New Java Gantt Control Features: Impact On Scheduling Applications

Posted by Ute Gillet on Jun 18, 2014 12:31:11 PM

Recently we have released version 3.1 of our Java Gantt control, which we enriched by some obvious but also by some more subtle features. In this blog post, we want to look at the more subtle facets and give you an idea how they could become relevant for the Java scheduling application that you develop. 

Here are the top three new subtle, but powerful features that come with the new version of VARCHART JGantt:

#1: Highlight areas that cannot be scheduled any more

If you move tasks interactively by drag & drop it might be helpful for the planner if those areas are highlighted, which contain tasks/operations already being in progress or finished. It should be visually clear that these operations can not be scheduled any more. Moreover, you might want to exclude these areas from scheduling by blocking them for interactions.

The solution to this problem is shown in the example below: You can highlight certain areas of the Gantt graph irrespective of the working time calendar by a transparent colored frame that helps you to not assign tasks/orders to these periods.

The frame can be created by the GlassProfile: Set the alpha values of AlternateTextColor in the GanttColorScheme to the desired color.

JG_3.1_New_verschieben_von_task

 

#2: Arrange your chart more clearly by individually designed grid lines

Want to make sure that a certain task or group immediately attracts attention? Then use individually designed horizontal grid lines to highlight the desired sections.

Set the LineColor of a horizontal grid line to a dynamic color (entity of a class having been derived from Color and implementing NeIDynamicColor) to apply an individual grouping line (individual color, line thickness or line type) to each single group or special lines to certain nodes.

JGantt_3.1_New_GridLines

 

#3: Focus on certain project phases by splitting the time scale

In a Gantt chart, the time scale is particularly important since tasks or operations are presented in a time-oriented way. Hence it is no surprise that VARCHART JGantt 3.1 comes with an extremely flexible time scale offering several features regarding sections, resolutions and other layout options one of which we’d like to introduce here.

Perhaps you wish to present your project plans for the present in more detail than your plans for the future or for the past. By partitioning the time scale into three sections you can display project periods that you want to show in particular detail in magnification: A section representing the time span around time-now has a higher resolution than the two other sections that have the same absolute resolution.

JGantt_31.1_New_TimeScale

If you want to learn more about the various time scale options read our blog Meaningful Timescale in Gantt Diagram. 

Do you want to test the above mentioned features by yourself for your scheduling application? Download VARCHART JGantt for free and "play" with the included samples. We’d love to receive your feedback.

 

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Topics: Java Gantt Control, Gantt Chart Controls