RTConfidence Learning Center

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Categories

This RTConfidence Learning Center is basically where FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) can be answered. The below choices are specific to Chrono™ IMS (Integrated Master Schedule) inquiries. Please click on the topic of interest.

Chrono™ IMS (Integrated Master Schedule) Wizard Validation Rules

Guidelines for Setting Up New Chrono™ IMS Files

Guidelines for Importing Existing Microsoft Project IMS Files

Chrono™ IMS Default Settings

Chrono™ and DCMA 14-Point Metric Comparison on IMS Validation Guidelines

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Chrono™ IMS (Integrated Master Schedule) Wizard Validation Rules

Use Default FS (Finish-to-Start) for at least 95% of the Tasks – Preferred
Use SS (Start-to-Start) or SS with Lead (e.g., SS+10days) but Lead cannot exceed the Predecessor’s Task Duration
Do not Use FS-X (e.g., FS-10days) – Use SS+(Duration-X) instead
Minimize Use of FS+X – Okay for Milestones
Do not Use SS with Lag (e.g., SS-10days)
Do not Use Finish-to-Finish (FF)
Do not Use Start-to-Finish (SF)

Guidelines for Setting Up New Chrono™ IMS Files

Chrono™ Uses the Project Calendar default “Standard”
Users are Advised to Put non-Work-Days in the “Standard” Calendar – One entry per Each Span of Days
Users are Advised to Delete all Other Calendars (to Avoid Using them Inadvertently)
Users can Set Up the Global File with Calendar non-Work-Days, but be Advised, When Chrono™ Updates the Global File will have to be Updated as Well to Retain that Calendar

The “Project” Tab’s “Set Baseline” – Chrono™ Sets the Baselines (one for Nominal [Critical Path] Gantt and a second for Commit Gantt in the Chrono™ Tab – via the “Set Project Baselines” in the “Chrono™ Tools” Section
Changing a Task’s % Complete Manually after Baselining – this should only be Done via Chrono’s “Project Progress Update” Wizard in the “Chrono™ Tools” Section

Guidelines-for-Importing-Existing-Microsoft-Project-IMS-Files

Go to “Project” Tab and Select “Project Information” in the “Properties” section – should contain a note under “Schedule from:” that reads, “All tasks begin as soon as possible.”
Users can also Detect Issues by Inspecting the “Information” Column (normally the first column with an “i” inside a circle) – it is fine if it is blank or contains a note (a yellow square with a tab in lower-right corner) – anything else is a potential issue.

The file can contain Tasks with non-zero “% Complete” values, but the past can't be changed, and those tasks can't move – and if they have less than 100% Complete, no subsequent tasks can have % Complete values
Workaround Option: Insert a replica of the Task by Copying select Task Information (Task Name, Duration, Predecessors, Successors) – then delete the Original Task
Another Option: Use the “Save_As” Function to Delete Tasks with non-zero % Compete – Beware: this could Drastically Change the IMS if % Complete was used to Manually Schedule Tasks.

Chrono™ IMS Defaults

Users can Use all the Other Predecessor Relationships, but the “Validate Project” Wizard will Reject an IMS Structure with them.
The Only Additional Predecessor Options Allowable are FS+, FS-, and SS- (Users can Allow one or More of these in “Defaults” within the “Chrono™ Settings” Section, by Checking those Options, but Other Alternatives are Recommended).
The Chrono “Validate Project” Wizard will Never Allow Use of FF or SF (for Time Cannot Go Backwards in SRA or EVM/ESM Models)

The “Nominal Durations” Gantt Chart is the Classical Critical Path (CP) Gantt Chart based on Nominal Single-Point Duration Estimates. This is the only “Active” View for Making Changes. Error Messages Appear in Other Gantt Views.
The Two Views that Define Red/Yellow/Green Boundaries are the “High Risk Confidence” and “Medium Risk Confidence” Reference Views – Users can Change their Names and % Confidence Levels.
The “Goal Confidence” View is Either Set by the Organization, or re-Set to Align with the “Commit Confidence” at the time the IMS is “Baselined” – Making them the Same Date & Time Aligns the Earned Schedule Commit Data Reference, and this Gantt Chart will always display that Confidence Level IMS Gantt chart thereafter.
The “Commit Confidence” View is the View that should be Stakeholders. It should be Aligned to the “Goal Confidence” Gantt Chart at the Time it is Baselined, and as the Schedule is Updated, the % Confidence of this View Changes per the Commitment Date Confidence Level.