OpenProject will soon introduce automatic scheduling for enhanced project management

OpenProject, an open source project management software, is set to introduce automatic scheduling for work packages, a feature that has been highly requested by users. This enhancement aims to streamline the setup of complex predecessor/successor relationships, particularly beneficial for users managing large-scale projects with numerous assignees and stakeholders. Currently, in version 15.2, OpenProject offers two scheduling modes: manual, allowing users to set fixed dates unaffected by relations, and a default mode where dates can be automatically adjusted based on relationships. However, this approach has been inconsistent.

The forthcoming update will address these inconsistencies by introducing two distinct modes: manual and automatic. In manual mode, users retain the ability to freely select dates, accommodating specific project needs and deadlines. Conversely, the automatic mode eliminates manual start date entries, instead using a date picker to calculate start dates based on the nearest predecessor. Users can still input task durations, enabling the creation of a reliable chain of automatically scheduled tasks that adapt to planning changes. The date picker will also receive improvements to support these new functionalities.