The Optimize page generates many solutions (dots) with high level metrics for each solution. In order to dig into each individual result, schedules can be further investigated on the Analyze page. Each dot represents its own unique Gantt schedule with its own unique set of analytics. In this article, you will learn the basic functionalities of the Analyze page.
The key topics covered here are:
Analyze Page Interface
There are three view options within Analyze, which can be selected via tabs along the top of the page.
- Analytics: Metrics and visual charts related to the schedule
- Gantt: Gantt view, similar to the Plan page
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Timelapse: Automatically generate an animated visual time-lapse of your schedule based on the canvas you made on the Plan page.
- Grayed out if no canvas has been created on the Plan page.
Comparison Mode: Both the Analytics and the Gantt view support detailed schedule comparisons of 2 schedules. To activate comparison mode, enable Compare from the top right corner of the Analyze page.
Analytics View:
Along the top of the page, use the schedule, date and task filters to control what data is included in Analytics view.
- Schedule(s): Select the schedule you wish to analyze using the drop down. To compare two schedules, enable comparison mode using the toggle in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Start Date/End Date: Filter by date to analyze a portion of the schedule
- Select to Filter: Narrow down the analysis based on many factors such as crew, equipment, material, criticality, task status and more.
Analytics consists of 6 sub-sections:
- Overview: At a glance information about the schedule, including start and end dates, milestones, duration, and cost.
- DCMA-14: Standard quality metrics that flag areas of concern such as negative float, high duration, invalid dates and more.
- Quality: Additional quality metrics such as a schedule quality score, critical and longest path task count and more.
- Activities: X-ray view of your schedule with tables that can be copy/pasted into a spreadsheet for further analysis. Reports include count and prevalence of relationship types, constraint types, task types, calendars, and production rates.
- Cost: High level cost metrics and a filterable histogram to visualize cost data over time. The histogram visual can be downloaded separately using the download icon on the graphic.
- Resources: High level resource metrics and a filterable histogram to visualize resource data over time. The histogram can be customized to show cumulative, daily or peak utilization for crews, workforce, materials or equipment making it a powerful tool to understand your schedule.
Some metrics are color coded red or green to help users quickly see where more attention is needed. For all metrics, mouse over the panel to see a definition of how the metric is calculated and the criteria for red, yellow, or green if applicable.
The Insights Agent is compatible with the metrics inside of Analytics and can answer questions about any metrics displayed. For example, if Analytics tells you that you have 6 activities with poor logic, you can ask the Insights Agent to list the 6 activities and why the logic is insufficient.
Any page can be downloaded via the Export button in the top right corner. Select Export PDF to download or print your current view or Export Analytics to download a spreadsheet of all analytics.
Gantt View:
Along the top of the page, use the schedule, date and task filters to control what data is included in Analytics view.
The Gantt view interface is consistent across the Plan page and the Analyze page. The primary difference is that the Analyze page shows a read-only view of the Gantt that can be filtered, sorted and customized to support schedule analysis. Read the Plan Page article to learn the basics of the Gantt view interface, including how to add or remove columns, filter and group results, filter for critical or longest path, or isolate activities.
Float Calculation Settings
From the Analyze Gantt view, users can specify the logic by which ALICE calculates float.
By default, float calculations in ALICE treat resource logic as precedence. This is consistent with how float is calculated in P6 and other CPM tools.
If desired, users may toggle this setting off, so that float calculations ignore resource logic.
When 'treat resource logic as precedence' is set to off, resource logic is considered on the forward pass but excluded on the backward pass, similar to the concept of remaining float.
Note - changing this setting will impact which tasks appear when you filter your schedule by criticality.
To adjust float calculation method:
1. Navigate to the Analyze page
2. Click any of the cell in the header row in the Gantt chart to open the Table view modal.
3. Click Settings
4. Toggle 'on' or 'off' next to 'treat resource logic as precedence'.
Schedule Comparison with Gantt Overlay and Variance Calculations
After you have generated multiple schedules in the Optimize page, ALICE can help you compare the schedules to understand how they differ and select the schedule that is best for your project.
When comparing schedules, ALICE will automatically calculate the variance between start dates, finish dates, and working days for each task. Users can quickly sort based on variance to identify key differences between schedules.
Comparing the Primary Schedule and Second Schedule
When comparing two schedules, ALICE will assign one schedule as the primary schedule and another as the second schedule. You can think of the primary schedule as the schedule you want to analyze, and the second schedule as the baseline against which you wish to compare. All existing filters, search, and settings are based on the primary schedule.
From the comparison view of the Analyze page, at the top of the page users can select which schedules to compare, see which schedule is the primary and which is the second, and swap which one is primary vs second using the opposing arrows icon.
Note: If a task does not exist in the primary schedule but it does exist the secondary schedule, it will not be shown.
Analyzing the Variance between Tasks
The Comparison view includes three variance columns: Workdays, Start, and Finish. All variance columns calculate values for the primary minus the secondary schedule.
Users can sort the Gantt chart based on any of the variance options to quickly pinpoint the areas of greatest difference between the primary and second schedule.
Users can also filter within the comparison view to analyze a subset of tasks between the two schedules. It can be helpful to filter based on variance on start, finish or duration to quickly drill into which tasks differ the most between two schedules.
How to Export Results
The Export button in the upper right hand corner allows you to download results in multiple formats.
See this article for more information on how to export your results to your desired format.