Project Scheduling Dates

NOTE-- Goldenseal construction software replaced MacNail back in 2000. We still keep this online manual, to assist die-hard MacNail users! The Goldenseal computer software program runs on Macintosh and Windows. It includes accounting, construction estimating, and project management, plus simple project scheduling. Goldenseal also shows a start date for each item in a project schedule.

Construction Item Start Dates

The running date column (column B) tells you approximately when work will begin on each item. This date is calculated on a "time line" basis, with each item immediately following the item above it.

The approximate final completion date is shown at the bottom of the list in the MacNail construction scheduling software. You can also view it in the small "completion" window at the bottom of the screen.

By scrolling through the list of schedule items, you'll be able to see approximately when each item of work will be started. This is very useful when scheduling subcontractors or material deliveries-- you can reserve time or make an order well in advance of when you'll actually need the work done.

Changing the Starting Date

When a new schedule is created, today's date will be used as a project starting date.

To change to a different date, click on the cell to the right of the one labelled Starting Date (near the top of the schedule) and type in a new date.

Excel accepts several different styles of date entry -- you can type in Oct 17, 10/17, 10-17-90, 17 Oct, or several other choices of format (see page 130). If no year is listed, this year will be used. If an invalid date is entered accidentally, all schedule dates below the invalid date will show ### or an error message.

Today's date can be entered by typing command-hyphen.