An open-source, dependency-driven scheduling and project controls engine for Microsoft Excel.
Download the latest release · English documentation · Documentation française · Report an issue
Drag a task. See the schedule propagate, the critical path change, and the calculated plan return with Reset.
Most Excel Gantt templates are static timelines.
They can display dates and colored bars, but they do not understand the logic connecting activities. When one task slips, successors must be checked manually. Critical activities can change without warning. Floats, deadlines, progress curves and reporting can quietly become inconsistent.
ProjectEngine turns the workbook into a real scheduling system.
Define the WBS, dates, progress, calendars, constraints and dependencies. ProjectEngine calculates the network, propagates changes, identifies the Critical and Longest Paths, measures float, surfaces planning risks and keeps the Gantt, analytics, Dashboard and S-Curve aligned.
All inside the Excel environment your organization already uses — with a dedicated ProjectEngine Ribbon tab, guided project setup, and no separate add-in.
| Static Excel Gantt | ProjectEngine |
|---|---|
| Successor dates are reviewed manually | Dependency logic propagates the change |
| Critical activities may be missed | Critical and Longest Paths are recalculated |
| Float is absent or maintained separately | Total and Free Float are recalculated |
| Conflicts can remain hidden | Structured INFO, WARNING and STOP diagnostics identify them |
| Reporting can drift away from the schedule | Gantt, analytics, Dashboard and S-Curve consume the same calculated planning data |
| Alternatives require duplicated workbooks | TEST and SCENARIO workflows evaluate changes before they are applied |
Most Excel Gantt templates draw schedules. ProjectEngine calculates them.
ProjectEngine is designed for people who need a dependable planning model, not a decorative timeline:
- planning engineers and schedulers;
- project controls and PMO teams;
- project managers working primarily in Excel;
- engineering, EPC, construction and infrastructure projects;
- shipbuilding, manufacturing and industrial programmes;
- teams familiar with Microsoft Project or Primavera P6 but working without access to those licenses;
- organizations where Excel is available everywhere but additional software is not.
ProjectEngine can also distinguish criticality across multiple projects in the same workbook, supporting programme-level analysis rather than treating every activity as part of one undifferentiated schedule.
ProjectEngine does not claim to replace every capability of Microsoft Project, Primavera P6 or a full enterprise project management suite.
It fills a different gap:
Professional dependency-driven scheduling for teams that need to remain in Excel.
ProjectEngine brings its main actions together in a dedicated Excel Ribbon tab, with 18 custom-icon commands embedded in the workbook. Controls adapt to the active sheet:
- WBS: Planning Update, Gantt Update, S-Curve Update, Forced Planning Update and Full Update.
- Gantt: TEST, SCENARIO, LOCK and Reset.
- Navigation: Show Full Timeline and Go to Selected Task, plus quick access to Settings and project import.
- Project management: Planning Reset, Full Reset, history, acknowledgement and Dashboard cleanup actions.
The WBS and Gantt no longer need redundant worksheet command buttons. Ribbon labels and guidance are available in English and French. No installation, external assets or additional user account is needed.
An empty workbook offers Start New Project or Import Previous Project. Users of older ProjectEngine versions can move supported WBS inputs, dependencies, dates, constraints, settings, warning acknowledgements, Dashboard snapshots, compatible event history and supported WBS input formulas into the newer workbook.
Import leaves the original source workbook unchanged and does not recalculate the schedule automatically. Review the imported WBS and Constraints, then choose Planning Update or Full Update. Import replaces supported project data in the destination workbook, so keep a backup of the destination before importing. Unsupported or incompatible data may be rejected rather than silently discarded.
Show Full Timeline frames the available project timeline within Excel's zoom limits. Go to Selected Task navigates from a selected WBS or Gantt task to its rendered position, with support for milestones and summary tasks and without silently leaving Summary mode.
Full Update still recalculates the entire schedule and analytics. It now avoids rewriting calculated output columns that are already identical. This saves time especially on unchanged schedules; it does not mean a complete rebuild is inherently faster. Gantt rendering also reuses valid existing task graphics and dependency routes where possible, with a full rebuild retained for changes that require one.
Activities, summaries, milestones, Level of Effort tasks, constraints, dependencies, progress and critical-path overlays remain connected to the same scheduling model.
Review Critical and Longest Paths, Total and Free Float, Driving Logic, deadline exposure, schedule variance and multi-project criticality from a dedicated analysis layer.
Compare Baseline, Actual, Forecast and Calculated progress while viewing the time-phased workload behind the curves.
|
|
|
|
View the complete feature set
- Baseline, Actual, Forecast and Calculated planning;
- single-source dependency-driven calculation;
- signature-based incremental recalculation;
- forced full recalculation when required;
- full and partial output synchronization;
- protected calculated-column lifecycle;
- canonical task identity and parsed-network contracts.
- dedicated constraints table;
- hard-constraint calculation;
- deadline management;
- constraint-impact analysis;
- grouped dependency, constraint, cascade and upstream diagnostics;
- bilingual planning messages;
- stable event signatures;
- acknowledgement workflow.
- tasks, summaries, milestones and Level of Effort rendering;
- dependency links;
- progress, critical-path and longest-path overlays;
- constraints, deadlines and Today Line;
- fractional positioning in Week and Month scales;
- predictive Shape Registry;
- deterministic fallback and lazy geometry repair;
- independently refreshable Gantt, Dashboard and S-Curve outputs;
- Show Full Timeline and Go to Selected Task navigation;
- retained Gantt graphics and targeted dependency-route updates where valid.
- embedded, context-sensitive Ribbon with custom icons;
- guided project import from supported earlier workbooks;
- Planning Reset for project turnover;
- Full Reset for complete workbook cleanup;
- Safe Empty State for Gantt and S-Curve;
- guarded WBS write scopes;
- owner-controlled output writers;
- transactional simulation workflows;
- isolated validation on temporary workbook copies;
- deterministic regression harnesses;
- no competing calculation engines across planning, simulation or reporting.
- Visit the latest release and download the prepared
ProjectEngine_*.xlsmfile under Assets. - Open it in Microsoft Excel for Windows and enable macros if you trust the downloaded workbook.
- In the welcome screen, choose Start New Project or Import Previous Project.
- For a new project, use the integrated Quick Start guide in WBS and enter activities, hierarchy, dates, progress and dependencies.
- For an import, choose a supported older ProjectEngine file and review the transferred WBS, Constraints and settings before calculating.
- Run Planning Update from the ProjectEngine Ribbon to calculate and publish the schedule. Use Full Update when you want a complete recalculation and the associated reporting workflow.
- Review diagnostics and explore the Gantt, analytics, Dashboard and S-Curve. Use Go to Selected Task or Show Full Timeline to navigate the Gantt.
WBS onboarding is available in English and French, with Required / Optional / Calculated field indicators, contextual column help and an integrated Quick Start guide. The Ribbon and workbook support global or per-area language preferences.
Upgrading an existing project? Import replaces supported data in the destination workbook. Keep a backup of that destination before starting. The selected source is opened read-only and is not modified. Derived calculations, old Gantt graphics and TEST/SCENARIO states are not imported; rebuild the required views after reviewing the inputs.
Download the prepared
.xlsmasset from the release page. GitHub's automatically generated Source code archives are not ready-to-use Excel workbooks.
Welcome: Start New / Import Previous
↓
WBS inputs
↓
Planning Update
↓
Dependency network + calendars + constraints
↓
Calculated dates + rollups + schedule analytics
↓
Diagnostics
↓
Gantt · Dashboard · S-Curve · Planning Analytics
↓
TEST / SCENARIO simulation
↓
Review and LOCK validated changes
- Build the WBS and define task types, calendars, dates, progress and dependencies.
- Add hard constraints or deadlines when required.
- Run Planning Update.
- Resolve any blocking
STOPdiagnostics and reviewWARNINGorINFOmessages. - Analyze Critical and Longest Paths, float, Driving Logic, deadlines and project health.
- Evaluate focused changes in TEST mode or create a complete SCENARIO.
- Review predictive differences before applying validated results with LOCK.
- Refresh the reporting view needed for the next planning or management review.
ProjectEngine is not a collection of disconnected worksheet macros.
The scheduling engine is the single source of truth. Simulation, diagnostics, visualization and reporting reuse its outputs rather than implementing their own competing date logic.
| Domain | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Runtime workflow | Macro lifecycle, nesting, controlled abort and deferred display |
| WBS / DataSync | User inputs and synchronization into canonical calculation tables |
| Core calculation | Network logic, calendars, constraints, activity dates, LOE and rollups |
| Analytics | Critical / Longest Path, float, deadlines, variance and schedule health |
| Output writers | Controlled full or partial publication to protected workbook outputs |
| Gantt | Timeline refresh, rendering, geometry, interaction and drag simulation |
| Simulation | TEST, SCENARIO and LOCK services using the existing Core |
| Dashboard / S-Curve | Executive reporting and time-phased progress analytics |
| Diagnostics | Message preparation, console policy, history, alarms and acknowledgement |
| Canonical contracts | Shared identity, parsed network and incremental-calculation contracts |
This separation makes the workbook easier to validate, maintain and extend without weakening the determinism of the planning model.
For the full technical design:
- English architecture and maintenance documentation
- Documentation française — architecture et maintenance
Stable.
ProjectEngine reached its first stable baseline with v1.0.0. The scheduling engine, simulation workflows, diagnostics, Gantt rendering, analytics, Dashboard, S-Curve, localization, reset workflows and guarded workbook lifecycle are operational and protected by permanent validation harnesses.
The project remains actively maintained. Recent development adds a workbook-embedded Ribbon, a welcome and previous-project import workflow, task navigation and selective output/graphics reuse. Future development is driven by real planning use cases, reported issues and community feedback.
- Latest release
- All releases
- Open issues
- Questions, feedback and real-world use cases
- Suggest what ProjectEngine should support next
- Getting started and setup questions
The original feature backlog has reached a mature state. The next useful improvements should come from planners, project controls professionals and teams using ProjectEngine on schedules the project has not encountered yet.
Useful contributions include:
- a planning workflow that is difficult to represent;
- a missing relationship, calendar or reporting need;
- an unexpected result on a real schedule;
- an onboarding point that was unclear;
- a performance issue on a large programme;
- a feature you rely on in Microsoft Project or Primavera P6 but miss in Excel.
Choose the most useful entry point:
- Questions, feedback and real-world use cases for general discussion and experience reports;
- What should ProjectEngine support next? for missing workflows and feature ideas;
- Getting started with ProjectEngine for setup, inputs and first-use questions;
- GitHub Issues for reproducible bugs and changes that need formal tracking.
When reporting an issue, remove confidential or company-specific data before sharing any workbook or screenshot.
Is ProjectEngine just another Excel Gantt template?
No. A template mainly visualizes dates. ProjectEngine calculates a dependency network, propagates schedule changes, analyzes path and float, manages constraints, supports simulations and keeps its reporting layers aligned with calculated planning outputs.
Does ProjectEngine replace Microsoft Project or Primavera P6?
Not in every use case, and it does not claim to. Dedicated scheduling platforms cover broader enterprise, resource and portfolio requirements. ProjectEngine is designed for teams that need genuine scheduling capabilities while remaining inside Excel.
Do users need to know VBA?
No. The released workbook is intended to be used through its Excel sheets, controls and integrated onboarding. VBA knowledge is only relevant for people who want to inspect, maintain or extend the source.
Can it manage more than one project?
Yes. ProjectEngine includes multi-project criticality analysis so a programme can distinguish project-level criticality instead of treating every activity as one single project network.
Can I test a delay without changing the live WBS?
Yes. TEST mode supports focused non-destructive changes, while SCENARIO mode supports complete schedule alternatives. Validated simulation results can be applied through the controlled LOCK workflow.
Which languages are supported?
The workbook onboarding, Ribbon commands and planning messages support English and French, with global and per-area language controls.
Can I upgrade an older ProjectEngine project without re-entering every task?
Yes. Open the newer workbook and choose Import Previous Project from the welcome screen or Ribbon. Supported WBS inputs, constraints, settings, acknowledgements and historical Dashboard snapshots can be transferred. Import does not execute the older workbook's VBA or copy its calculated Gantt/S-Curve outputs. Review the imported inputs and run the planning update yourself. Back up the destination workbook first; the original source remains unchanged. Some custom formulas or unsupported structures may be refused.
Does Full Update always rebuild everything in Excel?
Full Update always runs a complete schedule and analytics recalculation. However, if calculated output columns already match, ProjectEngine can leave those Excel cells untouched instead of rewriting them. A genuinely new or substantially changed schedule still requires the necessary work; Full Update is not a substitute for incremental Planning Update.
Do I need to install a Ribbon add-in?
No. The ProjectEngine Ribbon and its custom icons are included in the downloadable .xlsm workbook. You do need a supported desktop Excel environment with VBA macros enabled.
Where should I download ProjectEngine?
Use the prepared .xlsm workbook attached to the latest GitHub release. Do not use GitHub's automatically generated source archives when you want the ready-to-run workbook.
ProjectEngine welcomes:
- bug reports with clear reproduction steps;
- feature requests grounded in a real planning need;
- usability and documentation feedback;
- anonymized test cases;
- code contributions that preserve the single-source scheduling architecture and existing public workbook contracts.
Before proposing code changes, review the architecture and maintenance documentation:
For substantial changes, open an issue or discussion first so the planning rule, compatibility impact and validation strategy can be agreed before implementation.
The most useful ways to support the project are:
- Star the repository so more Excel and project-controls users can discover it.
- Share it with a planner, scheduler or project manager who is maintaining a complex schedule manually.
- Report feedback after testing it on a real, non-confidential planning case.
- Contribute an issue, use case, documentation improvement or validated change.
If ProjectEngine saves you meaningful time and you would also like to support its continued development:
ProjectEngine is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
You may use, study, modify and redistribute the project under the terms of that license. Derivative distributions must preserve the same license obligations.
Download ProjectEngine · Star the repository · Read the documentation
Real scheduling. Native Excel.