Tutorial: Structure Tasks From DB 39.5.13

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Objective

• This tutorial is intended to show first-time users how to structure tasks in PLANTA project.

Please note

• The screenshots used are merely examples of functions. The screenshot layout may deviate from the actual program layout.

Procedure

• Log on with user R41.
• Create a new project.
• Open the Schedule module.
• The following message box is displayed: Is a schedule to be copied in?
• Answer the confirmation prompt with No.
• Open the context menu by right-clicking on the project line and select the Insert Task entry.
  • Enter a name for the task in the Task name field.
  • Save.
• Insert further tasks in the way shown in the image below.
• By default, the WBS code is displayed in the Task column. Click on the Generate WBS code button in the project line to generate the WBS code.

• Result: The WBS code is assigned to the tasks. Since the tasks have not been structured yet, this is only done by ascending numbering.
  • Via the setting in the show_psp_instead_of_ID parameter, the functional or technical task ID can be displayed in the Task column instead of the WBS code.

• Task x is to be subordinated to the Task.
  • For this purpose, drag Task x on to Task by pressing SHIFT and holding down the left mouse button.
  • As a result, Task x (source task) is visualized green and Task (target task) is visualized blue.
  • Release the left mouse button as soon as the cursor is on Task x. Task x is moved below Task.

• Task y is to be subordinated to Task as well and positioned below Task x.
  • For this purpose, drag Task y on to Task x by pressing SHIFT and holding down the left mouse button.
  • A dark blue line is displayed. Pay attention to the line's position. It is to be positioned at the bottom of Task x and its starting point is to be equal to the starting point of Task x.

• Result:
  • Task x was subordinated to the Task.
  • Task y was subordinated to the Task as well and positioned below Task x.

• Update the WBS code. To do so, click on the Generate WBS code button in the project line. The code is appropriately set according to the predetermined structure.

• Save and click on the Calculate schedule button in the toolbar. The parent Task is marked bold and therefore visualized as a summary task.
  • A summary task is a task in the structured schedule consisting of sub-tasks which are summarized here. Information on the summary task, such as duration and dates, is determined automatically from the sub-tasks.

• Switch to the WBS module in the Project panel by clicking on the tab of the same name.
• Here, the structure created in the Schedule module is displayed graphically.

• The structure is to be changed: Task y is to be subordinated to Task z.
  • For this purpose, position the cursor on the left margin of Task y: A hand symbol is displayed.
  • Hold down the left mouse button and drag the box to the box of Task z. Release the left mouse button over this box.

• Result: Task y has been subordinate to Task z. However, the old WBS code is still displayed.

• In order to update the WBS code, click on the Create WBS Code button.
• Result: The code has been changed according to the structure.

• Switch to the Schedule module in the Project panel again. Click on the Update/reset and Calculate schedule button in the toolbar. The new structure and the new WBS code are visible and the Task z is visualized as a summary task as well. Result: