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From the many new features of our new version 404, Target Skills has now developed:

 Tasks templates - Gantt Chart

 1- Here is an overview:

2- You can learn how to use this new feature directly via this video below:

3- Rename the words "Template" and "Production" using your own business language

From the menu Tools -> Language, you can rename those two words:

4- Finally, you can also read our full documentation for this feature here:

http://www.planningpme.com/fiches/FC22-Tasks-Templates.pdf

If you are interested, we can give you on online demo of this feature and you can always contact us: +33 (0)1 69 47 10 00 or your local partner: http://www.planningpme.com/partners.htm

Learn how to create a task in just some clicks!

Within our planning application, you can create a task just easily and also modify it easily.

Have a look at this video that shows the basics of task creation:

Read more about tasks management

As always, you can contact us to have a free demo online and you can also watch more videos.

You can now force the creation of a task

even if the resource is already busy

Watch our video:
http://www.planningpme.com/video-ppme-force-tasks-creation.htm

Description of this feature:

If you try to assign a task to a resource that is already busy, you will have this kind of message below.

If you press “Force Assignment”, the task will be created and you will have two tasks on the planning as shown below:

Otherwise, the task will not be created.

NB: If you are already a client and that you are using the users rights, this feature will not be activated by default so that the users will not have this permission.  To activate it, go to the menu Data -> Group and tick on the box “Force assignment”.

Want to know more about PlanningPME releases?

Have a look at the evolutions of PlanningPME, version 4.0.3.

Selection and Creation Mode

These modes have been designed to make tasks management easier.

Creation mode

This mode allows you to create tasks on the schedule drawing a rectangle or double clicking.

Selection Mode

This mode allows you to select several tasks at the same time and to move them on the scale time.

By default, you are in a creation mode. For the selection mode, right click on your mouse and choose "Selection Mode".     
You can select several tasks at the same time drawing a rectangle grouping several tasks or selecting them one by one with the touch CTRL pressed on.
Move you tasks along the scale time, dragging one of the selected tasks.
In this example, 3 tasks were moved to the next day at the same time.

If you made a mistake, you can cancel the last operation pressing the keys CTRL + Z.
You can also delete several tasks proceeding the same way or paste several tasks.

Careful: In the "Task",  "Client" or "Project" view, you can move your tasks along the time axis but not along the y-axis.
To be back to the creation mode, right click on the schedule and choose "Creation Mode".

How to lock task on the planning?

You can lock your tasks by two different ways:

• You can forbid creation and modification of tasks prior to the present day;
• Tasks can be locked one by one.

Forbid creation and modification of tasks prior to the current date
From PlanningPME, go to the menu “Tools” -> “Options…”

 
On the tab « General », the following window appears:

Ticking on this box, past tasks to the current date will not be allowed to be modified.
 
Task locking

You can fix some tasks in order no one to modify them without your agreement.
First of all, to have access to this option, you must enter the schedule with users rights. 

Then, double clicking on the locked task, you will see the name of the user who locked the task. Here, David.

Only the person responsible for the locking or the administrator will be authorized to unlock the task selecting “unlock”.

How to assign a duration to the task in hours or days?

When you affect a length to a task, PlanningPME will calculate cleverly the ending date taking into account your resources slots : slots and non working days. You can also indicate a break.
How to use task time feature?

First of all, create a task on your schedule. The “task” window then appears.

Careful! A task with a duration can only be assigned to one resource.
NB: Ticking on "All day" you can enter a length in days.
Ticking off "All day" you can enter a length in hours.

Let's see this task management feature with a practical example

We are going to assign a 4 days length task to the resource « Pedro ».

PlanningPME is going to take into account non-worked days such as Saturday and Sunday on this example. So, the task will end the 9th of August!

This function is interesting when you know the length of your task but not the ending date.

Assignment of a task status or category

For each single task created on your schedule, you can assign a category.

As an example, you can tell whether a task is important or not, if a booking is confirmed or not...
Then, you can filter the schedule to have tasks of a certain category displayed.

How to create a new category?
From PlanningPME, go to the menu "Data" -> Task category"

The “Task Category” window appears.
To add a status, type a label, then select the text and background colors and press the button  “Add”.
You can also select hatching for the category.

NB: Each task created on the planning will be by default of the first category of the list.  For example, “Not Confirmed” in the example below.

If you have added some hatchings to your category, you will see them directly on the planning:
Here, you have a double information: The yellow color is the color selected for the label “training” and the green horizontal lines represent the category of this task.

How to assign a category to a task?

Just select it from the drop down list chile creating a task:

How to filter the planning underlining the task status?

You have a filter at the right top side of the planning board:

How to have the colors displayed on the schedule with this category?

You can display tasks in function of the color of the category on the screen from the menu "Tools" -> "Options" -> "Task".

The color of the task will then be the color of the category of the task.

Related Posts:

Tasks management within PlanningPME : All the functions available for an easy tasks management within our planning software.

How to create a recurring task on your planning?

Some tasks have to be done in a recurrent way. To avoid creating it several times, we implemented a recurrence function. The function “Recurrence” will help you in your tasks management as monthly meetings, yearly appointments…This is another possibility that makes this software so user-friendly.

When creating a task, in the window “Task”, click on the button “Recurrence”.

The following window appears:

 And here is the visualization on the schedule:

You can delete an occurrence of a periodical task or delete all the series. To do so, select the task and right click on the mouse.
Then, click on « Delete ».

If you want, you can get off a task from its series either to:
- Move it 
- Activate a reminder only on this task...

You can extract several tasks from the recurrence: it is useful when a person is off. To do so, click right on the resource and select "Get off the recurrence". Select the period during which you want to get off the tasks from the recurrence.

Careful: The period of time displayed on the screen must include the period during which the resource is off.

 
Tasks are then independent and you can reassign them to other resources.

If not done yet, download the trial version of planning PME and try it for free.

Do not hesitate and ask for an online demo.

How to allocate tasks to the correct resource?

You can assign a task to one or several resources at a glance! Task allocation is just easy within PlanningPME.
From PlanningPME, create a task on the schedule.
On the « Task » window, select the tab « Resources » or tick on the box “Several" resources.  The following window appears.

Point 1 : Filter resources by department
You will then have the list of your filtered resources on the left side of your screen.

Point 2 : Display only available resources
Selecting this box, you will avoid a double-booking. You can only select available resources on the period chosen while creating the task.

Point 3 : Display only resources under contract of employment
This is another filter.

So, you can assign task to one or more resources easily.

Learn more about tasks management within PlanningPME.

How to define a task list and have a drop down list

while creating a task?

While creating a task on the planning, you can either type it or select it from a list as shown below.

How to have a predefined list of tasks?

From PlanningPME, go to the menu “Data” -> “Task”. The windows below appears.

From here, you can find all the labels already created. You can add new labels, delete some and really customize fully the scheduling software PlanningPME with your own words.

Then, you have several options available to customize your tasks.
-    Change the text and background colors
-    Assign skills:  "Skills" button
-    Assign hours: "Hours"

Related Posts:

Tasks management within PlanningPME : All the functions available for an easy tasks management within our planning software.