04 - Planning how-to

How to use Summary Schedule

Use this guide to operate the Summary Schedule canvas, load workflow, item editor, display controls, linking tools, and exports.

Quick Start

Open Summary Schedule from the project-level modules or go directly to the Summary Schedule page.
Click Load Schedule to create or load an exhibit from project data, starter layouts, or saved work.
Select bars, milestones, lanes, or labels on the canvas and edit them in the editor panel.
Use Link, Reflow, Auto-labels, and Push to manage relationships and layout behavior.
Use Save Exhibit and the export buttons when the canvas is ready to share.

Open a project workspace and choose Summary Schedule, or open the Summary Schedule page directly.
Click Load Schedule in the top-right action area.
Choose a saved exhibit when you want to continue prior work.
Choose a starter layout or template when you want a prebuilt exhibit structure.
Choose a project schedule source when you want to draft the exhibit from uploaded XER data.
Close the Load Schedule popout after the exhibit is loaded.

Click Build to open the schedule-building popout.
Choose the schedule source, WBS/activity-code basis, milestone basis, and starter layout options shown in the popout.
Apply the build option to create or refresh the draft canvas.
Click Review Update when a newer project schedule is available.
Use the review output to decide which updates should be applied to the current exhibit.
Close the popout when finished so the full canvas is available again.

Use the zoom controls to zoom in or out.
Use 100% to return to normal scale.
Use Fit to fit the exhibit into the available viewport.
Use the scrollbars or trackpad to move across the timeline.
Use Display to show or hide visual layers and canvas options.
Use Hide Editor to give the canvas more width; use Editor to bring the editor back.

Open the editor panel and use Task to add a new task bar.
Use Milestone to add a new milestone diamond.
Click an item on the canvas to select it.
Use multi-select when you need to edit, move, or format several items together.
Use the item list in the editor panel to select an item when it is hard to click on the canvas.
Use Delete or the remove control to delete selected items.
Use Undo and Redo to reverse or reapply recent edits.

Select an item and edit its name in the item editor.
Change start and finish dates for task bars.
Change milestone dates for milestone items.
Update percent complete, color, shape, label position, notes, and lock state where those fields are shown.
Drag a task bar to move its date range.
Drag a task bar edge to resize its duration.
Move labels manually when manual label placement is enabled.
Use Auto-labels to clean up crowded date, duration, logic, or milestone labels.

Open the Lanes panel in the editor.
Add, rename, reorder, or delete swimlanes as needed.
Drag lane dividers on the canvas to fine-tune row heights.
Use Style, Canvas, Timeline, and Output settings to adjust page format and visual density.
Use Canvas mode to switch between compact, standard, and large layouts.
Use canvas color controls to change background, lane, line, and accent colors.
Use title, subtitle, legend, baseline, and footer toggles to show or hide output elements.

Click Save Exhibit to save the current exhibit state.
Use Load Schedule to reopen saved exhibits or load another schedule source.
Use JSON export when you want a portable editable exhibit file.
Use Load and choose a JSON or CSV file to bring a saved/exported file back into the canvas.
Use Reset to sample if you want to return to the sample exhibit in local/demo mode.

Use PDF to create a PDF version of the exhibit.
Use PNG to create a raster image.
Use SVG to create a scalable vector image.
Use JSON to export the editable exhibit data.
Use CSV to export the item table.
Use the PowerPoint export button when you need editable slide shapes.
Check the visible canvas before export because exports use the current exhibit settings.