The Spreadsheet Scheduler documentation and software assumes you have at least a basic working knowledge of you spreadsheet. To be immediately productive with the templates:
Simply run these, in the directory of your choice, to generate template files.
AFTER INSTALLATION YOU MUST RUN YOUR SPREADSHEET AND SET
DIRECTORY TO WHERE TEMPLATES HAVE BEEN STORED.
SETTING THE DIRECTORY
For Microsoft Excel, version 5 and up, set the default directory by selecting Tools, Options, Default File Location, typing in C:\SSEXCEL and selecting OK. For Excel V4.0, you can simply select the file open command and select the right drive and directory. From then on, for that current session, Excel remembers this path.
Excel V4.0 actually stores the location of the default directory in a special INI file - if you wish to change this to SRMEXCEL, please consult your Excel documentation.
The instructions, in this manual, for the templates all follow a simple format:
FILENAME: The name of the file.
FUNCTION: A brief description of what the template does.
OVERVIEW: Detailed description of what the template does and
how it does it.
INPUT:
OUTPUT:
MODIFYING THE WORKSHEET: How to customize.
Before you try to customize the spreadsheet, be sure to run through examples without actually inserting or deleting rows. Please note that all cell references in this manual may not exactly match the software. This is due to additional rows and columns being added for some versions to help with formatting. We always try to include a generic description with cell references so that you can see what areas need to be changed, and how to do it. Of course, if you insert rows, some the row references, in this manual, will change and it is up to you to keep track, if necessary, of such changes. Always make a back up before you start and as you proceed. Also, as you run macros, move data around, customize, etc., you may find that the formatting doesn't always remain constant. This is normal -all the data will still be correct. You will probably just want to get in the habit of performing some final formatting yourself. Above all, do experiment -- you will be pleasantly surprised how easy and fun it can be to build your own solutions. The macros are activated by pressing the <CNTL> key simultaneously with a letter key.
CUSTOM REPORTING
You are encouraged to combine a couple of techniques in the product to produce some nice results. For example, you can combine the logic for job sequencing is with report options from Gantt charting and Critical-Path-Method project management, as well as calendar generation. For all the templates, we try to present the final data is as simple a form as possible, using standard spreadsheet commands. You of course can modify and dress up the reports to your own satisfaction.
FINAL NOTE
Make sure you run through FLOW1, CPMDAILY, and GANTDAY before you work with any other files in those respective sections. Many instructions that are common to those sections are explained in the first template of that section.
1. Get Started
2. Workstation Production Models
3. Scheduling 2 Workstation in Series
4. Scheduling 3 Workstation in Series
5. Scheduling 4 and more Workstation in Series
6. Scheduling 2 Workstation in Parallel
7. Project Management - Daily Schedule
10. Gantt Charting