Resources
How to Troubleshoot installer Errors
Symptoms
When you install, uninstall, or update GraphicSchedule, you may receive an error, or the installer doesn’t complete successfully.
Resolution
Windows 10 and newer
- If you already have an existing installation of GraphicSchedule, please uninstall it first.
- The latest version of GraphicSchedule fixes many old bugs. Click here to download the latest GraphicSchedule installer.
- To start GraphicSchedule setup, open the downloaded file and double-click on the application inside it. The application file name ends with “.exe”.
- Follow the steps in the Setup Wizard.
After the GraphicSchedule installer exits, it writes a detailed log to a file called “GraphicSchedule v1.XX.X Setup.log” in your %temp% folder. (Please replace the letters XX.X with the version numbers from your download).
If you’ve encountered errors during setup, please send us the installer log file, or screenshot showing the error(s).
How to Troubleshoot Bugs in GraphicSchedule
Symptoms
When you run GraphicSchedule, you receive an error, or the app doesn’t behave as expected.
Resolution
Update to the latest version of GraphicSchedule, which contains bugfixes for many common issues.
Windows 10 and newer
- Check the version of GraphicSchedule by going to Excel > GraphicSchedule > About. If your version is below 1.14.8, proceed to the next step.
- Quit all instances of Microsoft Excel and uninstall GraphicSchedule in System > Add or Remove Programs.
- Click here to download the latest GraphicSchedule installer archive.
- To start GraphicSchedule setup, open the downloaded file and double-click on the application inside it. The application file name ends with “.exe”.
- Follow the steps in the Setup Wizard.
- When the Setup Wizard completes, start Excel and locate the GraphicSchedule ribbon tab.
If you still encounter bugs even after upgrading to the latest version of GraphicSchedule, please send us screenshot(s) showing the error, and the steps to replicate it.
Troubleshooting GraphicSchedule COM Add-in Errors
Symptoms
When you run Excel, the GraphicSchedule add-in ribbon tab is missing, and you see an error that resembles:
“Load Behavior: Not loaded. A runtime error occurred during the loading of the COM Add-in.”
Resolution
This error typically indicates that a component required to run the add-in is missing. The GraphicSchedule add-in requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8.1. You may download the missing component here:
https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet-framework/thank-you/net481-web-installer
After downloading and installing .NET Framework, you may be required to restart your computer.
Next time when you start Excel, please turn on the GraphicScheduleAddin by setting its load behavior to checked then click OK.
Verify that “Load Behavior” says “Load at Startup”:
If you are still encountering a runtime error after installing .NET Framework, please contact us and we’ll help you troubleshoot any other possible issues.
Changing Regional Settings for GraphicSchedule
Symptoms
When your system’s language or regional settings are set to other than US-English, GraphicSchedule behaves unexpectedly.
Resolution
Set your computer’s regional settings to United States – English and restart your computer.
Windows 10 and newer
- Click the Start menu and locate Settings.
- Choose Time & language.
- From the right side of the screen, choose Language & region.
- Under Regional format choose English – United States:
5. Close the Settings app and restart your computer.
How to Transfer a License to Another Machine
If you have an existing license of GraphicShedule which is currently activated on one machine, you can transfer that license to another. To do this, you’ll need to deactivate your activated license, then re-activate it on the new machine.
Prerequisites
On your old computer, you’ll need to download and upgrade to the latest version of GraphicSchedule:
Download The Latest Version of Graphic Schedule
Failure to do that could cause your license deactivation to fail.
Once you’ve upgraded to the latest version of GraphicSchedule, you may proceed to the next step.
Deactivating Your License
On the computer where the license is still activated, start Excel, and click the GraphicSchedule > Activate command:
This launches the License Activation Wizard. Observe the message that says “Your license is activated”:
You may now exit Excel. Congrats! Your license has been deactivated!
While you’re still on the old computer, you may now uninstall GraphicSchedule by using the Programs > Uninstall command. That’s it!
You are now ready to install GraphicSchedule on the new computer. After it’s been installed, you can use the Excel > GraphicSchedule > Activate command to re-activate your license key.
Highway Paving Linear Schedule
This linear schedule illustrates how repairs and resurfacing of a major interstate highway can be completed within lane closures, to keep traffic moving through the work zone. The overall construction sequence is dictated by the use of a planing (milling) machine that grinds down the existing roadway surface, and a paving machine that lays down new hot mix asphalt (HMA). As soon as these key activities are done in the eastbound lanes, crews and equipment move over to the westbound lanes to continue their work. Colored block shapes indicate the duration of each lane closure, and the map and roadway sections were clipped from the engineering drawings to provide helpful visual aids for discussing the work.
Seeing the Big Picture for a $1.75 Billion Underground Light Rail Project
This linear schedule was developed from the contractor’s 7,000 activity P6 schedule to visualize the relationships between tunneling and subway station construction. This one-page summary helped facilitate discussion and analysis of delay impact mitigation, and how the critical path flowed through the various project elements. Monthly updates were easily generated to facilitate the formal review of the P6 schedule submittal.
Linear Schedule for a High Voltage Transmission Line
Illustrating the construction sequence for a new electric transmission line crossing urban, rural, and environmentally sensitive areas. Activities are plotted by time and location to help the team visualize how the schedule works. Seasonal environmental restrictions require adjustments to the construction sequence near the midpoint of the alignment to fit the work within available work windows. The map promotes greater awareness of the project surroundings which is key to planning and executing this challenging project.
Documenting a Tunnel Boring Machine’s Journey
Plotting the TBM’s actual daily advance, using data exported from Tunnelsoft TPC®, a real-time data monitoring system. The planned activities from the contractor’s P6 schedule were also plotted to help the team track progress against plan. Text box callouts were placed on top of the GraphicSchedule chart to document any delays or differing site conditions that affected tunnel production. This proved to be an effective tool for communicating the tunnel production story, evaluating the impacts of differing site conditions, and negotiating time impacts for proposed change orders.
Using GraphicSchedule as a Scheduling Engine for Major Project Planning
Brainstorming an effective way to deliver this large and complex program involving dozens of major construction contracts. Dates and durations were linked using simple Excel formulas, allowing the pursuit team to quickly and easily generate alternatives and what-if scenarios. This helped the team propose an alternative approach to contract packaging that could shorten the overall schedule for completing the program.
Tracking Sequential Excavation Progress for a Light Rail Crossover Cavern
Visualizing the plan for excavating a large underground cavern for a crossover between tracks on a new segment of light rail using Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) techniques. Actual progress is plotted on top of the planned sequence using GraphicSchedule’s “linear progress” feature. The informative cross-section graphics show how the drifts will be excavated and supported around the existing running tunnels, helping the project team communicate this complex sequence of work.
Coordinating Staging Area Handovers between Contractors
This swimlane schedule answered the question “When are we required to hand over our staging areas?” and “What’s left to do in each area?” Summary activities were linked to the contractor’s P6 schedule for rapid monthly updates. This schedule was shared with contractors, construction managers, program managers, executives, and 3rd parties, all of whom needed a better way to see how this critical-path handover between projects was progressing.
Milestones Schedule
Sometimes you just need a simple document to communicate your project at a glance. A milestones schedule is a great way to show the basic sequence of work from one milestone to the next, without all the detail that executives and laypersons typically don’t have time to read. We recommend creating summary activities using simple language that can be easily understood by people who aren’t familiar with your project. And don’t forget to add a splash of color to keep things interesting!
Program Management on a Single Page
Communicating schedule, cost, work status, and forecast information for the development of a new infrastructure project. Baseline and current schedules are plotted in different formats for comparison, with links to data from MS Project. The program experienced substantial delays which in turn affected the cash flow forecast, so a native Excel chart with cost curves was placed on top of the GraphicSchedule chart to show the impacts. This 1-page tool has been very effective in keeping the project team and stakeholders up to date on how this program is progressing.
Installing Mechanical/Electrical Systems in a Road Tunnel
Helping the project team visualize the contractor’s planned sequence for systems installation in the upper roadway of a large-bore tunnel. Each line segment was linked to one activity in the Primavera P6 schedule (161 total activities) for rapid updates each month. The 3D rendering was inserted on top of the chart to provide a helpful visual aid for discussions about the work.
