Apply Ordinal Dates to Gantt Charts on the Activities Page

For any Gantt chart on the Activities page, you can display ordinal dates as a more flexible timescale option outside of the current schedule. Applying this option displays date intervals as sequential numbers, beginning from the ordinal start date specified in the settings. Ordinal dates that precede the ordinal start date display a negative number. This is especially useful for project proposals or schedules in a planning phase where actual dates are not yet known, and durations are preferred.

For example, consider a project for an apartment complex that is being proposed to various stakeholders. Because it is still in the proposal phase, presenting actual dates is not an option. The scheduler still needs to provide a graphical representation of the timeline, or a series of date options, during which activities might take place. In this case, the scheduler chooses ordinal dates as a timescale option, with a start date of zero, and they apply month for the series timescale interval. The scheduler can then display a proposed schedule without using real data from the current schedule for the project, if any real data has been entered already.

Applying this setting will impact the Gantt display of Activities, the Resource Usage histogram, the Role Usage histogram, and anywhere on the page where you can download spread data. You can access timescale options from the Gantt Settings menu or from the Gantt tab in the Mange Views panel, and all settings can be saved to a view.

Note: Depending on whether you are working in the context of a project or a program, menu selection terminology may differ.

To apply ordinal dates to Gantt charts on the Activities page:

  1. In the object selector, select ﱆ Project or Program, and then select a project or a program from the list.
  2. From the Main Menu, select Schedule, and then select Activities.
  3. Select Settings to open the Mange Views panel.
  4. On the Manage Views panel, select the Gantt tab.
  5. In the Timescale section, select Show Ordinal Dates, and then select a Start date from the following options:
    • Project Planned Start (Project)/Earliest Planned Start (Program): The Gantt chart displays data on the project's planned start date, or the program's earliest planned start date.
    • Project Planned Finish (Project)/ Earliest Planned Finish (Program): The Gantt chart displays data on the project's planned finish date, or the program's earliest planned finish date.
    • Data Date (Project)/ Earliest Data Date (Program): The Gantt chart displays the first data date for the project or the earliest data date for a program.
    • Current Date: The Gantt chart displays data on the current date.
    • Current Week: The Gantt chart displays data for the current week.
    • Current Month: The Gantt chart displays data for the current month.
    • Custom Date: The Gantt chart displays data on a custom date. When you select this option, a calendar displays so that you can make your date selection.
  6. Select a Timescale Interval. This value sets the duration of time for the proposed schedule. Selectable options are Day, Week, Month, Quarter, or Year.
  7. Select Show Interval Row to display an additional row above the ordinal date to indicate the Timescale Interval selection. For example, the scheduler mentioned above might select Show Interval Row if they want to download and forward a spreadsheet with Gantt data to someone who has high level information and might need additional context about the timeline. The timescale interval they selected, Month, will display centered in an additional row above the ordinal date series.

    Note: If Show Calendar Dates is selected, you will not be able to select or deselect Show Interval Row.

  8. Apply the view:

    In the Manage Views panel:

    1. Select Save.
    2. Select Save As. When selected, you can create a new Personal, Project, or Workspace view with a new name in the Save View as window.
    3. Select Apply. When selected, you are returned to the grid. The grid displays any changes you have made; however, those changes are not saved. To save changes select Save or Save As in the View list.
    4. Select Close.