The usual way to start to use iTaskX is to create a new empty project, choose the calculation type in the project info inspector (start or end) and fix the start or end date.
If you have a fixed end date, we recommend the backward planning (Calculation from: "End") otherwise the classic planning away from the project start (Calculation from: "Start").

It’s also possible to base your new file on an existing project or template that contains tasks, resources, styles... that are like those you need.

In iTaskX, the default working times are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays, with an hour off for lunch. You can set calendars for your whole project, specific tasks and resources doing work on the project.

To set up working times in iTaskX choose „Edit” > „Working Times…” or use the toolbar icon.

Note
When you edit working times, it’s recommended to adjust the calendar defaults in the „Project Options”
To change the project options in iTaskX choose „Edit” > „Project Options…” in the menu bar or use the toolbar icon.

Begin your project by listing the tasks that have to be done to complete it. List tasks in chronological order. Use descriptive names, preferably including a verb and a noun. For example, „Draft research proposal" or „Submit research proposal to steering committee".

First, list the large phases (summary tasks) of the project, then add detail to each phase by listing the individual tasks in that phase. Later, you can indent these tasks under each phase to create an outline.

If you don't know the details for a phase, you can use the phase as a place holder and complete the details later.

In the „Duration” column, enter the time required to complete each task, as a number followed by „m” for minutes, „h” for hours, „d” for days, „w” for weeks or „mo” for months.

If you are not sure about the duration, you can enter a „?” after the duration value to indicate an estimate.
Don't enter start and finish dates yet when you use the „Automatically Scheduled” task mode!

Manually or automatically scheduled tasks

iTaskX has traditionally been its ability to recalculate task schedules when you change the project start date or a change to one task’s schedule affects one or more linked tasks. This powerful behavior saves you from having to rethink and reenter dates to rescheduled tasks throughout the project.
But flip sides to the benefits of automation always exist, and in the case of project scheduling, automatic scheduling can lead to unwanted schedule changes based on software behavior and not on human expertise. To retain the helpful aspects of automation that make scheduling less time-consuming while allowing project managers to retain schedule control when needed (check box in the „Automatically Scheduled” column), iTaskX 4 allows user-controlled scheduling.

Notes

• You can change the default task mode for new tasks in „Edit” > „Project Options…” in the menu bar or use the toolbar icon.
• By default, new tasks have estimated durations. You can change this in „Edit” > „Project Options…” in the menu bar or use the toolbar icon.
• Mark tasks that represent major events in the project as milestones by entering a „0" duration.

Hint
Holding down the „CTRL” ⌃ or „CTRL” ⌃ and „ALT” ⌥ key while clicking or right mouse click on a row brings up a shortcut menu which is listing the commands you can use. iTaskX has several shortcut menus. Use shortcut menus to save time and make it easier to work with iTaskX files.

Organize your project by creating a hierarchy. Where tasks are similar or will be completed in the same timeframe, indent them under a summary.

To outline tasks into phases, enter the name of each phase followed by the tasks that make up the phase.
Next, select the tasks that make up the phase and indent them under the task that represents the phase. This will automatically change the task above into a summary. After you made this summary task, the Duration field shows the total duration of the phase, based on the subtasks indented below it.

To indent or outdent tasks, select the desired task(s) and choose „Edit” > „Task” > „Indent” or „Outdent” in the menu bar or use the or mini toolbar icon.

One of the most critical steps in scheduling is to create task dependencies, or links. This step makes the difference between a plan that can be used as an effective management tool and a plan that can only be used as a presentation tool.

A dependency occurs when the start or finish of one task depends upon the start or finish of another. Most tasks are dependent upon other tasks. After the dependencies are set, you can easily identify the critical path and understand the driving factors for the project end date. You can also easily make changes to one task and immediately see the ripple effect it will have on the rest of the plan. This is where iTaskX shows its power as a project management tool.

The challenge planners have is to ensure that all tasks are in the dependency chain. Here is a good rule of thumb: every task should have a predecessor unless it is driven by the start date of the project. Every task should have a successor unless it is the last task or milestone in the project.

To link tasks, select the desired tasks and choose „Edit” > „Task” > „Link” in the menu bar or use the mini toolbar icon.

If two tasks need to overlap one another, or if they are dependent but there needs to be a gap between them enter Lead or Lag time.

To enter lead or lag time edit „Predecessor” in the „Info” inspector or type the predecessor task's ID number, appropriate dependency abbreviation: SS (Start-to-Start), FF (Finish-to-Finish), FS (Finish-to-Start), or SF (Start-to-Finish) and the lead or lag time directly in the „Predecessor” or „Successor” column. For example, 6FS+1 d (predecessor / successor task's ID 6, Finish-to-Start link, + 1 day lag time).

It is important to determine what type of resources you need to assign. For example, you can assign named resources, such as „Christian Vieboeck”, or generic resources, such as „Programmers”. If you are early in the project-planning stage, you might want to use generic resources.

You can also assign material resources such as computers, or other types of materials and costs.

To create a resource list switch to the „Resource Sheet” view with the „View” toolbar icon and enter „Work”, „Material” and „Cost” resources with all available values like „Standard Rate”, „Overtime Rate”, „Calendar”… Work resources can also imported from the macOS Contacts application when you choose „Insert” > „New Resource from” > „Contacts” in the menu bar.

After you have added resources to your project, you can assign them to tasks. Try to assign resources always to subtasks, not summery tasks. This helps you to create and maintain more effective and manageable projects.

If your task type is Fixed Units and you are using effort-driven scheduling, which is default, the duration of the task will shorten as you assign more resources. If you change the task type to „Fixed Duration”, the duration will remain fixed, and work or units will change.

Notes

• You can change defaults for new tasks in „Edit” > „Project Options…” in the menu bar or use the toolbar icon.
• To assign a resource, select the desired task and click the mini toolbar icon to open the „Resources” inspector. In the „Resources” inspector enter the units or costs in the „Max. Units” field right beside the desired resource. For example, „100%” if you want to assign a work resource full time.

With iTaskX, you can create many kinds of reports of whatever data you want without having to use any other software. You can create PDFs, text files (iTaskX Pro), printouts… from every view and share them via email, iCloud…

In iTaskX Pro it’s also possible to create custom views for presentations and reports beside the predefined views.

To create a predefined report choose „Reports” from the „View” toolbar icon and select the desired report.

For a new custom view, click on the „+” button in the navigation area. To show or hide the navigation area, use this toolbar icon .

To manage columns, hover your mouse over the header of the table view and click on the black triangle or use „View” > „Edit Columns...” in the menu bar.

Before you start tracking your schedule, you should save a baseline so that you can compare it with your up-to-date schedule later in the project.

A baseline is a group of some primary reference points, like start dates, finish dates, durations, work, and cost estimates that you can set to record the original project plan when that plan is completed and refined. As the project progresses, you can set additional 10 baselines to help measure changes in the plan. For example, if your project has several phases, you can save a separate baseline at the end of each phase, to compare planned values against actual data.

Because the baseline provides the reference points against which you compare actual project progress, the baseline should include your best estimates for task duration, start and finish dates, costs, and other project variables that you want to monitor.

To set a baseline choose „Tracking” > „Save Baseline…” in the menu bar.

After you set a baseline, you can compare it with the scheduled and actual data to see how your project is tracking against your initial goals.