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Task schedule in Projects Planner

What this is for

The schedule sets how many calendar days a project task lasts. You can set a date range independently of the work-time estimate.

How to get there

Choose Goals & Projects → Projects Planner (/projects-planner).

Step by step

  1. Choose a project and click Add Task, or open an existing task.
  2. Set Start date, End date or Duration (calendar days).
  3. Optionally set Effort estimate and Calendar start time.
  4. Click Create for a new task or Save after editing.

Fields and options

Click a task or the Dates button next to its name. For a task with dates, the button shows the number of days, e.g. 5d. The same fields are available when adding a task.

  • Start date — changing the start keeps the duration and moves the end.
  • End date — changing the end recalculates the number of days.
  • Duration (calendar days) — changing the number of days moves the end.

The range includes both dates. Start and end on the same day mean 1 day. Weekends are counted. You can start from a duration and then give a start or an end; saving the day count alone requires adding one of the dates. Giving only the end creates a one-day task.

Optional schedule

The schedule is optional. Clear schedule clears the dates and duration. Saving removes the linked entry from the calendar, keeping the project task. Canceling the form keeps the previous schedule.

Effort estimate vs. calendar days

Effort estimate is a separate work estimate in minutes or hours. Changing this estimate does not change the day range. In the Tasks calendar, the linked task takes the time implied by the estimate, on the schedule's start day. Calendar start time sets its hour.

Project bar

A project or subproject bar spans the earliest start and the latest end of all tasks in the branch. The Planned end field remains a separate target date for the project.

Common mistakes / pitfalls

  • A day count alone needs at least one date so the schedule can be saved.
  • Clearing the schedule removes the calendar entry only after saving.
  • A day range does not increase the effort estimate. The rules for linking with the calendar are described in the project task plan.