Add, modify, and delete breakdown items

Schedule breakdown items allow you to divide a project into sub-tasks to schedule and track the completion of tasks. Sequences and lots are often used as breakdown items, so that tasks can be performed for each sequence and lot separately. You can add new breakdown items, modify existing ones, change the priorities of breakdown items, and delete any unnecessary breakdown items.

Add a new breakdown item

Note that if you cannot add new breakdown items if you are currently viewing a snapshot. For more information, see View changes in the project schedule and add savepoints

On the Project Breakdown tab of the Project Schedule dialog box, click New.

In the Schedule Breakdown Item dialog box, define properties for the new breakdown item.


Option	Description
Parent Breakdown Item	If the breakdown item you are creating is a sub-item for another existing breakdown item, you need to select the main breakdown item. Click the arrow on the right side of Parent Breakdown Item field, and select a breakdown item in the list. If you are creating a top-level breakdown item, select None. Note that the main breakdown item cannot be changed after the breakdown item is added.
Sequence, Lot #, Category, Sub-Category, Pay Category	The breakdown value that associates the breakdown item with the relevant project data. Note that the breakdown value must match the project data exactly. For example, the sequence number in the Sequence field must be exactly the same as in the production control job. Otherwise, the project data cannot be updated properly. Type the breakdown value in the field.
Description	The description of the breakdown item. For example, `First floor beams and columns`. Type a description in the Description field.
Include in Task Description	When selected, the breakdown item description will be included in the task description in addition to the breakdown value. For example, if the description of sequence 6 is `Third Floor Beams`, and the Include in Task Description check box is selected, the description of the resulting task in the Gantt chart will be `Sequence: 6 - Third Floor Beams`. Instead, if the Include in Task Description check box is cleared, then the description of the task in the Gantt chart will be `Sequence: 6`.
Assembly Quantity	The total number of assemblies associated with the breakdown item. This value is automatically updated when you update the project schedule status. Type the total number of assemblies in the Assembly Quantity field.
Part Quantity	The total number of parts associated with the breakdown item. This value is automatically updated when you update the project schedule status. Type the total number of parts in the Part Quantity field.
Weight	The total material weight associated with the breakdown item. This value is automatically updated when you update the project schedule status. Type the total weight in the Weight field.

Click the Apply to Tasks tab to open it.
To select the schedule tasks to which the breakdown item is applied, do one of the following:
- To apply the breakdown item to all schedule tasks, select the All check box.
- To only apply the breakdown item to specific schedule task, click Select, use the arrow buttons to move the desired tasks to the Included list, and click OK.
When you apply the breakdown item to a task, the task becomes a summary task with sub-tasks automatically created under it for each sub-item.
Do any of the following to determine which links will be applied between the sub-tasks:
1. According to your needs, do one of the following:
  - To create a link from the previous breakdown item to the current one, select the Link from Previous Breakdown Item check box.
    
    The Link from Previous Breakdown Item cannot be selected if the current breakdown item is the first breakdown item or the first sub-item under a main breakdown item.
  - To create a link from any previous breakdown item with the same main breakdown item to the current one, click the arrow on the right side of the Link from Specific Breakdown Item field, and select a breakdown item in the list.
    
    Links will be created from the sub-task associated with that breakdown item.
2. Click the arrow on the right side of the Link Type field and select a link type in the list.
  The options are:
  - Start-Start
  - Finish-Start
  - Start-Finish
  - Finish-Finish
3. In the Minimum Interval field, type the minimum number of working days between the two sub-tasks.
For example, to create a link from the start of a sequence to the start of a second sequence, the second sequence starting 5 working days after the previous one, you should set the link details as follows:
- Link Type: Start-Start
- Minimum Interval: 5 days
Click Add.

The breakdown item and its link details are added to the project schedule. You can see the breakdown item in the navigation tree on the left side of the dialog box.

Modify a breakdown item

You cannot modify breakdown items if you are currently viewing a snapshot. For more information, see View changes in the project schedule and add savepoints.

On the Project Breakdown tab of the Project Schedule dialog box, click the breakdown item that you want to modify.
Click Properties.

Modify the properties of the breakdown item according to your needs:


Option	Description
Sequence, Lot #, Category, Sub-Category, Pay Category	The breakdown value that associates the breakdown item with the relevant project data. Note that the breakdown value must match the project data exactly. For example, the sequence number in the Sequence field must be exactly the same as in the production control job. Otherwise, the project data cannot be updated properly. Type the breakdown value in the field.
Description	The description of the breakdown item. For example, `First floor beams and columns`. Type a description in the Description field.
Include in Task Description	When selected, the breakdown item description will be included in the task description in addition to the breakdown value. For example, if the description of sequence 6 is `Third Floor Beams`, and the Include in Task Description check box is selected, the description of the resulting task in the Gantt chart will be `Sequence: 6 - Third Floor Beams`. Instead, if the Include in Task Description check box is cleared, then the description of the task in the Gantt chart will be `Sequence: 6`.
Assembly Quantity	The total number of assemblies associated with the breakdown item. This value is automatically updated when you update the project schedule status. Type the total number of assemblies in the Assembly Quantity field.
Part Quantity	The total number of parts associated with the breakdown item. This value is automatically updated when you update the project schedule status. Type the total number of parts in the Part Quantity field.
Weight	The total material weight associated with the breakdown item. This value is automatically updated when you update the project schedule status. Type the total weight in the Weight field.

Click the Apply to Tasks tab to open it.
To modify the schedule tasks to which the breakdown item is applied, do one of the following:
- To apply the breakdown item to all schedule tasks, select the All check box.
- To only apply the breakdown item to specific schedule task, click Select, use the arrow buttons to move the desired tasks to the Included list, and click OK.
Do the following to modify which links will be applied between the sub-tasks:
1. Do one of the following:
  - To create a link from the previous breakdown item to the current one, select the Link from Previous Breakdown Item check box.
    
    The Link from Previous Breakdown Item cannot be selected if the current breakdown item is the first breakdown item or the first sub-item under a main breakdown item.
  - To create a link from any previous breakdown item with the same main breakdown item to the current one, click the arrow on the right side of the Link from Specific Breakdown Item field, and select a breakdown item in the list.
    
    Links will be created from the sub-task associated with that breakdown item.
2. Click the arrow on the right side of the Link Type field and select a link type in the list.
  The options are:
  - Start-Start
  - Finish-Start
  - Start-Finish
  - Finish-Finish
3. In the Minimum Interval field, type the minimum number of working days between the two sub-tasks.
Click Save to update the breakdown item properties.

Change the priority of a breakdown item

Moving breakdown items up or down in the list changes their priority. If you move a breakdown item up, its priority is swapped with the previous breakdown item, whereas if you move a breakdown item down, its priority is swapped with the following breakdown item. For example, moving an item with the priority 1.3 up would change its priority to 1.2.

You cannot move breakdown items up or down if you are currently viewing a snapshot. For more information, see View changes in the project schedule and add savepoints.

On the Project Breakdown tab of the Project Schedule dialog box, click the breakdown item that you want to move.
Click the Move Up and Move Down buttons.
In the confirmation dialog box, click Yes to confirm moving the breakdown item.

Delete a breakdown item

Note that deleting a breakdown item is permanent and cannot be undone. All sub-items of the selected breakdown item are deleted as well.

You cannot delete a breakdown item if you are currently viewing a snapshot. For more information, see View changes in the project schedule and add savepoints.

On the Project Breakdown tab of the Project Schedule dialog box, click the breakdown item that you want to delete.
Click Delete.
In the confirmation dialog box, click Yes to permanently delete the breakdown item.