Settings for Scheduling Parameters

Use

Choose the icon or Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Options End of the navigation path to open the dialog box for editing the scheduling parameters. Here you see an overview of all the settings possible for scheduling. The default values are taken from the project profile. However, you can change these values during processing.

Note Note

If you change the settings, the new values are saved user-specifically but are not copied to the project profile.

You have defined "open planning" for time scheduling in the project profile. In time scheduling you change the planning method to "bottom-up". This setting is saved user-specifically The next time you edit dates or schedule you use bottom-up planning or you have to change the settings again.

End of the note.

Features

On the Scheduling tab page you enter or change the following settings:

Scheduling scenario

There are basically three methods that you can use for scheduling projects. Top-down and Bottom-up are predefined scenarios, whose parameters are determined by the system. These parameters cannot be changed. If you choose one of these scenarios, the system uses these pre-defined parameters for scheduling in all stages of the project. You do not have to edit or check the scheduling parameters. In contrast to this, you edit all the scheduling parameters yourself in Free scheduling .

Top-Down Scenario

The dates for scheduling are passed down from the project definition, to the WBS elements, and to the activities. The dates of the activities must be within the dates of the WBS element to which they are assigned. Similarly the dates of the WBS elements must be within the dates of the superior WBS element. All the dates in the project must within the period formed by the basic dates of the project definition.

Bottom-Up Scenario

In this case the dates are passed on from the bottom of the hierarchy to the top. The dates for activities, determined in scheduling; are checked against the dates of the WBS element to which the activities are assigned to see if the planning period defined by the dates of the WBS element include all dates from the activities. If this is not the case, the start date, the finish date, or both dates of the superior WBS element is changed. This is repeated up the WBS hierarchy to the project definition.

If a WBS element does not have other WBS elements or activities assigned to it, the system uses the basic dates of the WBS element as scheduled dates.

Free Scheduling

You can set up the scheduling parameters as you like. You make these settings in the Scheduling parameters for activities section of the Scheduling tab page.

Scheduling Method for WBS Structure

You must specify planning methods for planning using both basic and forecast dates. This only refers to the work breakdown structure and not to the activities:

With top-down planning , you plan the dates starting from the highest WBS element in the project hierarchy. The dates in the subordinate WBS elements must be within the dates of the higher-level WBS elements.

With bottom-up planning , you plan the dates starting from the subordinate WBS elements. The start and finish dates of subordinate WBS elements and then passed on up (independently of each other), if they are outside the planning period of the superior WBS element.

With strict bottom-up planning, you specify that the dates from the subordinate WBS elements determine the dates for the superior WBS elements. If you have already entered planned dates for superior WBS elements, the system deletes and recalculates them based on the dates of the subordinate WBS elements .

In open planning , you plan dates without hierarchical dependencies. You can also check and extrapolate the dates.

Scheduling Parameters for Activities

Function	What You Should Know
WBS scheduling profile	The system displays the pre-defined scheduling profile from the project profile.
Scheduling type	Determines which scheduling is taken into account first (forwards, backwards, current date etc.) See also: Scheduling Types If you have set the Adjust basic dates indicator and are using forwards scheduling, the subsequent backwards scheduling starts at the scheduled finish date. Similarly , in the case of backwards scheduling the scheduled start date is used for the subsequent forwards scheduling. If you do not set the Adjust basic dates indicator the two scheduling runs occur independently of another, starting at the basic start and the basic finish dates. In this case you must have maintained both the basic start and basic finish dates.
Scheduling method	WBS determines dates In the case of forwards scheduling the earliest start date of the activities (or in the case of backward scheduling the latest finish date) is determined by the basic dates of the WBS element to which the activities are assigned. Network determines dates In the case of forwards scheduling the earliest start date of the activities (or in the case of backward scheduling the latest finish date) is determined by the basic dates of the network header.
Maximum reduction level	Determines the maximum level used to reduce the lead time so that the project can be completed on time.
Reduction type	For detailed information, see Reduction
Start in past	Determines the number of days that the basic start date is allowed to be in the past.
Adjust basic dates	Specifies that in the case of scheduling based on activity dates (bottom-up scenario), the scheduled dates from the activities overwrite the basic dates of the WBS element.
Shift order	Specifies that, in the case of partially confirmed activities, the actual dates that have already been confirmed are not taken into account, if the activity is scheduled again.
Latest staging	Specifies how the requirements date for a component should lie in relationship to the dates of the activity. Set the indicator for Components with a positive requirements quantity and the requirements date is the latest start date for the activity. Components with a negative requirements quantity and the requirements date is the latest start finish date for the activity.
Automatic log	Specifies that the scheduling log is automatically displayed after each scheduling run.
Automatic scheduling	Specifies that the system automatically schedules the network or project, when you save it and you have made changes that affect scheduling.