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Getting started

TTMSFNCGanttProject is the non-visual data container behind a Gantt chart. It holds the task hierarchy, task dependencies, the work-time calendar (working days, working hours, holidays), and task states, and it performs the scheduling math that turns planned dates and durations into calculated start/end times. One project can drive several TTMSFNCGanttChart controls at once, so the data lives in one place and every chart stays in sync. This page sets up a project, connects it to a chart, and adds a couple of scheduled tasks; the Tasks & hierarchy, Dependencies, Work-time calendar, and Persistence chapters go deeper.

Prerequisites

  • TMS FNC Core installed and its runtime package referenced.
  • TMS FNC Gantt Chart installed and its runtime package referenced.

Add the project and chart

  1. Drop a TTMSFNCGanttProject from the TMS FNC Gantt Chart palette page onto a form or data module.
  2. Drop a TTMSFNCGanttChart onto the form.
  3. Assign the project to the chart's Project property: GanttChart1.Project := GanttProject1;

Note

The property on the chart is Project (type TTMSFNCGanttProject). A chart also creates its own internal default project, so assigning your own project replaces it. Assign the same project instance to several charts to keep them synchronized.

Add tasks and a dependency

Build the project inside a BeginUpdate/EndUpdate pair so scheduling is recalculated once. AddTask returns the created TTMSFNCGanttTask; TaskDependencies.AddDependency links one task to another:

Connect a project to a chart and add tasksPascalC++
procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
var
  Design, Build: TTMSFNCGanttTask;
begin
  // One project instance drives the chart; assign it to the chart's Project.
  GanttChart1.Project := GanttProject1;

  GanttProject1.BeginUpdate;
  try
    GanttProject1.ProjectName := 'Website launch';
    GanttProject1.ClearTasks;

    // AddTask(AName, ADescription, AStartDate, ADurationValue, ADurationType, ...)
    Design := GanttProject1.AddTask('Design', 'Visual design',
      Now, 3, gdtWorkDays);
    Build := GanttProject1.AddTask('Build', 'Implementation',
      0, 5, gdtWorkDays);

    // Build starts when Design finishes.
    Build.TaskDependencies.AddDependency(Design, gtdFinishToStart);
  finally
    GanttProject1.EndUpdate;
  end;
end;

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)
{
  TTMSFNCGanttTask *Design, *Build;

  // One project instance drives the chart; assign it to the chart's Project.
  GanttChart1->Project = GanttProject1;

  GanttProject1->BeginUpdate();
  try
  {
    GanttProject1->ProjectName = "Website launch";
    GanttProject1->ClearTasks();

    // AddTask(AName, ADescription, AStartDate, ADurationValue, ADurationType, ...)
    Design = GanttProject1->AddTask("Design", "Visual design",
      Now(), 3, gdtWorkDays);
    Build = GanttProject1->AddTask("Build", "Implementation",
      0.0, 5, gdtWorkDays);

    // Build starts when Design finishes.
    Build->TaskDependencies->AddDependency(Design, gtdFinishToStart);
  }
  __finally
  {
    GanttProject1->EndUpdate();
  }
}
A Gantt chart driven by a project with two dependent tasks A Gantt chart driven by a project with two dependent tasks

The chart renders the task list and timeline; the project owns the data. Read calculated results back from each task's ScheduledStart and ScheduledEnd.

Next steps