--- sourceDocument: Zurich Strategic Portfolio Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/it-business-management Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich Strategic Portfolio Management ft:clusterId : - itbm bundleId : - itbm workflow : - Technology --- # Using Planning console - Legacy # Using Planning console - Legacy {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Zurich Updated July 31, 2025 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Using Planning console - Legacy The Planning console is a centralized interface within the Project Management application, designed to give project managers a comprehensive view of project tasks, sub-projects, and timelines through a work breakdown structure (WBS) and a Gantt chart. It integrates collaboration via Live Feed and supports project scheduling and planning activities. Show full answer Show less **Important:** The Planning console is slated for future deprecation and will no longer be available for installation, though it will continue to be supported. ServiceNow recommends transitioning to the new Project Workspace, which offers an enhanced user interface for project management. ## Key Features * **Sections:** The console consists of a task list, a Gantt chart displaying task timelines and dependencies, and banner icons for task actions. * **Task Relationships:** Supports creation and management of parent-child task relationships and predecessor dependencies within the WBS. * **Business Rules:** By default, business rules are disabled during console operations but can be enabled to trigger on save or by adjusting properties, providing flexibility in process automation. * **Client Side Planning Console:** Allows building and modifying project structure quickly on the client side (browser) without frequent server saves, improving scheduling performance and reducing lag. * **Automatic vs Manual Projects:** * Automatic projects update all task dates and dependencies dynamically when changes occur. * Manual projects require manual updates of tasks; however, a project property can be enabled to update planned dates based on actual start dates. * The project type is defined by the Calculation field and becomes read-only once the project starts. * **Customization:** Administrators can configure custom columns to display in the Planning console, tailoring the interface to organizational needs. * **Tutorial Walkthrough:** An in-console tutorial is available to guide users through features and usage. ## Using the Planning Console Project managers can perform typical project management tasks such as creating tasks and copying projects, as well as tasks unique to the Planning console like building project hierarchies and establishing dependencies visually through the Gantt chart and WBS. The console facilitates efficient project scheduling and task relationship management. ## What Customers Can Expect * A unified interface to view and manage project tasks, timelines, and dependencies. * Improved planning efficiency with client-side interactions minimizing delays. * Flexibility to handle both automatic and manual scheduling methodologies. * Support for collaboration through integrated Live Feed functionality. * Future transition guidance as the Planning console moves towards deprecation in favor of the new Project Workspace. The planning console is a centralized interface for the Project Management application. Important: Planning console is being prepared for future deprecation. It will be hidden and no longer available for installation but will continue to be supported. For details, see the [Deprecation Process \[KB0867184\]](https://hi.service-now.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0867184) article in the Now Support knowledge base. Use new [Project Workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/AVd2b8Fx6FVQmdk6Wh~f2Q "ServiceNow Project Workspace helps project managers to plan and manage projects from a central location.") with enhanced UI to help you efficiently manage your projects. The planning console gives project managers a comprehensive view of all aspects of a project. These aspects include a hierarchical list of sub-projects, if any, project tasks that appear in a work breakdown structure (WBS) list, and the project Gantt chart. The console also integrates with Live Feed so your users can collaborate on projects. ## Sections in the planning console The planning console is divided into the following sections: * A list of the project tasks if you open the planning console for a project. * The Gantt chart. * Banner icons and lists for performing tasks on the console. {#c_TheProjectPlanningConsole__ul_v4m_y5d_2s} Figure 1. Example planning console For more information on the Gantt chart and the task relationships and dependencies that you can build, see [Gantt chart](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eFWhmveRDXZCAlEDLlxROg "A Gantt chart on the planning console is a visual representation of a project timeline that shows start and end dates of tasks, and the dependencies between tasks.") and [Parent-child rollup task calculations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Z5Fyk3hafR56oQ7JQQIuwg "Date changes, stage changes, and value calculations roll up from child tasks to parent tasks."). Note: The resources in the Assigned to column of the planning console can be constrained to be derived only from the allocated resource plans associated to the project or any of its tasks. ## Business rules By default, the business rules are not triggered during an operation in the planning console. You can enable the business rules using [Enable firing of Business Rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/XhCqEyp5tidoy2L60s9vsA#r_InstalledWithProjectManagement__project_application_properties) property. Note: To enable this property, you must clear the [Enable Client Side Planning](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bh3ZUjPB1aNaMcL8Wl0WJw "Enable client side planning in planning console to enable project scheduling at the client side.") check box. You can also enable business rules when [defining the columns for planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/yCU0cQF7xtA2LE2dRfOndA#add-display-column__table_irt_mrm_rx) using the Fire BR on Save field. ## Client side planning console {#c_TheProjectPlanningConsole__section_kst_1jf_sdb} Build your project structure quickly on the client side without having to save details in the server for each interaction in planning console. Enabling [Client side planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dTXJ6BcC8UZYuWEH9y~iDg "During calculation of project schedule in the planning console, it is possible to build your project structure quickly on the client side (browser). You do not need to save details in the server for each interaction. It prevents any time lags that occur after you perform any actions in the planning console, and improves the scheduling performance.") prevents any time lags that occur after you perform any actions in planning console, and improves the scheduling performance. ## Automatic and manual projects In an automatic project, any change to the dates, duration, or relationships of a project task automatically updates all the tasks in the entire project. This update includes the project record, as necessary. The automatic project icon (![screenshot for automatic project icon]()) appears adjacent to the project name. In a manual project, changes to the dates, duration, or relationships of a project task don't automatically update all tasks. So parent task dates do not reflect any changes made to dependents or child tasks. The only change that is made automatically is when a task date or duration change updates dates and duration of the project record. In a manual project, any update to actual start date does not update the planned end date of the project or project task. However, enabling the [project property](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/XhCqEyp5tidoy2L60s9vsA#r_InstalledWithProjectManagement__project_application_properties) Enable alter of planned date with Actual for Manual Project updates the planned end date from actual start date and planned duration. The manual project icon (![screenshot for manual project icon]()) appears adjacent to the project name. You can specify if a project is automatic or manual in the Calculation field on the Project form. This field becomes read-only when the project starts. ## Tutorial A tutorial walk through is available in the console. It shows you all the features of the console and how to use them. Access the walk through within the help icon (![screenshot for help icon]()). * **[Open the project planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/~ZA14tvEMU~puG3rDntocg)** Access the planning console to perform the planning for the project. * **[Planning console tasks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/WdfT~OzJZxqTKM~_9kRr6A)** You can perform several tasks on the planning console that you can perform on lists and forms, such as creating project tasks and copying projects. You can also perform several tasks unique to the console. * **[Client side planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dTXJ6BcC8UZYuWEH9y~iDg)** During calculation of project schedule in the planning console, it is possible to build your project structure quickly on the client side (browser). You do not need to save details in the server for each interaction. It prevents any time lags that occur after you perform any actions in the planning console, and improves the scheduling performance. * **[Gantt chart](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eFWhmveRDXZCAlEDLlxROg)** A Gantt chart on the planning console is a visual representation of a project timeline that shows start and end dates of tasks, and the dependencies between tasks. * **[Create a parent-child relationship on the planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ZIZDOgs~HqZwXOowZZ57Qg)** The WBS section of the planning console allows you to create parent-child relationships for new tasks or move around existing tasks in a new parent-child relationship. The position of a task in the hierarchy and the level of indentation determine the parent-child relationship it has with the tasks above or below it. * **[Predecessor dependencies in the planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/U51QdPGuta_im6Uv6lyudA)** In the WBS section of the planning console, you can create dependencies between tasks by specifying a series of values. * **[Custom columns in the planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/FJO4l8h~dBw_JFuOyz5xIQ)** In addition to the regular columns that are provided in the base system, as the PPS admin, you can configure which columns appear in the planning console. * **[Create a dependency from the planning console](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/k9p_f8DaF8JSBRO2M9923A)** Create a dependency between two tasks on the planning console.