I am looking to create an automation that automatically shifts a given timeline when a status is changed.
Let’s say there is a Job that was created and was estimated to take 2 weeks, running from Sept 1 - 14. The Job isn’t started until Sept 6th, and on that day the Status is changed to Work in Progress. I want the timeline to then automatically shift to Sept 6th as the new starting day.
Because each Job is going to have a different estimated timeline, I don’t see a way to use the Set Relative Timeline app as that requires the same duration to be applied to all items.
This would be great to have. I want to push the end date of my planned timelines if the end date has arrived and the status is still not marked as done.
@mondayexpert Hello is there an update on this feature?
That would be very helpful to see estimated x actual → trigger to shift the start of the timeline when there is a status change. And the trigger to shift the end of the timeline when there is another status change.
Hey, I’ve been working on this one for awhile and just figured it out. Note that i use this with subitems, so may be a wee bit different for your purposes.
We use timelines to identify our teams workload, but like you we sometimes start late and need the timeline to shift on status change from: Not started to Work In Progress (in our case, we just want the timeline to shift if a task hasn’t been started). OR, sometimes we finish early and want the timeline to end early when status is changed to: Delivered. This makes our workloads SIGNIFICANTLY more accurate.
So here’s what I did (Warning: you need an integration, but it works okay and is a one time purchase)
Set up your timeline and status columns
Add two date columns titled “Start Date” and “End Date”. These will be the columns that “drive” your timeline using automations. You can collapse these to avoid confusions with the team.
Get the “Sync Subitem Timeline” integration if this applies to subitems. If to regular items, get (I think) the “Start + End = Timeline”.
Now you need to make 4 automations.
4a) Sync the timeline with the start & end date columns on item creation. This establishes “Start Date” and “End Date” when you first set the timeline. The integration automation looks like this; "When start date , end date , or timeline in a subitem changes, synchronize in the timeline - dates direction
4b) Enable the start & end date columns to shift the timeline. Also an integration automation, and looks like this: "When start date , end date , or timeline in a subitem changes, synchronize in the dates - timeline direction
4c) Shift the start date by a day if the task hasn’t started yet. Regular automation looks like this: "When subitem Timeline arrives and only if subitem status is Not Started Then push Subitem Timeline Start by 1 day
4d) End the timeline on the date an item is marked as “Delivered”. Regular automation looks like this; When subitem Status changes to Delivered Then set Subitem Timeline to today.
Voila. Now your workloads will automatically move and adjust based on whether or not an item has been marked as “in progress” or “Delivered”.
Correction! I just noticed that the integration from Subitem Timeline Sync allows “Bi-directional” synchronization. This means instead of 2 automations, you can just make 1
This is great Brendan! I had pretty much given up on this a while ago
I do have one follow up - curious if you know how to make this happen:
We have a second timeline that starts when the first one ends, and I need the end of the second timeline to adjust in relation to the end of the first one…
To spell this out more, I have three columns: Submittal Start, Submittal End, and Fab Done
The first timeline is Submittal Start - Submittal End, and I got this one to work perfectly as we need with your solution.
The second timeline is Submittal End - Fab Done
When I create a new item, I set theoretical dates for Submittal End and Fab Done based on a variety of factors. For this example, let’s say the dates are:
Submittal Start: 4/18
Submittal End: 5/2
Fab. Done: 5/30
Now, let’s say the Submittal End date ends up being 4/25, or one week early
Is there a way to make the Fab. Done date also automatically adjust to be one week earlier?
Hi Amy,
I can’t say I have an exact solution - Is the second timeline in the same item? If so, I would set this up with an automation IE when such a date arrives (and a status = something) Change a date etc. To accomplish this, you likely need to add 2 additional “collapsed” start and end date columns to drive the second timeline, and use the same principal as the original solution. I Hope this helps!
GCavin
(Gilles Cavin - Reinventing Formulas in monday.com)
13
Hi Amy,
It can be done with a formula created with the Advanced Formula Booster, the 3rd-party app that revolutionizes formulas in monday. Among its unique features:
it does not use the Formula column, but rather casts its results to the column of your choice, here a Timeline column
it has its own syntax editor which can take up to 100 lines (we use 3 here)
it allows you to store data in variables that you can later use in the formula (we use 2 here, [Days] and [NewStartDate]) which helps create simpler formulas
I created 2 timelines (Timeline & Timeline 1). Timeline 1 starts the day after Timeline ends.
It counts the number of days of Timeline 1. Calculates Timeline 1’s new start date, i.e. 1 days after Timeline’s end date. Then it sets Timeline 1 accordingly.
Then you create a simple automation in monday.com:
And here is the result:
I would even suggest replacing COUNTDAYS and ADDDAYS by COUNTWORKINGDAYS and ADDWORKINGDAYS which we then take into account your work week and company holidays (which can be customized in the app).
