Gantt chart options

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Gantt Chart Options

    The Gantt chart feature in ServiceNow enables users to efficiently modify task attributes such as start and end dates without the need to open individual task forms. This functionality streamlines project management by allowing quick adjustments directly on the timeline.

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    Key Features

    • Modify Planned Start Date: Drag tasks along the timeline to change their start dates, subject to specific constraints. Tasks cannot be moved if they have already started or ended, or if they are set to start ASAP.
    • Adjust Planned End Date: The planned end date can be extended by dragging the task bar's right edge, applicable only to tasks that have not yet concluded.
    • Edit Dependencies: Double-click on dependency lines to access the Planned Task Relationship popup for editing or deleting dependencies. The relationship type should remain as Predecessor and Successor.
    • Manage Lag and Lead Times: Lag time can be set to delay the start of a successor task, while lead time allows a predecessor to begin earlier. These values can be adjusted in the Planned Task Relationship form.
    • Resource Assignment: Modify the Assigned to field by double-clicking the task bar, enabling changes to user resources for both existing and new tasks.

    Key Outcomes

    Utilizing the Gantt chart options allows ServiceNow customers to enhance their project management efficiency. Users can quickly adapt task schedules and resource allocations, ensuring that projects remain on track and aligned with timelines. This feature ultimately supports better planning and resource management across project tasks.

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