---
sourceDocument: Australia Strategic Portfolio Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-business-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Strategic Portfolio Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itbm

bundleId :

    - itbm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Using Planning console - Legacy

# Using Planning console - Legacy {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read
Summarize  
![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI  
This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.  

## Summary of Using Planning console - Legacy

The Planning console is a centralized interface within the Project Management application that provides project managers with a comprehensive view of projects, including hierarchical sub-projects, project tasks in a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and a Gantt chart for timeline visualization.
It also integrates with Live Feed for team collaboration.
Show full answer Show less  
**Important:** The Planning console is deprecated, no longer supported, and will be hidden in future releases. ServiceNow recommends using the new Project Workspace, which offers an enhanced user interface and improved project management capabilities.

## Key Features

* **Project Task List:** Displays tasks within the project in a hierarchical WBS format.
* **Gantt Chart:** Visualizes task timelines, dependencies, and relationships to aid scheduling and tracking.
* **Business Rules Management:** By default, business rules are not triggered during operations in the console, but administrators can enable them for more automated logic during task updates.
* **Client-Side Planning Console:** Allows rapid project structure building directly in the browser without saving each change to the server, reducing time lags and improving scheduling performance.
* **Automatic vs. Manual Projects:**
  * Automatic projects automatically update all related task dates and dependencies when changes occur.
  * Manual projects require manual updates of task relationships and dates, though a property can enable some automatic planned date adjustments based on actual dates.
  * You set project type in the Calculation field on the Project form before project start.
* **Parent-Child Task Relationships:** Easily create and adjust hierarchical task structures using indentation in the WBS section.
* **Task Dependencies:** Create and manage predecessor relationships between tasks to define execution order.
* **Custom Columns:** Administrators can configure which columns appear in the planning console to tailor task data visibility.
* **Tutorial Walkthrough:** A built-in tutorial accessible from the help icon guides users through the console's features.

## Using the Planning console

Users access the console to manage project planning activities such as creating tasks, copying projects, building task hierarchies, and specifying dependencies. The client-side planning console enhances performance by minimizing server interactions during scheduling.

The Gantt chart aids in visualizing project schedules and task dependencies, supporting better planning and execution.

## Next Steps for ServiceNow Customers

* Transition from the legacy Planning console to the new Project Workspace for continued support and improved functionality.
* Leverage client-side planning features to enhance scheduling responsiveness during project setup.
* Use configurable columns and task dependencies to customize project views and workflows according to your organizational needs.
* Consult the built-in tutorial to quickly onboard project managers and team members on using the console effectively.  
The planning console is a centralized interface for the Project Management
application.  
Important:  
The Planning console is no longer deployed, enhanced, or supported. It will be hidden and no longer available for upgrades or installation. For details, see the [Deprecation Process \[KB0867184\]](https://hi.service-now.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0867184) article in the Now Support knowledge base. Use new [Project Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/UoC6r3iaOdIrMPFY6vfZlA "ServiceNow Project Workspace helps project managers to plan and manage projects from a central location.") with enhanced UI to help you efficiently manage your projects.

The planning console gives project managers a comprehensive view of all aspects of a project,
including a hierarchical list of sub-projects, if any, project tasks that appear in a work
breakdown structure (WBS) list, and the project Gantt chart. The console also integrates with
Live Feed so your users can collaborate on projects.

## Sections in the planning console

The planning console is divided into the following sections:

* A list of the project tasks if you open the planning console for a project.
* The Gantt chart.
* Banner icons and lists for performing tasks on the console.

{#c_TheProjectPlanningConsole__ul_v4m_y5d_2s} Figure 1. Example planning console For more information on the Gantt chart and the task relationships and dependencies that you can build, see [Gantt chart](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/d7sPgD6IfgWwX9_t7ENfHw "A Gantt chart on the planning console is a visual representation of a project timeline that shows start and end dates of tasks, and the dependencies between tasks.") and [Parent-child rollup task calculations](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/yicBJqzueBAurJzjgsPLAw "Date changes, stage changes, and value calculations roll up from child tasks to parent tasks.").  
Note:  
The resources in the Assigned to column of the planning console can be constrained to be derived only from the allocated resource plans associated to the project or any of its tasks.

## Business rules

By default, the business rules are not triggered during an operation in the planning console. You can enable the business rules using [Enable firing of Business Rules](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/cqBKQwp4DVAGnNZE1dpiGQ#r_InstalledWithProjectManagement__project_application_properties) property.  
Note:  
To enable this property, you must clear the [Enable Client Side Planning](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/OD66i3K94sxw8YKOu3dwYA "Enable client side planning in planning console to enable project scheduling at the client side.") check box.

You can also enable business rules when [defining the
columns for planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/XJDVrDAhfpL90dsCab8Gfw#add-display-column__table_irt_mrm_rx) using the Fire BR on Save
field.

## Client side planning console {#c_TheProjectPlanningConsole__section_kst_1jf_sdb}

Build your project structure quickly on the client side without having to save details in
the server for each interaction in planning console. Enabling [Client side planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/grXagquC6ofTGy3fK7tbHw "During calculation of project schedule in the planning console, it is possible to build your project structure quickly on the client side (browser) without having to save details in the server for each interaction. It prevents any time lags that occur after you perform any actions in the planning console, and improves the scheduling performance.") prevents any time lags that occur after you
perform any actions in planning console, and improves the scheduling performance.

## Automatic and manual projects

In an automatic project, any change to the dates, duration, or
relationships of a project task automatically updates all the tasks in the entire project,
including the project record, as necessary. The automatic project icon (![screenshot for automatic project icon]()) appears adjacent to the project name.

In a manual project, changes to the dates, duration, or
relationships of a project task do not automatically update all tasks. So parent task dates
do not reflect any changes made to dependents or child tasks. The only change that is made
automatically is when a task date or duration change updates dates and duration of the
project record. In a manual project, any update to actual start date does not update the
planned end date of the project or project task. However, enabling the [project property](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/cqBKQwp4DVAGnNZE1dpiGQ#r_InstalledWithProjectManagement__project_application_properties)
Enable alter of planned date with Actual for Manual Project updates
the planned end date from actual start date and planned duration. The manual project icon
(![screenshot for manual project icon]()) appears adjacent to the project name.

You can specify if a project is automatic or manual in the
Calculation field on the Project form. This field becomes read-only
when the project starts.

## Tutorial

A tutorial walk through is available in the console. It shows you all the features of the
console and how to use them. Access the walk through within the help icon (![screenshot for help icon]()).
* **[Open the project planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/R4GwFwlMd5FzYJyXGxcF0A)**   
  Access the planning console to perform the planning for the project.
* **[Planning console tasks](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/wjMmafItO3loipnjGWGd5A)**   
  You can perform several tasks on the planning console that you can perform on lists and forms, such as creating project tasks and copying projects. You can also perform several tasks unique to the console.
* **[Client side planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/grXagquC6ofTGy3fK7tbHw)**   
  During calculation of project schedule in the planning console, it is possible to build your project structure quickly on the client side (browser) without having to save details in the server for each interaction. It prevents any time lags that occur after you perform any actions in the planning console, and improves the scheduling performance.
* **[Gantt chart](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/d7sPgD6IfgWwX9_t7ENfHw)**   
  A Gantt chart on the planning console is a visual representation of a project timeline that shows start and end dates of tasks, and the dependencies between tasks.
* **[Create a parent-child relationship on the planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Tht3z7mYa43brBm~RR9m5Q)**   
  The WBS section of the planning console allows you to create parent-child relationships for new tasks or move around existing tasks in a new parent-child relationship. The position of a task in the hierarchy and the level of indentation determine the parent-child relationship it has with the tasks above or below it.
* **[Predecessor dependencies in the planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Sd6Ow6kCA6BOtM6tdn~EMw)**   
  In the WBS section of the planning console, you can create dependencies between tasks by specifying a series of values.
* **[Custom columns in the planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/txNNeIAkyjinHFEyu_fGLQ)**   
  In addition to the regular columns that are provided in the base system, as the PPS admin, you can configure which columns appear in the planning console.
* **[Create a dependency from the planning console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/PiaB8ZBVp9r~OuhXO5Sv8w)**   
  Create a dependency between two tasks on the planning console.

