tasks in a project plan
Asked by Steffi Frank:

The challenge is: combine tasks and projects timeline as far as simple

This is how I realized it:

Macro ?Chart from table", type Gantt, with embedded tasks (table) for each project:

![image.png](/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/31189i37E751CB158AAE32/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")In my project overview I use "chart from table" as well, here with the "task report", filtered with macro "table filter" by iconfilter =

Result: I get a timeline over all open project milestones:

![image.png](/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/31190i7BD38C76BE9860EA/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

So far so good! A brilliant visualization! I thought, my job was done, but....

Problem is: I need to change start and end date of one task in a project. To keep my project (and overview) timeline up-to-date, I manually have to change all dates in every following task of this project! Of course, there is no relation between one and n following tasks

Has anybody got an idea about how to solve this? Are there any add-ons which might fit my needs?

Thank you in advance!

Steffi


Answers:
author: Andrey Khaneev _StiltSoft_
body: Hi Steffi,

[Handy Date](https://docs.stiltsoft.com/display/HMFC/How+to+use+Handy+Date) extension (a part of [Handy Macros](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1214971/handy-macros-for-confluence?hosting=server&tab=overview) app) may help you in this case: it allows you change dates (*//date-macros*) right in page view mode, so you just click the date and get a date picker, select a new date and it is updated in the page. Also this feature is compatible with Task Report macro that you use.

You see how it works on the [demo site](https://demo.stiltsoft.com/display/HM/Handy+Timestamp+and+Handy+Date?os_username=guest1&os_password=guest1).

Hope it will make your workflow easier.

comments: author: Steffi Frank
body: Thanks Andrey, but still lots of manual work...


author: Andrey Khaneev _StiltSoft_
body: Are the any rules or algorithms that you use to update dates? Without this automation is not possible.


author: Steffi Frank
body: no, I yet do not use any rules - that's what I am looking for...


author: Andrey Khaneev _StiltSoft_
body: I see. Do you have your own vision what tool could help you?


author: Steffi Frank
body: Yes, something similar you can achieve with an Excel formula (must be something like "workingdays". It is "arbeitstage" in German)

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/31853iE56B2215ED94AA06/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

This would be step one.

Step two would be: my next row should start with end date from row 1 + 1:

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/31854iB3CA06A4DA86629A/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

If I now continue to use the formula "workingdays" I quiet comfortably can fulfill the whole table with start and end date (with end date as due date in a task...)

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/31855i86037F90A4A496E1/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

If I now e.g. change the end date in row 1, all following dates get updated automatically:

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/31856iD719EB6A004F47A2/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

Got it?

;-)


author: Andrey Khaneev _StiltSoft_
body: You can attach Excel file and output it as a table using native Office Excel macro - it is compatible with Table Filter and Charts add-on.

Or you can try [Spreadsheets](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1212486/spreadsheets-for-confluence?hosting=server&tab=overview) add-on. It is also compatible with able Filter and Charts add-on and I think it should support such formulas.


author: Steffi Frank
body: yes, I know. We did that already. But: I cannot use an Excel entry as a task. My aim is to combine both: timeline over all tasks (Gantt chart), milestones and phases AND a Confluence task list with due date and a user assigned


author: Andrey Khaneev _StiltSoft_
body: Unfortunately, I don't see a workaround now.


Tags: chart

confluence-server

date

gantt

project-management

server

task

timeline