How to run HCP-Go and analyze your MS Project schedule?
Do it yourself guide. See this video:
If you have received a new schedule also called Gantt chart or you have created a new schedule and you want to understand what’s inside of it, the simplest way is to run HCP-Go analysis.
How do we run HCP-Go?
First download HCP-Go from www.hcp-consulting.com to your project.
After downloading the HCP-Go you can find it here in the taskbar, click “Go” ->”Run Analysis”.
Clicking “Run Analysis” saves the schedule to xml and we continue to the app.
Now, you can change these values. Choose your report language and select the date format check that your logo is there and click on “Next” to continue to step three.
In step three we define how to run the analysis.
First, choose the starting point. Would you like to start from today from the beginning of the project date or from any other date?
Then choose the end point. Would you prefer to analyze the project till the end or just to a certain task?
Define the data date the update date of the schedule, and lastly choose if you want “Network Analysis” which consists of the executive summary and schedule integrity analysis report only or the “HCP Analysis” which includes the network analysis and the HCP critical path analysis.
We’ll click on the hcp analysis and it’ll run calculating all the critical and hidden critical paths and preparing the report, and done.
Now you have the option to upload the HCP data information back to the game and of course it’s recommended to do so.
The upload contains two fields:
- Flag
- Text field
The first says whether it is an HCP task, and the second consists of what is its HCP slack.
You can rename the tasks and you can rename those fields.
Now, let’s return to MS Project.
In our project we can immediately see that the HCP tasks have been marked with an asterisk.
We can now add the HCP Slack column and then you can immediately sort and see the longest path or paths according to the HCP analysis.
Then you can locate any other hidden critical paths .
Other than that, in the HCP-Go ->”Load HCP data” is for uploading the data we have already uploaded before the “Open HCP Report” button opens the report.
There will be another video on the report itself but in a nutshell at the top there are tabs with table of contents, executive summary, schedule integrity analysis and HCP critical path analysis.
Everything is here.
Let’s return to the project.
Click on save report to and save the report by default. You can save it next to the schedule.
The HCP-Go will keep only your last report per schedule so it is important to save each report and keep the past schedules analyzes organized.
And the next thing is print the report in pdf.
Click on “Open Printable HCP Report” and the report is opened in your browser.
Click ctrl + p on your keyboard and check the report. If the colors were lost in the project success expectation map add them back by selecting background graphics and deselecting headers and footers.
Click “Print”, and you’ll have the report in pdf as well.
What’s really going on in your schedule?
HCP-Go analyzes your Gantt chart and uncovers critical insights in seconds.
No guesswork. Just clarity.
This Post Has 14 Comments
I am still trying to understand project management tools. What does 4SS mean
Hello Sheila,
4SS means –
The number is the ID line number. So 4 means task number 4.
SS is Start to Start connection.
I use the SF when I am building a schedule for multiple channels. Construction runs on a chronological timing, but Marketing only starts their work 20 weeks prior to Grand Opening – which I don’t know…and can change over the time of the construction – so I use the SF -100 to create the start date for them, based on the finish date for construction.
Just because the tasks get number in the order you enter them…doesn’t mean the # matches the chronological needs of the team or project.
Amy,
The use of SF means that you think from a later date to an earlier one. As you wrote it – “20 week prior to”.
To think from the future to the past – this is a flexible thinking – which is perfect! But unfortunately, we live only from now to the next minute, and we can’t go back.
Schedules should describe reality – so schedules should be created from the beginning to the end. There is no room for SF connection in a realistic schedule.
The answer to your Marketing task – is to define what really should be the trigger to start the Marketing activity. It should last for 20 weeks and then you can have the Grand Opening.
You’ve made some good points there. I looked on the web for
more info about the issue and found most individuals will go
along with your views on this website.
SF relationship is being criticised due to lack of reasonably good examples. I think aviation industry can use this relationship.
Let ‘Boarding of plane’ be predecessor activity
Let aerobridge door close represent Finish of the successor. This time is dictated by airport authorities since they have to coordinate many such landings and take offs.
Let’s presume the time to board is 45 minutes .
Here SF relationship with 45 minutes duration should be used.
Note FS relationship is not useful because that will mean only after all the passengers board the door can close which is not the case.
The door closure is not linked to completion of predecessor.
‘Hope I am clear
You are right, but please notice – you are thinking from the future to the past.
The future: Aerobridge door close
Before that: Boarding.
When you use flexible thinking – then you can think from the future to the past.
But, you can live only from the past to the future.
First – you need all the people to board, then, you can close the doors.
So, real life is boarding – FS – closing doors.
For calculating your project from the finish point to the start – you can write it as reversed project with SF. To perform it – you need the other way around. 😊
Thanks for your prompt feedback.
Hi, thanks for providing clarity on task dependencies. However , i did not understand the last part where in situation 1, you could have just given predecessor to activity ‘c’ as 1 right (activity a to ensure c doesn’t start before project date)? Why the mention of 1FS+4days?
Hi Sumanth,
The difference between writing 1 and 1FS+4 days is when ‘c’ can start.
If it is written “1” then the duration of task c could be longer, ‘c’ can start earlier and finish 2 days after b ends.
If it is written “1fs+4 days” this means task ‘c’ can only start 4 days from the end of task ‘a’, and if it will last more than 3 days – it will end later than 2 days from the end of ‘b’.
Please remember, all the links, when they are translated to the math behind them (in the software), they are not “=” but they are “>=”.
Is there a field in MS Project that I can open and view in the, say Entry table, that shows which tasks are FS, SF etc? I’m guessing no since multiple setups can exist for each task but thought I’d ask.
Please let me know.
Dan
Hello Dan,
Yes there is –
In ‘View’ go to ‘Split View’ and Mark ‘Details’ with V. Then, take the cursor to the grey area, right click on the mouse and choose ‘Predecessors and Successors’.
Per each task you’ll be on – you’ll see the Predecessors and Successors.
Did that help?
Tal.
I looked this up on Google and I must say that you made my understanding of FS and SF quite simple. Also, I got one key thing into my head, “to not use SF in scheduling”. Understanding these relationships requires a lot of flexibility in thinking. Thanks, Tal
Glad I could help. Thank you for sharing that with me! 😊