Scheduling Types

Definition

The following types of scheduling are used in the Project System for scheduling networks:

Forward Scheduling

If you have specified forward scheduling in the network header as the schedule type, you must also specify the basic start date of the network.

The system starts from the basic start date and schedules forward in time to calculate the earliest dates of the activities and the scheduled finish first. Then it calculates the latest dates of activities and the scheduled start of the network.

If you have also specified a basic finish date in addition to the basic start date in the network header, the system uses the basic finish date as the starting point for backward scheduling.

Backward Scheduling

If you have specified backward scheduling as the scheduling type in the network header, you must enter the basic finish date of the network.

The system starts from the basic finish date and schedules backward in time to calculate the latest dates of activities and the scheduled start. Then it calculates the earliest dates of activities and the scheduled finish of the network.

If you also enter a basic finish date in addition to the basic start date in the network header, the system uses the basic start date as the starting point for forward scheduling.

Current Date Scheduling

With scheduling to current date, you can see whether the network can be completed by a certain date. In this method, the system uses the basic finish dates and schedules the network backwards and then starting with the current date, schedules forwards.

You can use the floats in the activities to determine how many days you still have or are short to make the finish date.

Only Capacity Requirements

If you specify capacity requirements only as the scheduling type in the network header, the system copies the basic dates from the network header into the scheduled dates and into the earliest and latest dates of all activities.

Note Note

When you have the system only calculate capacity requirements in scheduling,

End of the note.

  • Time constraints of the activities are taken into consideration

  • Relationships are ignored.

Special Function: Today Scheduling

"Today" scheduling is a special function in scheduling. In Customizing for the Project System, you can specify the number the days that the scheduled start may be in the past. If the scheduled start of a network is further back in the past than allowed, the system at first attempts to reduce the duration. If this is not sufficient, the system automatically schedules forward starting with today’s date.

It is possible to have negative float times with today scheduling.

Example Example

The backwards scheduling calculates a scheduled start that is in the past despite maximum reduction. Forward scheduling then calculates the scheduled finish, starting at today’s date and using maximum reduction.

End of the example.