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Tutorial 1: Introduction
Scroll down this page, for an explanation of our Timeline graphic (a Gantt Chart), including:
The Timescale, Milestones, Tasks, and Relationships
Glossary of Terms
The following sample of a Timeline/Plan represents the output of the Help-U-Plan process. Technically, the graphic is a Gantt Chart, long-used by project management software to provide a visual overview of a project or a plan of action.
The Gantt Chart has proven to be an excellent communicator. Bold, clean, and simple, the graphic contains a significant amount of information. Therein lies its power in communicating.
Timescale
More About Timescales To Top
To create your own unique Timeline, you will decide on an appropriate timescale. This typically consists of minutes, hours, days, months, years, etc.; whatever is appropriate. In the above sample, the timescale is in months and the individual timescale labels are April through November. This timescale is shown below.
Data
The other important items of data in a Gantt Chart include the following:
1. Milestones or Events
2. Tasks or Activities
3. Relationships between the above items
Milestones
A milestone is represented in our graphic by a triangle, as shown below. Its location relative to the Timescale indicates the time this event is expected to happen. A Task Number (1) for this item is on the left.
Tasks To Top
A task is represented by a combination of circles and bars, as shown below. The particular system of symbols we use to represent a task is known as 'sticks and balls'. The length of the bar represents the duration of the task in number of time periods (2; May and June). Again, the Task Number for this item (2) is shown at the left.
Relationships
Relationships are represented by curved arrows as shown below, and indicate the type of dependency between the above 2 items. In the graphic above, no relationship (dependency) is shown between the two items. In the graphic below, the milestone must 'happen' before the task can begin.
The above illustrates the few but important elements in a Gantt Chart (our Timeline); milestones, tasks, and relationships shown against a relevant timescale. Task Number is simply used as an identifier.
This completes the first page of the Tutorial. The next subject in this tutorial is Creating a Timeline . The final subject in this tutorial will be a review of the Workspace, where Timelines are modified.
If you feel you are ready to try using the Workspace now, select the 'Go to Workspace Now' button below. You can always return to this Tutorial for explanation.
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Glossary of Terms To Top
Timescale --> The time shown to complete the plan; April through November, for example.
Time Periods --> The number of time columns shown on the Timeline. Our sample has 8.
Timescale Label --> The text used to describe the units of time. For example, 'Apr', 'May', and 'Jun'.
Task --> Consumes time. Also known as an activity.
Milestone --> Consumes no time. An important event, or start/stop point.
Relationship --> A link or dependency between milestones and tasks;
Relationships in our Gantt Charts can be:
'finish-to-start' (one task must finish before another can start),
Or
'start-to-start' (one task must start before another can start).
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