Creating a New Project

Clicking the 'Create New Project' button opens a new empty project so you can start managing tasks right away.

Opening Existing Files

Clicking the 'Open Local File' button opens a file selection dialog to load and resume editing a `.ploto` file saved on your PC.

Recently Opened Projects

Projects you have previously opened in Ploto are listed. You can quickly open them with a single click without searching for the file path.

File Menu

The 'File' menu allows you to perform the following:
• **New**: Create a new project file.
• **Open**: Select and load a project file (.ploto) from your PC.
• **Save**: Overwrite and save the current project.
• **Save As**: Save the project under a new file name.
• **Excel Export / Print [PRO]**: Export Gantt charts or task lists as Excel or PDF (Pro features).

Help Menu

The 'Help' menu allows you to perform the following:
• **Manual**: Open this manual page.
• **Changelog**: View the app update history.
• **License**: View license information.
• **Language**: Switch the app language (Japanese, English, German, French, Korean).

Sidebar Panels (3 Types)

The main sidebar menus are as follows:

• List: Add or switch between project views, including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, priority matrices, member-specific tasks, and whiteboards.
• Task Search: Type in a task name to search for tasks within the project by keywords.
• Milestones: Manage and check lists of important milestones set in the project.
• Settings: Configure application settings.

Undo / Redo

Using the arrow icons (or shortcuts Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y), you can revert or redo your recent actions.

Manual Save

Click the floppy disk icon to immediately save your current changes manually (the app autosaves, but you can also save manually at any time).

Theme Switcher

Click the moon/sun icon to toggle between light and dark mode.

Adding and Switching Projects (Multi-Tab)

In Ploto, you can manage multiple projects simultaneously within a single file. Click the 'List' button on the far left sidebar to open the panel, then click the '+' button in the Project section to add a new project. Added projects will appear as 'tabs' at the top of the screen. Simply click a tab to instantly switch between different Gantt charts.

Adding and Deleting Tasks

Click the '+' button at the top of the task list (grid) on the left, or at the right end of each row, to add a new task. To delete a task, right-click the task name and select 'Delete' from the menu, or select the task and press the Delete key.

Adjusting Duration (Drag & Drop)

Drag the left or right edge of a task bar (blue bar) on the chart to change the start or end date. Drag the center of the bar to move the entire schedule left or right while maintaining the duration (number of days).

Setting Dependencies (Links)

You can define sequential relationships (predecessor/successor) between tasks. Drag the circular dot at the edge of a task bar and connect it to another task bar to create a link (dependency). Double-click the link line to delete it.

Updating Progress

Drag the small slider inside the task bar left or right to change the progress rate (0% to 100%). The progress is visually represented by the darker fill inside the bar.

Task Details Settings (Details, ToDo, Memo)

Double-click a task or click the details button to open the 'Details Panel' on the right side of the screen. This panel contains three tabs where you can edit basic parameters, manage ToDos, and write formatted notes.

1. Details Tab (Basic Info Settings)

Configure various basic items related to the task, such as task name, progress rate, priority, duration, and start date/time.

2. ToDo Tab (Task Breakdowns)

Enter a detailed checklist (ToDo list) associated with the task. You can assign an individual due date and assignee to each ToDo item.

3. Memo Tab (Formatted Notes)

Write detailed notes or instructions for the task. Rich-text formatting such as bold, italics, and lists is supported.

Holiday & Company Off-day Settings

In addition to standard weekends, you can register public holidays or unique company-specific holidays in the calendar. Days designated as holidays are grayed out on the chart and automatically excluded from active duration calculations, allowing you to create plans based on actual working days. *The function to import national holidays in bulk is a premium (Pro) feature (manual addition/editing is available for free).

Health Alert Line

Automatically evaluates task health based on current progress and today's date. Lines for 'Overdue (Red)', 'Delayed Start (Yellow)', and 'On Track (Green)' are automatically displayed on the left edge of the task bar, letting you identify tasks that require immediate attention.

Undo / Redo

Don't worry if you make a mistake. Just like in Excel, you can use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Z (Undo) and Ctrl + Y (Redo) to revert or re-apply your recent actions step-by-step.