Skip to main content

Quick Start Guide

Welcome to MSP Planner for Jira. This guide will get you from a blank slate to your first professional schedule in five strategic steps.

Step 1: Initialize your Workspace​

The application starts with a sample schedule loaded to help you explore the features. To start your own project:

  1. Follow the Quick Tour: If it's your first time, an interactive tour will guide you through the interface. If you've skipped it, you can replay it via the Quick tour button in the toolbar header.
  2. Locate the Schedules Selector in the toolbar, click the dropdown, and select "Create new schedule".
  3. Give your schedule a name and associate it with your Jira project.
  4. Verify Field Mapping: Since every Jira instance is unique, check the Field Management settings to ensure the timeline is mapped to your preferred custom fields for dates and effort.

Step 2: Establish your Reference Baseline​

Instead of duplicating data, MSP Planner creates live links to your Jira issues.

  1. Click Add Tasks in the toolbar.
  2. Search for your key Jira issues or select a specific Sprint/Release.
  3. Click Add. Your Jira issues are now linked as Reference Tasks—any metadata pulled from Jira is preserved, but the scheduling logic remains under your professional control.

Step 3: Structure the Project Model​

Organize your tasks into a professional hierarchy to enable accurate roll-ups:

  • Select a task and use the Indent button to make it a sub-task.
  • Create Milestones (tasks with 0 duration) to mark key delivery dates and synchronization points.

Step 4: Define the Scheduling Logic​

Create the deterministic logic of your project:

  • Establish Dependencies: Click and drag the end of one task bar to the start of another to create a Finish-to-Start link.
  • Choose your Mode: By default, tasks use Auto-scheduling (dates shift automatically). For high-level roadmapping or fixed-date commitments, toggle a task to Manual mode to lock its position on the timeline.

Step 5: Optimize Capacity & Commit​

Ensure your plan is achievable before communicating it to the team:

  1. Go to the Resource View (bottom pane) and assign users to your tasks.
  2. Analyze Load: Look at the Resource Histogram. If you see red bars, you have over-allocated your team. Resolve this by shifting tasks or reallocating resources.
  3. Synchronize: Once your plan is vetted, use the Synchronize toolbar to "Push" your approved dates and assignments back to Jira.

Congratulations! You have moved from a simple list of tickets to a professional, governed project schedule.

Next Steps​

Now that you have the basics, we recommend exploring: