--- title: Create a schedule summary: Build the schedule from a file or a task table, verify it, and save the tasks so Superwise works out the dates. order: 1 menu: Planning > Schedule route: /wbstasks/makeschedule who: People who have the Edit Tasks permission can open the table. The Schedule page that follows opens for anyone who can use Planning > Schedule. --- There are two ways to make the schedule of a project. You can draw it in the [Playground](playground.md). Or you can type or import a table of tasks. This page explains the table and the last step that both ways share: **Save Tasks**. The table is useful when you already have a plan in Excel, Microsoft Project or Primavera. You import the file, check the tasks, and save. ## Before you start - Choose the project at the top of the page. - Have your plan as a file in one of these types: `.xlsx`, `.mpp` or `.xer`. The file must be smaller than 75 MB. - Set the working days of the project in the working calendar. The dates follow it. See [Working calendar](../planning/working-calendar.md). ## How to create the schedule from a file 1. Open **Planning > Schedule**. 2. In the window **Select Scheduling Method**, click **Use Existing File**. The window opens only when the project has no plan yet. 3. In the box **Import File**, click **Select file** and choose your file. The box shows only while the table is empty. 4. Click **Process**. Superwise asks: "Importing the file will replace existing rows". Confirm. 5. The tasks appear in the table. Check them. You can change a cell by typing in it. 6. Click **Verify**. Superwise checks the table and shows the schedule as bars. 7. If the bars are right, click **Save**. To go back and change the table, click **Edit Mode**. 8. Superwise opens the **Schedule** page of the project. Continue with the steps in the next section. ![The Create Project Schedule screen. Mark 1 is the group of link buttons FS, SS, FF and SF. Mark 2 verifies the table. The Lag box and the Shrink Lag tick box are between the two.](../media/schedule-make-schedule.png) If Superwise finds a problem, it shows a red list above the table. Fix each row and click **Verify** again. After you change a cell, the button says **Re-Verify**. ## What the table columns mean | Name | What it means | | --- | --- | | **Id** | The number of the row. Predecessors use this number. | | **Code** | The place of the row in the work breakdown structure, for example `1.2.3`. | | **Title** | The name of the task or area. | | **Task Type** | **Task**, **Milestone**, **Dummy** or **Summary**. A summary row groups the rows below it. | | **Duration (days)** | How long the task takes. Hourly projects show **Duration (hours)**. | | **Predecessors** | The Id of the task that must happen first. | | **Package** | The construction package of the task. | | **Department** | The department that does the task. | | **Check (start)**, **Check (finish)** | The checklist to fill when the task starts, and when it finishes. | | **Enforce Checklist** | Makes the checklist compulsory. | | **Steps** | The steps of the task. | | **Labour Resources** | The labour planned for the task. | ## How to write a predecessor Write the Id of the task that must happen first. Task 3 must start after task 2: type `2` in the **Predecessors** cell of task 3. To use another relation, add its letters. `2SS` means task 3 starts after task 2 starts. `2FF` means task 3 finishes after task 2 finishes. `2SF` means task 3 finishes after task 2 starts. The default is finish-start (`2FS`, or just `2`). To add a waiting time (lag), write `2FS+3d` for 3 days or `2FS+3h` for 3 hours. A lag that can shrink shows as `2FS+3d(S)`. For many predecessors, separate them with commas. You can also select rows and use the buttons **FS**, **SS**, **FF** and **SF** with the **Lag** box and the **Shrink Lag** tick box. ## How to save the tasks You reach the **Schedule** page after **Save** in the table, or after **Verify Draft** in the playground. 1. Check the **Project Start** date. Change it if the project starts on another day. 2. Click **Load Tasks** to see the tasks in a table below. The words "Loading activities.." show while the tasks load. A large project can take some time. In the table, area rows are bold and milestones are green. The table has the columns **Id**, **Code**, **Title**, **Task Type**, **Duration** and **Predecessors**. 3. Click **Save Tasks**. 4. Superwise says that the update has started and takes 1 to 2 minutes. You can leave the page. You get a notice when it ends. 5. When the update ends, the page offers a link to the **Summary page**. Open it to compare and send the schedule for approval. See [Revisions](revisions.md). ![The Schedule page. Mark 1 is the project start date, mark 2 saves the tasks, mark 3 downloads the plan as a Microsoft Project file and mark 4 loads the tasks.](../media/schedule-save-tasks.png) **DOWNLOAD MSP** gives you the plan as a file for Microsoft Project. ## Rules to know - Only one update of tasks can run at a time for a project. If another one is running, Superwise tells you to wait. - The table is a draft. The live schedule changes only after **Save Tasks** and an approval. - Importing a file replaces the rows that are in the table. - A file with more than 10000 rows is saved in the background. The button then says **Save (background)**. > **Warning:** Importing a file replaces all rows in the table. Superwise asks you to confirm first. ## If something goes wrong | What you see | What to do | | --- | --- | | Please upload .xlsx, .mpp or .xer files only | Save your plan in one of these types and choose it again. | | Files larger than 75 MB can not be uploaded. | Split the plan, or remove columns you do not need. | | Please select a file to import | Choose a file and wait until it is uploaded. Then click **Process**. | | Another process of updating tasks is already running for this project. | Wait until it ends. You get a notice. | | Tasks did not update. Please try again after some time. | Click **Save Tasks** again. If it fails again, tell your administrator. | ## Related pages - [Schedule](index.md) - [Playground](playground.md) - [Revisions](revisions.md) - [Tasks](task-list.md)