Scheduling mode

Owned by Anna Ciepłota
Last updated: Jun 05, 2024 by Magdalena Żaczek
6 min read

Introduction

The scheduling mode determines whether a task is scheduled manually or automatically, which gives you the option of deciding how much control you want over task scheduling in a Box. By default, tasks are automatically scheduled (the scheduling mode is set to 'Auto basic' for all newly added tasks when you create a new Box), but you can change this.

BigPicture PPM for monday.com can schedule the task based on dependencies, task structure, and other factors. To learn more about the scheduling rules, go HERE.

There are five different modes explained further below:

  • Auto basic (default mode)

  • Auto bottom-up

  • Auto top-down

  • Manual

  • Locked

Configuration

  • The App admins can set the default scheduling mode for new tasks that will be added to the selected Box Type in the Administration.

  • The Box admins can set the default scheduling mode for new tasks that will be added to the selected Box Type (can change the default scheduling mode for new tasks that will be added to the Box) in the Box configuration.

Set the task scheduling mode

There are multiple ways of changing the scheduling mode in BigPicture PPM on monday.com.

If you have a dependency column set to Strict or Flexible on your monday board, BigPicture automatically sets your tasks to Manual mode to avoid conflict of scheduling algorithms.

Option 1

  • You can change the scheduling mode of a task (or a group of tasks, using the multi-select option) by using the right-click dialog:

Option 2

  • You can also select multiple tasks and click on the three-dot menu in the middle:

Option 3

  • You can also use inline editing to change the scheduling mode of a task. 

Option 4

  • You can change the scheduling mode for all the tasks in the box at once. Go to Data > Scheduling mode in the main menu on the Gantt module:

Default scheduling mode per box

You can configure the default scheduling mode for each task type, including boards, groups, items, and basic tasks. This way, new task types you add to a box in the future will get the default scheduling mode.

  • The default scheduling mode for boards and groups is auto bottom-up.

  • The default scheduling mode for other tasks is auto basic.

You can change the settings per box or box type.

Setting the default scheduling mode does NOT affect the existing task types. This feature ensures that future task types added to a box automatically get the default scheduling mode.

Edit the default scheduling mode

To edit the default scheduling mode for monday boards, groups, or items:

  1. Go to Box configuration > Tasks > Scheduling.

  2. Expand the Advanced configuration tab.

  3. Click Edit next to the task type.

  4. Select the scheduling mode.

  5. Click Edit to save.

The video presents how to edit the default scheduling mode for monday items.

Add the default scheduling mode for basic tasks

To add the default scheduling mode for basic tasks:

  1. Click Add task type.

  2. Select Basic tasks.

  3. Select the scheduling mode.

  4. Click Add to save.

The video presents how to set the default scheduling mode for basic tasks:

Delete the default scheduling mode for task types

To remove a task type and its default scheduling mode:

monday boards, groups, and items are added automatically and cannot be deleted.

  1. Find a task type.

  2. Click Delete next to the task type.

  3. Click Delete to confirm.

Available scheduling modes

Auto basic mode

Auto basic mode is the default scheduling mode in BigPicture PPM for monday.com.

Tasks in Auto basic mode react to automation based on non-working days, dependencies, and parents in Auto top-down and Locked mode.

Tasks set to Auto basic mode do NOT affect children’s dates (as tasks in Auto bottom-up mode) and do NOT shift children’s tasks when tasks are moved.

Auto bottom-up mode

Auto bottom-up mode is similar to Auto basic, with a little distinction, as parents adjust automatically based on children’s task dates.

This mode can be used on parent tasks to have an overview of how date changes of the given task within the initiative affect its duration.

Parents in Auto bottom-up mode do NOT react to dependencies as their dates are based on children’s task dates, not dependencies. But parents can be moved on the Gantt timeline, and children’s task dates will move, as well.

Auto top-down mode 

Auto top-down mode is best to use on parent tasks that will update children’s task dates and synchronize the dates of a given initiative (the so-called top-down planning).

This mode can be used on parent tasks just to ensure that the task dates of a given initiative are NOT planned behind the schedule (dates do NOT exceed the timeframe of a given initiative).

In addition, set the scheduling mode to Locked for a given initiative. Parent in Locked mode has the same effect as parent in Auto top-down.

Auto top-down parents move children’s task dates, with the main difference from Auto basic mode.

Locked mode

Use Locked mode to prevent users from moving the task using the App or by editing the synchronized date fields. Locked tasks behave according to the following rules:

  • Users cannot move tasks in Locked mode or edit their dates.

  • Tasks in Locked mode do NOT react to any automation.

Manual mode

Use Manual mode to plan tasks manually.

Tasks in Manual mode do NOT react to any automation rule, but in contrast to Locked mode, the dates can be edited by the user.

Additional rule - if you move parent in Auto bottom-up mode for the task in Manual mode manually, it will move the task, too.

 

Troubleshooting

Cannot change the scheduling mode

If a dependency column is set to Strict or Flexible type, BigPicture changes the Scheduling Mode of all tasks from this board to auto basic mode.