Gantt chart options

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Gantt chart options

    The Gantt chart in ServiceNow allows you to efficiently modify task attributes such as start and end times directly from the chart interface, eliminating the need to open each Task form individually. This functionality streamlines project scheduling and task management by enabling quick visual adjustments.

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    Key Features

    • Modify Planned Start Date: You can move tasks along the timeline to set or adjust their planned start dates. Changes are restricted if the task has started, ended, or has a "Start ASAP" time constraint. Additionally, start dates can be edited in the Planned start date column on the console.
    • Project Planned Start Date: Adjustments to the project’s planned start date can be made via the console. By default, the project start date shifts to align with the earliest task start date; however, enabling the Rollup project start date from tasks property preserves the original project start date despite earlier task start dates.
    • Modify Planned End Date: You can extend a task’s planned end date by dragging the right edge of its bar, applicable only to non-parent tasks that have not yet ended.
    • Edit Dependencies: Dependencies between tasks can be edited or deleted by double-clicking connector lines. The relationship type for planned tasks is fixed as Predecessor of::Successor of and should not be altered.
    • Manage Lag and Lead Time: Lag time represents the delay between predecessor and successor tasks, while lead time allows a successor to start earlier than usual (negative lag). These are edited by double-clicking dependency connectors and entering positive (lag) or negative (lead) values.
    • Assign or Change Resources: To assign or change a user resource on a task, double-click the task bar and update the Assigned to field in the Project Task form. The list of assignable resources can be restricted based on allocated resource plans, controlled by the Derive assignee list from resource plan setting on the project form.

    Practical Impact

    Using the Gantt chart options, ServiceNow customers can efficiently manage task timelines, dependencies, and resource assignments without navigating multiple forms. This enhances project scheduling accuracy and responsiveness. Additionally, project properties offer further control over task calculations and behavior to tailor project management to your organization’s needs.

    Use the Gantt chart to quickly change task attributes, such as start and end time, rather than opening every Task form and modifying field values one by one.

    From a Gantt chart, you can modify the following task attributes:
    Table 1. Modify tasks
    Attribute Description
    Planned start date for project tasks Move the task along the timeline to change the start time and to impose a Time constraint of Start on a specific date. You can also drag a task to change its start date if the task Time constraint is set to Start on a specific date (not Start ASAP) and the task has not yet started. The start date of a task cannot be modified if the task already started (has an actual start date), the task has already ended (has an actual end date), or the task time constraint is set to Start ASAP.

    You can also modify the dates in the Planned start date column on the console.
    Planned start date for the project

    Modify the dates in the Planned start date column on the console.

    You can add tasks that start earlier than the project's planned start date. By default, the planned start date shifts earlier or later when you add tasks to align with the earliest task start date. However, you can enable the project property Rollup project start date from tasks to retain the planned start date of the project even if you add tasks with a planned start date that is earlier or later.
    Planned end date

    Drag the right edge of the task bar to extend the planned end date. You can extend the planned of date only for tasks that are not parent tasks and that have not yet ended.
    Dependencies To edit or delete a dependency, double-click an existing dependency connector line between two tasks and update the settings in the Planned Task Relationship popup. The relationship Type for planned tasks is Predecessor of::Successor of and should not be changed.
    Lag time and lead time Lag time is an interval of time between the end of a predecessor task and the start of a successor task. The lag time delays the predecessor by an amount that you specify.

    Lead time is an interval of time that the predecessor task is allowed to start before it normally would. It is essentially a negative lag time. The value in the Lag field specifies both lag and lead time.

    To edit the Lag value, double-click a connector and update the settings in the Planned Task Relationship form. Enter a negative value to specify a lead time.
    Resources To change a user resource for an existing task or add a resource to a new task, double-click the task bar and edit the Assigned to field in the Project Task form.
    Note:
    The resources in Assigned to column can be constrained to be derived only from the allocated resource plans associated with the project or any of its task. The Derive assignee list from resource plan field on the project form controls the behavior.

    The Project Management application provides several properties that control how tasks are calculated and behave. See Project property for more information.