About Scheduling Strategies

You set the scheduling strategy when you create a new assignmentConnection between a resource and a project. using the Assign Resource section on the Resource Request page, and also by using the Assign Resource button or Assign Multiple Resources button on the Project Assignment related list.

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 project end date and the Scheduled Hours.	Scheduled Hours are distributed evenly between the start and end dates for the resource's working days based on the resource's work calendarA calendar that defines the working days, hours and public holidays for a resource, region, practice or group.. 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. In this situation hours are spread across other days.
Calculate End Date, Ignore Availability		Calculates the end date ignoring the resourceA 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 in the Date Range lines. Note: You cannot use date ranges that overlap.	You can add several date range lines and specify a different percentage allocation on each date range. 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.
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.

Scheduling Strategy

Key

Description

Usage

Adjust Hours Per Day

Calculates the hours per day based on the project end date and the Scheduled Hours.

Scheduled Hours are distributed evenly between the start and end dates for the resource's working days based on the resource's work calendarA calendar that defines the working days, hours and public holidays for a resource, region, practice or group.. 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. In this situation hours are spread across other days.

Calculate End Date, Ignore Availability

Calculates the end date ignoring the resourceA 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

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 in the Date Range lines.

Note: You cannot use date ranges that overlap.

You can add several date range lines and specify a different percentage allocation on each date range. 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.

Zero Hour Schedule

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.

Schedule Exceptions

PSA automatically adjusts schedule exceptions when you insert an overlapping exception from the Edit Assignment Schedule page. You can delete schedule exceptions on the Edit Assignment Schedule page.

Schedule Exception Example

If you insert an exception from September 1–3 (Wed to Fri) for zero hours on all working days, with the Move End date checkbox selected. The exception moves the end date up five days instead of three because October 2 and 3 are non-working days (Saturday and Sunday) according to the pattern.

Related Concepts

Assignments and Schedules

Related Tasks

Editing Schedules

Selecting a Custom Scheduling Strategy

Assigning Resources Directly by Name

Assigning Multiple Resources to Projects

Assigning Multiple Projects to Resources

Changing the Resource on an Assignment

Closing Assignments

Self-Assignment

Viewing, Adding and Editing Daily Notes

Reference

Assignment Detail Fields

Assignment Schedule Fields

Assign Resource to Project Fields

Close Assignments Fields

Self-Assignment Fields

Resource Fields