In this module, the work breakdown structure of a project can be created and edited graphically.
Alternatively, the work breakdown structure can also be created and edited in the Schedule module. In the Schedule module, however, they are displayed in table form.
The parent tasks of a structured project plan are called summary tasks in PLANTA project.
The Work break down structure code (WBS code) identifies individual project tasks in accordance with their hierarchical structure.
Details
Every element (project(s), tasks) is displayed in an individual box.
Every box contains the most important task and project parameters for the respective element type.
There are two ways to figure out what parameters they are:
tooltips on the values or
the legend at the bottom of the module that can be opened if required. In the legend, the field names have the same position as the corresponding fields in boxes.
Every parent element contains a so called node field where the number of child elements is specified.
When you click on node fields, child elements are displayed or hidden.
Every box is colored in the corresponding shade of gray depending on its functional degree of completion (Functional completed in %).
White: The functional degree of completion is 0 %.
Very light gray: The functional degree of completion is 25 %.
Light gray: The functional degree of completion is 50 %.
Gray: The functional degree of completion is 75 %.
Dark gray: The functional degree of completion is 100 %.
The meaning of the shades can also be seen in the legend.
The shades can be changed individually.
At the bottom margin of the boxes, symbols are displayed with which different actions can be carried out.
Green plus: A new task is created.
Blue circle: The task itself and its child tasks are marked or unmarked.
Red cross: The task itself and its child tasks are marked and the marked records are deleted with a query.
Every box contains a bar with four dots at the left margin, which enables you to move the box. For more information, see the Structure project section.
Module Variants
Base
Base variant of the module. It contains core parameters of the tasks (WBS code, Task name, Person responsible for the task), the arrow button for changing the task estimate as well as specifications on dates, costs, effort, degree of completion, degree of use, and milestone types.
With dates
The variant contains core parameters of the tasks (WBS code, Task name, Person responsible), the arrow button for changing the task estimate as well as additional specifications on dates.
Short Version
The variant contains core parameters of the tasks (WBS code, Task name, Person responsible), the arrow button for changing the task estimate. This variant is loaded by default when the WBS module is opened.
Create Tasks
If there are no tasks in the project to be edited yet, they can be created as follows:
1. Copy tasks from another project (the entire project plan)
When switching to the WBS module, the following query is displayed: Adopt a schedule?
Confirm the message with Yes.
The Copy Schedule module is opened at the bottom margin of the panel. (If you have negated this message by accident, you can open the Copy Schedule module by clicking on the Copy schedule button in the project box.)
Select the required project from the listbox.
Start the copy operation by clicking on the Copy schedule button.
2. Create tasks individually
When switching to the WBS module, the following query is displayed: Adopt a schedule?
Answer the query with No.
You can insert new tasks by
clicking on the Insert task button in the project box or
right-clicking on the project box and selecting the Insert → Task context menu command.
If there already are tasks, new ones can be created as follows:
on any task box
either click on the plus symbol at the lower right margin
or right-click on the task box and select Insert → Task from the context menu.
Structure Tasks (Create Work Breakdown Structure)
Procedure
After you have created the tasks, the task boxes will be displayed below the project box at the same level.
Structure tasks by left-clicking on the left box margin and dragging the box to the required position.
When the boxes are moved, the specification in the node field, which visualizes the number of boxes per level, will be updated automatically.
Click on the Generate WBS code button (the wheel symbol below the project bar).
The WBS code is generated automatically for every task in the WBS code field in accordance with the structure. Thus, the WBS code is both an identifier for single elements in the schedule and an indicator of the hierarchical structure.
Edit Tasks
Information
In the WBS module itself, only particular task parameters can be edited, e.g. task name, person responsible for the task, milestone type, or estimate.
Additional task parameters, e.g. dates, effort, etc. can be edited in the data sheet of the respective task (Task module), see the "Edit additional task parameters" section.
Edit task name and person responsible for the task
directly have in the corresponding fields in any module variant of the WBS module.
Change milestone type
by clicking on the » Change milestone type arrow button at the right hand side of the bottom margin of the task box in the Base module variant.
The milestone type is visualized in the form of diamond symbols (blue diamond: milestone, black diamond: master milestone, no symbol: normal task).
Change estimate
by clicking on the » Change hint arrow button at the right hand top margin of the task box in the Base module variant.
Edit additional task parameters
To do so, switch to the Task module by clicking on the WBS ID or by right-clicking on the task box and selecting the Edit task context menu command.
