In the TimeLiner Playback window, the Simulate tab enables you to simulate your TimeLiner sequence throughout the duration of the project schedule.

The Playback Controls

Use the standard VCR buttons to step and play forwards and backwards through the simulation:

Rewind will rewind the simulation back to the beginning.

Step Back will step back a single step size.

Reverse Play will play the simulation backwards.

Pause will pause the simulation at the time you press it at. You can then look around and interrogate the model, or step forwards and backwards through the simulation. To continue playing from where you paused, just press Play again.

Stop will stop the simulation playing and rewind back to the beginning.

Play will play the simulation from the currently selected time.

Step Forwards will step forwards a single step size.

Forward will fast forward the simulation to the end.

You can use the Simulation Position slider to quickly move forwards and backwards through the simulation. Full left is at the beginning and full right is at the end.

The Date/Time box next to the VCR buttons shows the point in time through the simulation. You can click on the drop-down icon to the right of the date to display a calendar, from which you can select a date to 'jump' to.

The Settings Button

The Settings button opens the Simulation Settings Dialog Box that enables you to define how the schedule is simulated.

The Task View

All active tasks are show in a multi-column table. You can move and resize table columns, if necessary.

You can view the current simulation time for each of the active tasks, and how close to completion they are (Progress is displayed as a percentage). The Status of each active task is also displayed as an icon. For simulations where Planned and Actual dates are available, the status provides a visual representation as to whether there is any variance between the planned and actual dates. See the Status Icons section for more information.

The Status Icons

Each task has its own status identified by an icon. Two separate bars are drawn for each task, showing planned against actual relationships. The color is used to differentiate the early (blue), on-time (green), late (red), and planned (grey) portions of the task. Dots mark the planned start and end dates.

Placing the mouse pointer over a Status icon shows a tooltip explaining the task status.

Finished before planned start.

Early start, early finish.

Early start, on-time finish.

Early start, late finish.

On-time start, early finish.

On-time start, on-time finish.

On-time start, late finish.

Late start, early finish.

Late start, on-time finish.

Late start, late finish.

Started after planned finish.

No comparison.

The Gantt Chart View

The Gantt Chart displays a colored bar chart illustrating your project status. Each task takes up one row. The horizontal axis represents the time span of the project, broken down into increments (such as days, weeks, months, and years) and the vertical axis represents the project tasks. Tasks can run sequentially, in parallel, or overlapping.