Getting Started › How to Set Up Open Workbench › Define the Time Scales

Define the Time Scales

Use the Time Scale dialog to define the time periods and the type of time scale information that is displayed in views containing Gantt charts or tabulated views.

Follow these steps:

1. Open a spreadsheet view that displays a Gantt chart.
2. Double-click the column heading that displays dates.
3. Complete the fields in the Time Scale dialog. The following fields require explanation:

   Start Date

   Defines the start date for the time scale.

   Note: To edit this date, select User Defined Date from the First Date Displayed drop-down.

   First Date Displayed

   Specifies the first date to display on the time scale.

   Default: Project Start

   Values:

   • Project Start. The start date of the first task in the project.
   • Today's Date. The current system date.
   • Project Committed Actuals Start. The date of the first committed actuals on the first task.
   • Next Pending Start. The start date of the next task that is estimated to start.
   • Project As-of Date. The date of the last change that was made to the project or the last time it was saved.
   • Pending Actuals Start. The first date of the currently collected uncommitted actuals.
   • Project Fiscal Start. The start of the current fiscal period.
   • User Defined Date. Allows you to enter a start date.

   Finish Date

   Defines the finish date for the time scale.

   Note: To edit this date, select User Defined Date from the Period Finish Date drop-down.

   Period Finish Date

   Specifies the finish date for the time scale.

   Default: Cleared

   To activate this field, you must:

   • Add one or more tabulated fields to the view's definition.
   • Select the Tabulate check box in the Formatting Options dialog for at least one of the tabulated fields of the view.
   • Select Customized from the Scale drop-down.

   Note: You cannot use user-defined dates with a view that displays a Gantt chart. For Gantt time scales, Customized is not a Scale option and the Period Finish Date field is unavailable. However, you can use user-defined dates with views that display tabulated fields.

   Number of Periods

   Enter the number of time scale periods. This feature is unavailable if you select Customized Scale from the drop-down list.

   Scale

   Select the time period increments you want to display in the Gantt chart heading columns. You can display one customized or user-defined period for each field name.

   Default: Weekly

   Values: Weekly, Daily, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annually, Annually, or Customized

   Show Week Number

   Select this check box to display the week number in the heading for each time period. Week numbers begin at the start of the fiscal year. This option is enabled when you select Weekly from the Scale drop-down list.

   Note: Week 1 includes January 1, a standard in the U.S. and the U.K.

4. Click OK.

More information:

Define Resource Estimate to Complete on Task

Spreadsheet Views

Define a Resource's or Role's General Properties and Availability

Configure a Gantt Chart