Understanding Free and Total Slack

    Last Modified On: January 5, 2025

     

    Free Slack, also called float, is the amount of time a task can slip before it bumps into another task. It’s automatically calculated into your project when you schedule tasks, and you can use it as buffer time if needed when your schedule is at risk of being delayed.

     

    By default, and by definition, a task with zero (0) free slack is considered a critical task. If a critical task is delayed, the project finish date is also delayed.

     

    Inspire Planner automatically calculates both Free Slack and Total Slack. Free Slack is the number of days a task can be delayed before it affects its successor task(s). If the task does not have a successor, then it is calculated as the number of days it can be delayed before it impacts the Project Finish Date. 

     

    Total Slack is the number of days a task can be delayed before it affects or delays the Project Finish Date.

     

    Please note: 

    • For projects in Gantt VisualForce, the Project Scheduling Mode must be set to "Automatic" for Free and Total Slack to calculate correctly. For projects in Gantt LWC, the project scheduling mode can either be "Manual" or "Automatic".
       
    • Free Slack is only available in Gantt VisualForce. This is no longer available in Gantt LWC.

     

    To see free and/or total slack, right-click on any column heading, go to Columns and select Free Slack and Total Slack
     


    If you do not see Free Slack and/or Total Slack within the list of available fields, you will need to set the field-level security. Please visit Set Field-Level Security for Free Slack & Total Slack.

     

     


    Tags

    Project Task ListProject PlanSlack and Constraints

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