Work Estimates Configuration

By default, Gantt Charts use Jira time tracking to estimate the work required for each task. Work can also be estimated using another attribute, such as story points, a text or numeric custom field, or even a formula.

To customize the way Gantt estimates work, go to Settings | Scheduling.

Work estimates define the amount of work (or effort) required to complete a task. The exact duration of the task will depend on the amount of work, the resource assigned to the task, and the calendar. Please see the Resources section for more details.

Using Time Tracking for Work Estimate

If Use time tracking is selected, work is estimated based on:

If work has been logged for the task: Time Spent + Remaining Estimate
If no work has been logged: Original Estimate

Gantt will use this work estimate to determine the task's duration. If you adjust the task duration by changing the size of the task bar in the chart or editing the Work value in the Task Details Panel, these fields are updated as follows:

If work has been logged: Remaining Estimate will be updated
If no work has been logged: Original Estimate and Remaining Estimate will be updated

Changing the size of a task bar does not affect the work estimate for fixed-duration tasks.
It is not possible to change the size of a task bar for tasks scheduled by sprints.

Use Remaining Estimate only

If the Use Remaining Estimate only option is selected, Gantt will base its work estimate only on the remaining work (Remaining Estimate).

Default Estimate

The Default Estimate value will be used when no other work estimate values are available for a task.

Using a Custom Estimate

If your organization estimates work using a method other than time tracking, select the Use custom estimate option and choose the appropriate Estimate Attribute where those values are stored.

Gantt will use the values in this field to determine the work required for each task. If you adjust the task duration by changing the size of the task bar in the chart or editing the Work value in the Task Details Panel, Gantt will update the value in this field.

If you receive an error when trying to adjust the estimate from the Gantt chart, make sure the field has been added to the appropriate issue screen.

Format

Select the format of the custom estimate (Story Points, minutes, hours, etc.). This allows Structure to correctly interpret the provided values.

Hours Ratio

If your custom estimate is in Story Points, select how many hours it should take to complete each Story Point. This is used to convert Story Points into hours and back, so tasks can be properly visualized on the timeline.

Default Estimate

The Default Estimate value is used when there is no value available for an issue, or the value is invalid.

Using Time Tracking AND Custom Estimate

If you are working on a project where teams use both time tracking and a custom estimate (or you're in the process of migrating from one to the other), you can select both options.

When both are selected:

Gantt will first try to use time tracking values to determine the work estimate
If there is no time tracking information available for an issue, it will use the custom estimate instead
If neither are available, the Default Estimate value will be used.

Prefer Custom Estimate over Time Tracking

If this option is selected, Gantt will switch the above order, using the custom estimate first, then time tracking, and finally the Default Estimate value if no other value is available.

Updating Work Estimates (when using time tracking AND custom estimate)

If you adjust the task duration by changing the size of the task bar in the chart or editing the Work value in the Task Details Panel, Gantt will update the value of the preferred estimate only:

If Prefer Custom Estimate over Time Tracking is unchecked: time tracking values will be updated
If Prefer Custom Estimate over Time Tracking is checked: the custom estimate values will be updated