Description

CPMLevel is a 16-bit Windows program to perform CPM scheduling and resource leveling based on an enhanced version of the Minimum Moment Method for resource leveling.

The algorithm for the original Minimum Moment Method is described in:

R. B. Harris, Precedence and Arrow Networking Techniques for Construction, J. Wiley & Sons, NY, NY, 1978.

The enhanced algorithm for the Minimum Moment Method is described in the "CPMLevel Reference Manual" (included with CPMLevel). In addition to the original Minimum Moment Method the enhanced algorithm allows the user to experiment with several different leveling strategies.

The user can observe the effectiveness of the currently selected leveling strategy by having CPMLevel animate the resource histogram dynamically and show the corresponding "Resource Improvement Coefficient", RIC, while it performs resource leveling. The RIC is similar to the coefficient of variation in statistics and measures the relative smoothness at the top of the current resource histogram. (See figure below.)

Activities can also be dragged back and forth manually in the CPM Level bar chart. This allows the user to investigate alternative leveling strategies, in addition to the Minimum Moment Method.

Required Files and Installation Instructions for Windows (32-bit and 16-bit)

• CPMLevel.zip is a ZIP file archive that contains all CPMLevel files (program, documentation, and examples). Download it to an empty directory on your hard disk and unzip it with a program such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-zip .  In Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can unzip this file using Windows Explorer (the Windows File Manager).

• To run CPMLevel just run the file CPMLevel.exe. No other installation is necessary. You may wish to create a shortcut for easy launching.

NEW: CPMLevel Installation Instructions for 64-bit Windows - Easiest Method

• Because CPMLevel is a 16-bit Windows app it will not run directly under 64-bit Windows unless you use a virtual machine to install a 32-bit version of Windows.

• The easiest and free alternative is to use otvdm, which allows running 16-bit and 32-bit Windows programs under 64-bit Windows (such as Windows 11).

Download and unzip " otvdm"

• • Download the ZIP file for otvdm from GitHub to an empty directory on your hard disk:

  •        https://github.com/otya128/winevdm/releases

  • Extract all the files contained in the otvdm ZIP file that you have downloaded.
    Use a program such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-zip. Under Windows 10 or 11, you can also use Windows Explorer (the Windows File Manager).

  • The otvdm files include "otvdmw.exe".  This is the program you need to run to enable CPMLevel to run under 64-bit Windows. See below.  No installation is needed.

  • Optional: You can make running CPMLevel (and other 16-bit Windows programs) even easier to run as follows.

    • "install (no console).lnk"     Double-click this file (included with otvdm) to install otvdm under 64-bit Windows.

    • "uninstall.reg"                           Double-click this file (included with otvdm) to uninstall otvdm from 64-bit Windows.

Download and unzip CPMLevel

• • Download CPMLevel.zip to an empty directory on your hard disk.  

  • Unzip this file using a program such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-zip. In Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can unzip this file using Windows Explorer (the Windows File Manager).

Run CPMLevel

• • If you have installed otvdm (optional) under 64-bit Windows, just double-click "cpmlevel.exe". That is all.

  • If you have not installed otvdm (optional) under 64-bit Windows, do the following:

    • • Double-click the otvdm program "otvdmw.exe" to run it. 

      • A dialog box will ask for the Windows program you wish to run.

      •  Navigate to the folder containing the unzipped CPMLevel files and select the "cpmlevel.exe" program.

      • This will run CPMLevel.

    • Alternatively, drag the file "cpmlevel.exe" on top of the file "otvdmw.exe".  This will also run CPMLevel. 

Known (minor) Bug in otvdm

• • Ordinarily, activities in CPMLevel are sorted based on Activity Number, from smallest to largest. (See screenshot above.)

  • When running under otvdm, CPMLevel appears to sort activities in reverse order, from largest to smallest Activity Number.

  • This is minor bug caused by otvdm.

Required Files and Installation Instructions for 64-bit Windows, OSX, and Linux

• Because CPMLevel is a 16-bit Windows app it will not run directly under 64-bit Windows unless you use a virtual machine to install a 32-bit version of Windows.

• An easier and free alternative using DOSBox and Windows 3.11 is available below.

How to install and run CPMLevel using DOSBox and Windows 3.11

• • Download and install the version of DOSBox for your operating system from:

  •     http://www.dosbox.com/

  • Create a new empty folder in the root directory of your C: drive with the name:

  •   C:\_DOSBox_C

  • (This new empty folder will become the C: drive for DOSBox.)

  • Download the zip archive

  •     CPMLevel_with_DOSBox_and_Windows311.zip

  • into the newly created folder

  •   C:\_DOSBox_C

  • Use your favorite utility to unzip the archive

  •     CPMLevel_with_DOSBox_and_Windows311.zip

  • so that its contents are placed directly into the newly created folder

  •   C:\_DOSBox_C

  • and NOT into a subdirectory (or subfolder).

  • Note: If this step is done correctly, the following directories will be available:

  •   C:\_DOSBox_C\Windows

  •   C:\_DOSBox_C\CPMlevel

  • Also, if this step is done correctly the following batch file will be available

  •   C:\_DOSBox_C\Windows.bat

  • Run DOSBox on your computer.

  • This will present you with a DOS command line as follows:

  •   Z:\>

  • Type the following commands exactly as shown to

  •     (a) Mount the newly created folder C:\_DOSBox_C as drive C: in DOSBox

  •     (b) Start Windows 3.11.

  •     == Type the following commands into DOSBox ==

  •   Z:\>mount c C:\_DOSBox_C

  •     Drive C is mounted as local directory C:\_DOSBox_C

  •   Z:\>C:

  •   C:\>windows.bat

  • The above commands will start Windows 3.11 inside DOSBox.

  •     To start CPMlevel, double-click its icon.

  • From here on please refer to the documents:

  •     CPMlevel Reference Manual: referman.pdf

  •     CPMlevel User Guide: usrguide.pdf