for existing and new individual Tasks inside the Task Edit Dialog by activating and defining the parameters that are not green (initially calculated automatically).
Specify Task Timing
- To start using the Task Timing parameters you first have to schedule a Task. Either click on an existing Task or schedule a new one.
- In case of existing Tasks, click the Taskbar to open the Task Edit Dialog.
- Adjust your Task’s Time. Choose from these parameters:
- Task Start time - date and time when the task starts
- Task End time - date and time when a task should be completed
- Task Utilization - the percentage of a Resource’s capacity used for a Task. Can be set manually and useful for indicating part-time tasks.
- Task Busy time - the actual working time in business hours/days in which a Resource could finish the Task
- Duration - Task length in Calendar time (non-business days and hours included)
NB! Task Timing Parameters highlighted in green reflect the default Task Timing setting applied via Settings > Task Timing > Default Task Timing. The values of these parameters can be added manually, the rest will be calculated by the planner. Overwrite the default Task Timing parameters for existing or new Tasks manually by clicking on the selected (non-green) parameter field and entering a value.
- You can also choose if you want the Task to last All day or Repeat.
- All day - If enabled, the Task will automatically be adjusted to a full day in length. Can also be a default setting applied via Settings > Task Timing > Default task timing.
- Repeat - If enabled, it will activate Task Recurrence options.
- Click Save when finished.
Task Timing in Action
Part time Tasks
With Task Utilization you can specify if a Task requires a full amount of a Resource’s capacity or less effort. It’s a great way to make Tasks part-time. And helpful if a Resource has multiple Tasks going on at the same time as this will help you to avoid over allocating your Resources
For example, if you planned a Task throughout a week (Monday to Friday), but you know that it takes every day just 2 hours to complete it, change the Busy Time field to 10 hours. Utilization percentages will be recalculated accordingly. In this case, the Utilization of the task will be 22%.
Or, if a scheduled full-time Task (with 100% utilization) happens to overlap with another existing Task, they will produce a total resource load of more than 100% for the overlapping period. The red Utilization Graph as well as the cursor tooltip indicates this, when placed over the graph.
Edit the utilization % manually for one or both Tasks (f.e. Both to 50%) to eliminate overallocation. Rescheduling either of the tasks to a non-overlapping period is an option too.
Next Steps
Discover more about concurrent Task scheduling, a way to create multiple ongoing Tasks. And how to adjust utilization, ensuring that no one gets burnt out from multitasking. Or check out Ganttic's in depth guide to resource capacity management, with all the features available for making better capacity plans.