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Scheduling Modes

One of the most powerful features of MSP Planner is its professional scheduling engine. Unlike basic Gantt tools that only track dates, MSP Planner understands the mathematical relationship between Duration, Work, and Units.

The Golden Rule of Scheduling:​

Work = Duration × Units

By choosing the correct Scheduling Mode, you tell the app which of these three variables is the "fixed" constant and which ones should be automatically recalculated when you make a change.

1. Fixed Duration​

"The deadline is non-negotiable."

In this mode, the duration of the task is locked. If you add more resources (increase Units), the app will automatically reduce the amount of Work required from each person to fit the fixed window.

  • Use Case: A fixed-length phase (e.g., a 2-week Sprint or a 1-month UAT period).
  • Behavior: Changing Units -> Recalculates Work.

2. Fixed Work​

"The amount of effort is known."

In this mode, the total man-hours (Work) are locked. If you add more resources (increase Units), the duration of the task will shrink because the work is being shared among more people.

  • Use Case: A specific deliverable that requires 100 man-hours of effort, regardless of how many people are assigned.
  • Behavior: Changing Units -> Recalculates Duration.

3. Fixed Units​

"The resource's availability is the constant."

In this mode, the percentage of the resource's time (Units) is locked. If you increase the amount of work, the duration will extend to accommodate the extra effort.

  • Use Case: A part-time consultant who is only available for 10 hours a week (25% Units).
  • Behavior: Changing Work -> Recalculates Duration.

How to apply Scheduling Modes​

You can set the scheduling mode for any task using the Task Editor or the Grid Columns.

When you change a mode, MSP Planner immediately recalculates the task's timing and resource load based on the "Golden Rule." This allows you to perform realistic capacity planning: you can see exactly how adding a second developer to a "Fixed Work" task will pull in your project finish date.

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