Scheduling Strategies Overview

You can set a scheduling strategy when you create new assignments or staff resource requests with resources.

You can use the following available scheduling strategies depending on the options your administrator has set.

Key:

  • N = Strategy not supported in the Schedule Strategy field of the Reschedule section when you click Edit Schedule on the Assignment page to update an assignment schedule.
Scheduling Strategy

Key

Description Usage
Adjust Hours Per Day Calculates the hours per day based on the assignment start and end dates and the scheduled Hours. For resource requests, calculates the hours per day based on the requested start and end dates and requested hours on the resource request. Scheduled Hours are distributed evenly between the start and end dates for the resource's working days based on the resource's work calendar. Consequently, the hours per day might not match the resource's work calendar.

If the Adjust Hours Strategy Respects Holidays custom setting in the Assignment settings is set, the schedule respects holidays and schedule exceptions are created for them. Hours are spread across other days. For more information, see Schedule Exceptions Overview.
Calculate End Date, Ignore Availability   Calculates the end date ignoring the resourceClosed A contact that works on a project. 's other assignments.
Note: The end date is changed automatically if the scheduled hours do not fit within the resource's work calendar.
A resource's work calendar is set to 8 hours per working day:
  • The resource is not available on 12/23/2011
  • The start date for the assignment is 12/21/2011
  • The end date of the assignment is 12/23/2011
Note: If you enter 17 Scheduled Hours and click Update Schedule, the End Date shown in the Schedule details section is shown in black because the resource's unavailability on 12/23/2011 is ignored.
Calculate End Date, Level Schedule   Calculates the end date for the assignment respecting the resource's other assignments and holidays on their work calendar. The end date on the Schedule Details is calculated automatically.
Note: The end date is changed to show the date on which the Scheduled Hours will be achieved.
A resource's work calendar is set to 8 hours per working day:
  • The resource is not available on 12/23/2011
  • The start date for the assignment is 12/21/2011
  • The end date of the assignment is 12/23/2011
Note: If you enter 17 Scheduled Hours and click Update Schedule, the End Date shown in the Schedule details section is shown in red because the Scheduled Hours cannot be achieved without moving the end date of the assignment.
Custom N Calculates the end date based on hours you enter in the Day fields. For a resource working on an assignment for four days a week, enter hours in the Day fields for four days only. The end date is based on the four days, respecting public holidays, but excluding weekends.
Percent Allocation

Calculates the hours per day based on the percentage allocation for the assignment duration. You can enter a value between 0-100. The default value is 100. In the Assign Resource section on the Resource Request page, you can specify percentage allocation values for different date ranges within the assignment duration.

Note: You cannot use date ranges that overlap.

Date ranges are not supported in the Assign Resource to Project Lightning window. Enter a value between 0-100 for the whole assignment duration. This sets the default value in the Percent Allocated field on the Assignment that is created.

You can add several date range lines and specify a different percentage allocation on each date range. We do not support differing percent allocations across different date ranges in Lightning. When you create an assignment or update the scheduling strategy on an assignment using this strategy, schedule exceptions are created based on the date ranges and percent allocation that you enter. For more information, see Schedule Exceptions Overview.
Zero Hour Schedule N Allows you to create assignments with zero hours for each day.
Note: If you attempt to create an assignment with zero hours using a different strategy, an error message appears.
You can create resource requests with zero hours and then staff, assign or hold the resource requests.

When assigning a resource to a project using the Assign Resource button on the Project Assignment related list, you can also select a scheduling strategy before you click Update Schedule for the first time. After creating an assignment, you can edit the schedule associated with it.

Some scheduling strategies and options may not be available when using the Assign Multiple Resources button on the Project Assignment related list.