You can directly edit task data using the Gantt chart itself. Tasks you perform include dragging and dropping to lengthen or shorten task duration, change the start or finish data, and create dependencies. You can also right click in the chart and perform a number of other tasks.
View Task Summary
To view a summary of a task, hover the mouse cursor over the task bar:
Editing Tasks Bars
To change the start AND finish dates of a task click and hold in the center of the task bar, drag right or left, and release the mouse button:
To change the start OR finish dates of a task separately hover the mouse cursor over the left or right edge of the task bar. When the cursor changes to a two-headed one click and hold, drag right or left, and release the mouse button:
Defining Dependencies
To define a dependency click on the left or right half of a task bar, drag up or down until a connector starts to form, drag left or right and up or down until the second task bar is highlighted, and release the mouse button.
The sides of the task bars that are connected and the direction of the arrowhead define the type of dependency relationship. See Reading the Gantt Chart for more information.
Right Click Menu
You can right click on the Gantt chart to open an interactive menu. The menu commands available vary depending on where you right click:
Menu Command
Description
Add early end constraint here
The task cannot end before a date
Add early start constraint here
The task cannot begin before a date
Add late end constraint here
The task cannot end after a date
Add late start constraint here
The task cannot begin after a date
Add mandatory end constraint here
For future use
Add mandatory start constraint here
For future use
Add new flag to selected point
A flag is an indicator that you can place on a task bar. When you place a flag you are prompted to enter text related to it. When you hover the cursor over a flag its text displays in a tool tip. You can also right click on a flag and select "Enter the flag text" from the context menu to reopen the dialog and edit the text.
Add new ending milestone here
Inserts a regular milestone at the point at which you right clicked. See Reading the Gantt Chart for a description of regular milestones.
Add new milestone here
Inserts a regular ending milestone at the point at which you right clicked. See Reading the Gantt Chart for a description of regular ending milestones.
Change resources
When you select this menu command the Assign resources dialog opens. Place a checkmark next to each resource you wish to assign to the task. This is the same as making selections on the Schedules Task Details Resources Tab. Resources are created in the Portfolio Module. Only resources with "Scheduling" checked are shown in this list.
This command clears most of the data from the task line you right clicked on. The Task ID and Task fields are not affected by this command but most other data in the task is cleared.
Correct all dependencies in chart
This command recalculates all tasks in the schedule. It is the same as clicking the Calculate Dependencies button in the Schedules Gantt Chart Toolbar.
Correct related dependencies
This command recalculates the task you right clicked on as well as all other tasks directly connected to it by dependencies. It does not recalculate any other tasks.
Delete all tasks
FUTURE USE
Delete the task
FUTURE USE
Delete the dependency
This command deletes only the dependency you right clicked on.
Disable the task
Disconnect all dependencies
If you right click on a task bar or a dependency connector, this command deletes all dependencies - Predecessors and Successors - for the selected task. If you right click anywhere else on the Gantt chart, this command deletes all dependencies for all tasks in the schedule.
Enter completed status
This command opens a dialog in which you can enter the percent complete for the task you right clicked on. Entering percent complete this way has the same result as typing it in the %C field in the Gantt chart table or in the % Complete filed in the Schedules Task Details General Tab .
Lock the task
A locked task cannot be dragged left or right in the Gantt chart and its Start and Finish fields cannot be edited. Also, you cannot drag to create dependencies linked to a locked task.
Set completed status here
This command enters a percent complete for the task at the point along the bar that you right clicked. Entering percent complete this way has the same result as typing it in the %C field in the Gantt chart table or in the % Complete filed in the Schedules Task Details General Tab .
Zoom to...
Use these commands to zoom to a specific time scale setting. The same results can be achieved using the zoom buttons in the Schedules Gantt Chart Toolbar.
