Advanced Scheduling (Schedule Pro)
Pro tier only
The 7 commands in this group are Pro-only (flag SchedulePro). Standard-tier users see 🔒 lock icons and an "Upgrade to Pro" dialog when clicking.
Standard still includes basic Gantt + Auto Calc + Calendar Setup + AI suggestions + Schedule template — enough for simple projects.
7 Pro commands extending schedule-management capability for PMs / QS engineers / large-project schedulers:
| Command | Purpose | Output |
|---|---|---|
| AI Schedule Builder | Generate Gantt from Bill of Quantities (BoQ) using AI | Sheet Gantt AI with task list + predecessors |
| EVM Report | Earned Value Management — PV/EV/AC/CV/SV/CPI/SPI + S-curve | Sheet EVM |
| Lookahead | 3-week look-ahead from Data Date | Sheet Lookahead 3W |
| Baseline | Capture baseline schedule + compare with current | Sheet Baseline |
| Variance Dashboard | Planned vs Actual delta summary for every task | Sheet Variance |
| Weekly Snapshot | Capture weekly schedule status | Sheet Snapshot YYYY-MM-DD |
| Trend Snapshot | Aggregate snapshots into a trend chart | Sheet Snapshot Trend |
| Schedule Recovery | Accelerate schedule (compress) + suggest options | Sheet Recovery |
All commands live on ribbon DVD Cons → Schedule group.
AI Schedule Builder
DVD Cons → AI Schedule Builder.
Generates a Gantt outline from a Bill of Quantities ("Work item" + "Quantity" columns). Uses AI to:
- Detect task dependencies (e.g. foundation → frame → roof → finishing)
- Estimate duration based on TT10/2019 or ĐM1776 norm database
- Auto-group summary tasks by level (1, 1.1, 1.1.1, ...)
Workflow
- Prepare BoQ sheet with columns: No. / Norm code / Task name / Unit / Quantity
- Select the BoQ range → click AI Schedule Builder
- Dialog asks: project Start date, crew, shifts/day
- AI generates
Gantt AIsheet with task + predecessor + duration + resource
API key required
Requires a Gemini or ChatGPT API key in Preferences → AI tab. Gemini's free quota is sufficient for small-to-medium projects (~50 tasks).
EVM Report
DVD Cons → EVM Report.
Earned Value Management — analyzes actual project performance vs plan.
Required input
Gantt sheet must have:
- Start / Finish columns (planned)
- Actual Start / Actual Finish columns
- % Complete column
- Cost column or Budget at Completion (BAC)
Output
Sheet EVM contains:
| Column | Formula | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| PV (Planned Value) | BAC × % planned at Data Date | Planned earned value to date |
| EV (Earned Value) | BAC × % actual | Actual earned value |
| AC (Actual Cost) | Money spent so far | Current cost |
| CV | EV − AC | Cost variance (+ good, − bad) |
| SV | EV − PV | Schedule variance (+ good, − bad) |
| CPI | EV ÷ AC | Cost performance (>1 good) |
| SPI | EV ÷ PV | Schedule performance (>1 good) |
| EAC | BAC ÷ CPI | Forecast total cost at completion |
Includes S-curve chart (Planned / Earned / Actual over time).
3-Week Lookahead
DVD Cons → 3-Week Lookahead.
Generates Lookahead 3W sheet with all tasks whose Start or Finish falls within 21 days of Data Date. Grid layout:
| Code | Task name | This week | Next week | Week after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHC1130 | Pour foundation concrete | ▓▓▓▓▓ | ░░░ | |
| MHC1140 | Build 1F walls | ▓▓▓▓ | ▓▓ |
Used for weekly lookahead meetings with the site BCH (steering committee).
Baseline + Comparison
DVD Cons → Baseline.
Captures a snapshot of the schedule when the baseline is locked. Later, compare "current vs baseline" to track schedule slippage.
Workflow
- When the schedule is finalized and approved by BCH → click Baseline → "Save as Baseline #1"
- Hidden sheet
BaselineDatastores Start/Finish of every task at baseline time - As construction progresses, the schedule changes → click Baseline → "Compare with Baseline #1"
- Dialog shows a report:
- Slipped tasks (delta Start/Finish > 0)
- Tasks completed early
- Tasks added after baseline
- Tasks deleted
Multiple baselines
Up to 3 baselines (e.g. Baseline 1 at start, Baseline 2 after Phase 1, Baseline 3 after revision 2). Compare between baselines to track trends.
Variance Dashboard
DVD Cons → Variance Dashboard.
Summary table of Planned vs Actual delta for every task. Layout:
| Code | Name | Planned Start | Actual Start | Δ Start | Planned Finish | Actual Finish | Δ Finish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHC1130 | Foundation concrete | 01/06 | 03/06 | +2d | 10/06 | 12/06 | +2d | 🟡 late |
| MHC1140 | Wall building | 11/06 | 11/06 | 0 | 25/06 | 23/06 | -2d | 🟢 early |
Conditional formatting auto-colors:
- 🟢 Early (Δ < 0)
- ⚪ On schedule (Δ = 0)
- 🟡 Slightly late (1-5d)
- 🔴 Heavily late (>5d)
Weekly Snapshot + Trend
DVD Cons → Weekly Snapshot (capture) / Trend Snapshot (view trend).
Snapshot Capture
Click at the end of each week → generates Snapshot YYYY-MM-DD sheet recording:
- Total project % complete
- Number of tasks done / in progress / not started
- Weekly CPI / SPI
- Weekly critical path
Each snapshot is a separate sheet — never overwritten.
Snapshot Trend
Click to aggregate all snapshots into one trend sheet with charts:
- Line chart: % complete by week
- Line chart: SPI / CPI by week
- Bar chart: tasks completed per week
Used for executive reporting — see if progress is on track.
Schedule Recovery
DVD Cons → Schedule Recovery.
When the schedule slips badly → dialog suggests acceleration options:
| Option | Description | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Crash | Add resources to critical tasks to shorten duration | +Cost |
| Fast-track | Run sequential FS tasks in parallel as SS | +Risk |
| Re-sequence | Reorder non-critical tasks | Needs logic analysis |
| Scope cut | Drop non-essential tasks | Negotiate with owner |
Dialog shows each option with:
- Days saved
- Cost increase / risk increase
- Affected tasks
Generates Recovery sheet with the new plan + comparison to old plan.
License gating overview
| Command | Free / Expired | Trial | Standard | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Gantt | 🔒 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calendar Setup | 🔒 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Calc | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Schedule Builder | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
| EVM Report | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
| Lookahead | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
| Baseline | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
| Variance Dashboard | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
| Snapshot capture/trend | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
| Schedule Recovery | 🔒 | ✓ | 🔒 | ✓ |
30-day Trial users get full Pro access but still see 🔒 icons (educational — so users know these are Pro features that lock after trial).
Related
- Gantt Chart — basic Gantt drawing (Standard)
- Calendar Setup — configure non-working days
- Schedule management workflow — typical flow