Structure question when using the Gantt settings

[Yvette Nash]

I'm having trouble understanding how to use the Gantt settings on my structure. I want to be able to visualize a "projected finish date" based on today's date + the remaining estimated time.  The formula I'm using is 

DATE_ADD( today(), CEILING(JIRA_DAYS(remainingEstimate)), "day")

which is working in terms of rounded up, raw days. However I want the Gantt chart to take that information and use my Work Calendar setting to take into account weekends and holidays to actually spit out a date.

Am I overthinking this? Is there a setting that will already do this?

Thanks in advance!

Yvette

[Stepan Kholodov _Tempo_ · Accepted solution]

Hello @Yvette Nash 

The logic you're describing is the default one that is used for scheduling - an estimate is being added to the start date, and the finish date is calculated.

Try the following setup in the chart's configuration:

1. Select the Formula option as the Start Date option in the scheduling tab, and add the formula: today()
2. In the same tab above, select options: 'Use time tracking' and 'Use Remaining Estimate only'.

As a result, each task should be scheduled to start today, and end after its remaining estimate passes in time. The calculated Finish date will take into consideration work calendars.
Please note - for a work calendar to be considered, you should define it either in the resources tab, or in the individual settings of a resource. A calendar defined in the General tab of the settings only affects the visual representation of the timeline, but not the actual scheduling of tasks.

I hope this helps. If you have more help here, please reach out to us directly at our support portal. We'll need to take a closer look at your setup.

Best regards,
Stepan
Tempo (the Structure app vendor)

[Yvette Nash]

Thank you Stepan! This helps but in an ideal solution, if a start date is set, I want that date to still be respected. So for example, if a task started on 19/May/26, was estimated to be 10d, a day was logged and no work since then was logged, I want the projected finish date to be today() + 9 valid work days. Every day that no worked is logged, that finish date keeps getting pushed out making the Gantt bar longer.

Yvette

[Stepan Kholodov _Tempo_]

I see! The setup above will keep the Finish date calculated correctly. If you want the Start date to remain in place when you decide to 'set it off', you can consider using baselines additionally like this:

1. Set the scheduling configuration as described above.

2. Add a new Jira-based baseline to the chart, using:
   - Start date: a custom date field in Jira where you define when the work actually is considered to begin
   - Finish date: Formula with the formula like this: 

date_add(startdatefield, round(jira_days(remainingestimate)),"day")

As a result, you should see something like this on the chart:

The blue bar will indicate the actual remaining work with the projected finish date. And the gray bar will show you when the work started. The finish date of the baseline doesn't matter in this case (it's only there because you need to define some Finish date for a baseline). You can set it as today() - this way, the baseline will be extending in time, too, which can look better (no visual gaps between the baseline and the bar).

Best regards,
Stepan

[Yvette Nash]

Oh wow. My first use of baselines! while not exactly what I thought was achievable, this is what I want to be able to see. As I use this, I'm sure this view will be even better than I anticipated.

Thank you so much!