Donald says : I have spent hours doing Google searchs and not found what I need.

First some basic concepts. I have resources that have tasks (not projects). The resources work x hours a day and x days a week. Tasks have a start date and estimated hours.

I need to assign tasks to resources. The program will take the start date and estimated hours and calculate the end date based on work hours/days that the resource is available.

So far easy. I think.

Now I add a 2nd task to a resource. If the start date falls in the start-end range of the 1st task the resource has, it will assume 50% effort on each task for the overlaping days. It will calculate new end dates for both tasks.
Now, if I add a 3rd task to the same resource the program will do its calcs again assuming 33% for each taks and calc new end dates for all tasks.

The software needs to display/print Gantt charts showing the tasks by resource.

Bonus features would be repeating workday schedules (every other Friday off), hard task end dates or hard effort percentages that would force different time calcs for new task end dates.

Any ideas?

ross_valusoft says : Hello Donald. Welcome.

In another message, Bernard has identified two good sources of project management software that you might like to investigate for your solution.

Have you tried searching through the directory of web based project management software:

http://www.web-based-software.com/

I've also got a hobby directory of Windows based project management software
__________________
Bernard Ertl
eTaskMaker Project Planning Software

Other than that, I guess you could always consider having someone write it for you .

Donald says : I have gone thought those lists. If the description includes project management I skip it.

Thanks.

salcorp says : Donald, I actually found some good softwares in that list when I needed to.

I not, you could check sourceforge.net for related softwares, they have a great array of solutions for Linux/Win machines.

Bernard says : Donald, you should look in the section in my hobby directory titled Excel/Outlook/Other (Calendar) Based Project Management Software. I think you will find a couple of systems that are in line with what you described.

Donald says : I have checked that group. Downloaded a few. None seem to fit. Some downright confusing.

ross_valusoft says :

Donald>I have checked that group. Downloaded a few. None seem to fit. Some downright confusing.

Well Donald, it sounds like you need to prepare a working specification and have someone quote to write it for you. Would you be willing to consider that option?

Donald says : Well, I need this software to track my programming staff. :-)

ross_valusoft says :

Donald>Well, I need this software to track my programming staff. :-)

So, are you are saying "YES, I need the software written"? Are you also saying that "I do not want one of your programmers to write it"? If you are interested, I would be interested in bidding.

Donald says : No. I meant my staff is too busy to write software that might help me make them less busy. :-)

And I work for a local govt. We don;t have hard cash for things like this.

Sorry.

ross_valusoft says :

Donald>No. I meant my staff is too busy to write software that might help me make them less busy. :-)

Less busy? I think you mean more busy...or, less spare time..more productive?

Donald>
And I work for a local govt. We don;t have hard cash for things like this.

Sorry.

No problem. Local government...yeah i have the mental picture of 7 workers leaning on shovels while one other digs the hole in the road :D

wackoj123 says :

Donald>I have spent hours doing Google searchs and not found what I need.

First some basic concepts. I have resources that have tasks (not projects). The resources work x hours a day and x days a week. Tasks have a start date and estimated hours.

I need to assign tasks to resources. The program will take the start date and estimated hours and calculate the end date based on work hours/days that the resource is available.

So far easy. I think.

Now I add a 2nd task to a resource. If the start date falls in the start-end range of the 1st task the resource has, it will assume 50% effort on each task for the overlaping days. It will calculate new end dates for both tasks.
Now, if I add a 3rd task to the same resource the program will do its calcs again assuming 33% for each taks and calc new end dates for all tasks.

The software needs to display/print Gantt charts showing the tasks by resource.

Bonus features would be repeating workday schedules (every other Friday off), hard task end dates or hard effort percentages that would force different time calcs for new task end dates.

Any ideas?

Hi Donald,

I think we should shake hands... I have also been looking for software to hadnle this approach for a while now - are we working that much differently than other project managers that there is nothing available that suites our needs? I wonder... ;) I have been thinking about writing something myself, but due to lack of time I have not yet started, although I have written down some ideas/features...

Jack

Donald says : Jack,

Good to know I am not the only one needing this. I have not done a search recently. I probably should.

Donald

OPUC_UK says : I need a robust open source Project management Software.

We have lead management software but we need a opensource management software.

I am thinking to code myself but Ineed a document of architecture I can code myself.

pmkb says : Donald, did you ever make a decision or find a solution?

Donald says : Have not found anything. Started on coding but it is a back burner project.

bas says : Just getting curious... what exactly would be the functionality?

Cheers
Bas

Donald says : Create Gantt charts showing current resources, their activities and activity end dates.

System attributes:
Resources (people) with work schedules (5/40, 9/80, vacation, etc.) and productive hours per day. Resources are assigned to supervisors and units.

Calendar with weekends, office holidays, etc

Activities (tasks, projects, etc) that are not necessarily related to each other. They are supplied with a start date and an estimated effort hours. Other data fields are activity number, activity sub-number, end date (soft and hard), workload percentage (soft and hard), and description. Date and workload normally calculated by application. Hard task end dates and hard workload percentages would force workload percentage recalculations and end date recalculations for other tasks with soft workload percentages and/or soft end dates.

System Functions:

Be able to assign activities to a resource and have system calculate end dates and work load percentage.

Rules:
Any given day cannot go over 100% workload.

Any given day for an individual cannot go over their productive hours.

No activity can go below 1 hour a day except to 0 when suspended because of other activity or if is the last day of project.

If an activity is to be done by multiple people the parts will be assigned sub-numbers.

Example:
Activity 1, start date 07/05, 80 hours
Activity 2, start date 0711, 50 hours
Activity 3, start date 07/25, 60 hours
Activity 4, start date 08/02, 40 hours, hard end date of 8/12
Resource 1, 9/80 schedule (7/8 is non-work Friday, 8 available hours M-Th, 7 on working Friday

Actions:
Assign Activity 1 to Resource 1. Since this is first task system will assign workload at 100%. Start date is 7/5. System will calculate end date as 7/20.

Assign Activity 2 to Resource 1. System will assign workload percentage of 50% and modify Activity 1 workload percentage to 50%. System will recalculate Activity 1 end date as 7/29. Activity 2 start date is 7/11 and end date will be calculated as 7/28.

Assign Activity 3 to Resource 1. System will assign 33% workload starting 7/25 and modify Activity 1 and 2 workloads to 33%. New end dates will be calculated as Activity 1 on 8/3, Activity 2 on 8/1 and Activity 3 on 8/11. On 8/2 Activity 1 and 3 will be recalculated to 50% workload.

Assign Activity 4 to Resource 1. Because this is a hard end date activity, system will ask if time should be front end loaded or averaged. If front end, all available daily time will be allocated to Activity 4 until estimated hours are met and activity will be marked as a hard workload of 100%. All other activity will be suspended and new end dates calculated. With Activity 4 starting on 8/1 the other 3 tasks will suspend until the day after Activity 4 is done. This means they resume on 8/9. Their new end dates will be calculated as 8/11, 8/9 and 8/18. If Activity 4 is entered with the average option, the program will calculate number of days between start and end dates inclusive and divide into effort hours for a daily hour value and a hard workload percentage based on available productive hours. Remaining time each day will be divided among remaining activities and new end dates and workload percentages calculated. Their new end dates will be calculated as 8/10, 8/3 and 8/18.


A hard workload percentage activity would act like a hard end date activity averaged. Soft workload percentage and soft end date activities would be recalculated.

Outputs:

Gantt chart of resources for a supervisor
Gantt chart of resources for all supervisors by supervisor Report showing all
resources, activities and end dates by resource
Report showing resources, activities and end dates by activity
Report showing resources, activities and end dates by supervisor

Bonus features:

Connect to a hours reporting system to get timecard and non-work hours and automatically recalculate soft end date activities. For hard end date activities warn if end date will be missed.

pmkb says : I think that a Russian program called Spider Project is supposed to offer most (if not all) of those features. Vladimir Liberzon posts frequently at the Planning Planet and has mentioned that it offers effort driven tasks (as opposed to duration driven) with a strong resource leveling system that can adjust tasks based upon dynamic resource assignments.

Donald says : Thanks. I will check it out.

Vladimir says :

Donald;695>Thanks. I will check it out.

Donald, it's a pity that you did not check it out - Spider Project has the features you required and many others that may be helpful too.
Regards,
Vladimir