WELCOME TO TIMECOSTCURVES.COM Thankyou for your interest in solving Time-Cost Problems by using the TimeCostCurve extension to MS Project. Run the TimeCostCurve script to optimise your project network! The TimeCostCurve script works with time and cost data to chart the change in cost from shortening of the project: Incremental shortening of the project is day-by-day. Direct task costs increase if the task is shortened. Indirect costs decrease if the project is shortened. The chart for most projects will form a convex curve joining three key data points: 1. Normal scheduled duration and cost (right-most point on curve) 2. Least-cost schedule (point on curve where cost is at the minimimum) 3. Least-time schedule (point on curve where schedule cannot be further shortened, left-most point) The App is exclusively available on subscription as set out at https://timecostcurves/files What is needed to run the TimeCostCurve script? 1. MS Project Professional, with Macros enabled. (File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings > Enable all macros) It is recommended that Autosave be turned off (File > Options > Save > Uncheck Autosave) as this may interfere with the running of the App. It is also recommended that your computer's sleep / screensaver be turned off as that may interfere with updating of the MS Project screen after the App has run. 2. A download or copy of the file containing the App needs to be open. Also keep a backup, since after running the analysis, further decisions may be made as to the project's duration, which can be provided by rerunning the App upto the desired duration. Certain components in the file cannot be modified by the user, including: Filter named "Critical for TimeCostCurve" Custom Field "Text2" must NOT be hidden in the table "&Entry" 3. The following fields within the MS Project file need to be completed prior to running the App AND then not manually changed whilst using the App: --FIELD-- --USER INPUT-- --REMARKS-- Cost1 Crash Direct Cost Cost3 Normal Direct Cost Cost4 (for Summary Tasks) Incremental Crash Cost Represents daily indirect cost FixedCost Copy/paste from Cost3 Duration Copy/paste from Duration3 All duration values should be in whole days Duration1 Crash Duration " " " Duration3 Normal Duration " " " 4. The following fields within the MS Project file are reserved for the App to work with, so please remove any user data from these fields: Cost4 (for non-summary tasks) Date1 Date2 Number3 Number4 Number5 Text2 Resource assignments 5. A properly constructed project plan network including: No hard constraints Avoid Start-to-Start (SS) Predecessor Links 6. MS Excel New .xlsx files are created in the *Desktop* folder. How to run the TimeCostCurve App? First, ensure the file has been saved BY YOU to your computer (not just downloaded from https://timecostcurves.com/files). ie For TimeCostCurves_TRIAL.mpp version, open downloaded file, click File > Save As > save with SAME filename. For TimeCostCurves_FULL.mpp version, as above, except the filename can be changed. Secondly, navigate and press the TimeCostCurve macro. If unfamiliar with running macros: Regarding the Developer tab, if not already on the ribbon, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > check the Developer checkbox at the right-hand side. Within the Developer tab go to > View Macros > press TimeCostCurve and provide input as prompted. It is suggested to add the TimeCostCurve app to the Quick Access Toolbar: File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar > add TimeCostCurve macro. What happens when the user runs the TimeCostCurve App? Subject to the user's input when prompted, the project is shortened by 1 or more days and the cost is recalculated. If input is 0 (the default), the App chooses the task(s) that provide the least costly way to shorten the project by 1 day. If a Task ID number is input, the App attempts to shorten that task to thereby shorten the project by 1 day (if possible) and calculate the new cost. If a negative integer (between -1 to -D, where D is the current project duration) is input, the App repeatedly chooses the task(s) to successively shorten the project day-by-day until either the number of days as input is reached or the least-time schedule is reached. This calculated data is displayed in a newly created Excel file in the *Desktop* folder, including a TimeCostCurve chart. The data points are labelled with the task(s) ID that have been shortened by 1 day to achieve the project shortening by 1 day. Please note that intrinsic to the App's proper performance, the file name represented by Desktop/YYMMDD_.xlsx is reserved for use by the App. Hence, please avoid repeatedly running the script around midnight local time, instead start and finish any TimeCostCurve analysis within the same day. Note, depending on your computer settings, the Excel file with the TimeCostCurve chart may not be readily visible, however it should be open so please navigate to the Excel program to view the TimeCostCurve chart. FAQ's: Q: Running the App results in an error. A: (1) A runtime error with the beta version of TimeCostCurves occurs if, once any TimeCostCurve analysis has commenced, the user then closes/reopens MS Project but keeps the MS Excel file open THEN tries to recommence the TimeCostCurve analysis in Excel. In this case, close the MS Project file (without saving) and close the MS Excel file (without saving), then reopen the MS Project file and retry. (2) Do NOT open more than 1 version of the MS Project file. Q: Running the App results in a message to retry. A: These messages check conditions for the proper functioning of the beta version of TimeCostCurves. Please follow prompts to: Close any open Excel files; Remove any Excel files in Desktop/YYMMDD_.xlsx Close the MS Project file (without saving); Reopen the MS Project and retry.