Submitted by jan_rifkinson on 2009/04/03 09:34
Pierre, I'm trying to set a construction schedule w IQ
 
Is the best use a Gnatt chart?
If so, how do I set it up?
 
Thanks
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
 
 

Comments

Hi Jan,
 
Using the Gantt is ideal, since you can :
  1. show/hide tasks, sub-tasks, etc,
  2. Change the timescale easily
  3. assign dependencies (and have a list of tasks that need and can be addressed now),
  4. if something slips, you can select many tasks and move them in one step,
  5. Print it and give it to your foreman (or yourself!)
  6. Eventually, you'll be able to show the task in a Calendar
 
Doesn't the default Gantt setup work for you?

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/03 10:25

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Sounds ideal, Pierre. Can't figure out what field drives the Gantt chart.
i set up items with dates opened gantt view default & there is nothing there. Maybe I'm using wrong field; using "Date"
Should i be using Calendar's appt date?
 
Also, after returning from forum, IQ just froze, had to close /re-open program
And row color extends as a line to Gantt chart
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/03 10:48

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

Try:
  1. Close grid
  2. View > manage grids
  3. Select your grid
  4. Open up the Gantt section and view/edit options
  5. Save and close
  6. Re-open grid

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/03 12:29

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Sorry, where is view / edit options?  how do I get to this?
Plse provide exact steps
TIA
 
Edited: 04/03/09 11:33 am ok I see grids | manage | gantt | fields
 
Edited: 04/03/09 12:12 pm  2 problems
(1) I have to distinguish between 2 kinds of assignments: mon - fri working for company 'A', sat & or sun work for company 'B' . Do I make that distinction in the item description or w color or?? best way to handle?
(2) entered an item start work, duration 1 day end work returned 12/31/1899. This was not solved by closing / re-opening grid / view or program. Also tried replacing item but results same
(3) when shifting for duration = 1 day from day view to hours view, 1 day start time = 8am, end time = 6pm or 10 hours. Where can I change this? Ex: 8am - 4pm for an 8hr day?
 
Thank  you.
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/03 12:45

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

  1. I would use a text field and set inheritance true (value > sub-items). Alternatively, you could set all tasks for Company A as sub-items of Company A and same for B
  2. Are you using the default fields? Hierarchy calculations are enabled for these. Did you create the Gantt bar by drag-drop on the Gantt or entered dates/durations in the grid?
  3. No easy way right now. In day view, the day is divided in 4 blocks of 6 hrs each. In Hour view, the hour is divided in 2 blocks. If actual hours are relevant (are they really?), enter in Hour view, or enter dates directly in the grid

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/03 13:40

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

2.  Don't know how to drag-drop on the Gannt. I entered data in grid.  How do I do it the other way?
3. how do I enter hours in hour view?
 
In some cases I'm paying for services by the hour. I'd like to be able to record that. What do you recommed?  I think hours should be in three 8hr blocks. It's more normal to living, i.e. sleep 8 hrs, work 8 hrs, etc.
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/03 13:56

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

2. Click on an item line in the Chart area, hold the mouse and more right. Let go. You'll have created a Gantt bar. Grid fields will be filled automatically
3. ???
 
Agreed for the 3 blocks of 8 hrs each. Changed in my dev. build

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/03 14:08

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

If I update start date, I get error figuring end date
If I delete any item, I get errors.
Have to close / re-open gird & then sometimes get problems anyway
 
This occurs when trying to update a constantly moving schedule
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/03 16:56

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

It works fine here. To help isolate the issue, if you have the time, start with a fresh file (file>new) and record the steps to reproduce the problem (use the Projects grid)
 
Thanks!
 

J-Mac

2009/04/15 04:46

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

The Gantt Chart feature has never worked here. Or perhaps the design of it in SQLNotes is not as a true Gantt?
 
E.g., I enter a number of activities and assign scheduled start and finish dates, but nothing shows up on the Gantt chart. If I enter any Actual dates they do show on the Gantt, but a Gantt chart is supposed to show scheduled dates, actual dates, and progress of actual work on the schedule. Are actual dates required to be entered before anything shows on the chart? Can the SN Gantt chart show a schedule? (Meaning project activities and their schedule dates) Or does it only track historical data? (Meaning actuals).
 
A suggestion for the display of the Gantt: The timescale is not real easy to use. If I select Days each day is about 1/8 inch wide which doesn't show activities that fall within a day. If I select Hours each hour is twice as wide as the Days were, or about 1/4 inch wide. When I scroll the date in the timescale can disappear because it is shown in a static position and if the middle part of the day is shown no date is visible on the timescale. Date should float so that it is always visible regardless of what hour is showing. And the width of the Day scale should be adjustable so that you can see any tasks during that day.
 
There are a lot of other issues that I will save for another day.
 
Thanks!
 
Jim

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/15 10:27

In reply to by J-Mac

>The Gantt Chart feature has never worked here. Or perhaps the design of it in SQLNotes is not as a true Gantt?
 
In Grid > Properties > Gantt, you choose which fields are used for the start, end dates, duration, % done, etc. Most likely, the issue is that you are entering dates, etc in the wrong fields. Compare the filled fields (in the properties pane) between an item where you created the bar by dragging in the chart, to other items which have dates but don't show
 
Also check the Project grid of a new file, to see how it works, the columns are set up correctly in that sample grid.
 
You are correct that the scale jump from Hr to Day is way too large, I'll fix it
 
 

J-Mac

2009/04/17 00:14

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Aha. The Gantt was determined by all Actual Dates. That is what was already setup there, as I have never looked there before. Is that what you set as the default, Pierre? If so, did you realize that a schedule would never show on the Gantt chart? Only actuals and progress would. Most want to see the schedule, actual, and progress.
 
Thanks!
 
Jim

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/17 09:49

In reply to by J-Mac

There is still much to do on the Gantt, including:
  • Separate bars for planned and actual, with different colors
  • Summary tasks (with continuous bar or with discontinuous bars)
  • Multiple bars per item
  • Multiple scales (i.e. expand sections of the Gantt, to zoom in
  • Histogram and Graph of Work Load
  • Tasks dependencies (start to start, end to end, finish to start, start to finish)
  • ...

Armando

2009/04/17 12:36

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Multiple bars per item would certainly be a must... I tried creating different sub items for each "tasks", but it's cumbersome as it shows as a long task in the parent item, which doesn't reflect the true amount of work done.
I wonder how could that be done though...

J-Mac

2009/04/19 01:32

In reply to by Armando

To be honest, I don't ever expect SQLNotes/IQ to be a complete scheduling program. After all CPM scheduling programs are very large and complex programs in their own realm. Still, Pierre has created a very nice way to make basic schedules with basic bar-charts, and that is all I really need for the type of scheduling I do anymore. Separate bars would be really nice, Pierre. Sounds good.
 
I used to work in project management, mostly creating CPM schedules on a very large scale for about 20 years. I worked for Primavera in a consulting position for two of those years. Programs like that are immense, extremely complex, and unbelievably expensive! Of course none - or very few - of us would need for SQLNotes/IQ to perform that kind of scheduling. Just a simplified version of what MS Project tries to do - and that is itself a very simple scheduling program.  ;)   (Pierre - you have to either change the name or not, so we can stop typing both names separated with a slash!!)
 
Jim

Armando

2009/04/19 15:05

In reply to by J-Mac

I agree with you Jim. Most of us don't need Primavera's complexity. And IQ should soon be able able to answer most people's scheduling needs, even for small scale project management.

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/19 15:29

In reply to by J-Mac

>Pierre - you have to either change the name or not, so we can stop typing both names separated with a slash!!
 
Why not do like everyone else... use InfoQube or IQ, it is the official new name. I'll update the executable files, addons, etc in the near future
 
BTW, I've also used Primavera in a previous life and do not plan to add that level of complexity. More than Ecco, less than Project is the goal!