Using the Master Gantt Schedule: Combine Multiple Projects in One View
🧠 Using the Master Gantt Schedule: Combine Multiple Projects in One View
📘 Article Purpose
This article explains how to use the Master Gantt Schedule to view, manage, and coordinate multiple project schedules in a unified timeline.
🧭 What Is the Master Schedule?
The Master Schedule is a unique Gantt view in Ontraccr that lets you:
- Aggregate tasks from multiple project schedules
- Overlay jobs from across your company or division
- Gain a high-level overview of what's happening across all jobs
📊 Think of it as your portfolio-level planning dashboard.
📍 Where to Access It
- Go to Scheduling > Gantt Schedule
- At the top-left, use the dropdown selector
- Choose Master Schedule
🧱 How to Configure the Master Schedule
Open the Master Schedule
Click the Settings (⚙️) icon
Navigate to the Update Schedule tab (only available in Master view)
You’ll see a list of all project schedules
Use checkboxes to select the ones you want to include
Click Save
The Master view will now populate with tasks from all selected schedules
🔍 Benefits of the Master Schedule
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Cross-project visibility | See overlaps and dependencies across jobs |
| Company-wide resource planning | Track labor or equipment across projects |
| Executive reporting | Use filters and list view for high-level review |
| Dispatch enablement | Double-click any task to dispatch it to Field Schedule |
🧩 Filters Still Apply
Even when combining multiple schedules, you can use all standard tools:
- Search
- Filter by date, user, equipment, cost code, etc.
- Sort
- Zoom
🔁 Dispatch from the Master View
Just like in a project schedule:
- Double-click any task
- Click Dispatch
- Generate a shift from that combined view
👥 Use Case: Coordinated Week Planning
- View all framing work across 6 jobs next week
- Identify user conflicts or overbooking
- Confirm readiness with project supervisors
- Dispatch work from the Master view into the Field Schedule
🧠 Best Practices
- Use labels to tag project schedules by region, division, or client
- Filter by user or skill to plan labor more effectively
- Use Gantt appearance settings to highlight specific task columns (e.g., assigned user)