Importing from Image

Farline AI can extract a project plan from a screenshot, exported Gantt chart, or any visual project timeline. Upload an image and AI vision will identify workstreams, work items, sizes, and dependencies to create a ready-to-forecast project.

What gets imported

When you import from an image, Farline AI uses AI vision to analyse the visual and creates a new project with:

Project name: inferred from any visible title or heading
Scenario: Baseline Scenario
Workstreams: identified from visual groupings, swimlanes, or color-coded sections
Work items: extracted from task bars, rows, or labeled elements with inferred sizes
Dependencies: detected from arrows, lines, or sequential positioning
Milestones: identified from diamond markers or labeled dates
Start date: read from the timeline axis or inferred from visible dates

Supported formats

Format	Extensions
PNG	`.png`
JPEG	`.jpg`, `.jpeg`
WebP	`.webp`
PDF	`.pdf` (first page)

Maximum file size: 10 MB

What works well

Import from Image works best with:

Gantt charts from tools like MS Project, Smartsheet, Monday.com, or Jira Advanced Roadmaps
Spreadsheet-based project plans with clear columns (task name, duration, dependencies)
Screenshots of timeline views with visible task bars and dates
Hand-drawn project timelines with legible text

Example: Before and after

Source image

Upload a Gantt chart or project timeline screenshot like this:

Result in Farline AI

After import, Farline AI generates the project definition and displays the forecast as an Excalidraw chart:

How to import (step-by-step)

Open the Farline AI app.
Click the + button to the left of the chat input.

Select Import from Image.
The image import dialog opens. Either:
- Drag and drop your image onto the upload zone, or
- Click Browse Files to select from your computer

Farline AI analyses the image with AI vision. This typically takes 10-20 seconds.
On success, the extracted project definition loads into the editor and the forecast chart appears.

You can also access Import from Image via Menu > Import > From Image (coming in a future update).

Tips for best results

Use high-resolution images - Larger, clearer images produce better extraction results
Include visible dates - Charts with a date axis give the AI better context for scheduling
Show task names clearly - Ensure task/work item labels are legible and not cut off
Include dependency arrows - Visual dependency lines help the AI map relationships correctly
Crop to the chart area - Remove toolbars, sidebars, and other UI chrome for cleaner extraction

After importing

Review the definition - Open the Advanced Editor tab to check the extracted workstreams, work items, and dependencies
Adjust sizes - AI-estimated sizes may need refinement based on your team's estimation approach
Verify dependencies - Check that dependency chains match the source chart
Run a forecast - The forecast generates automatically once the definition is valid
Compare to source - Use the Excalidraw chart to visually compare against your original image

Troubleshooting

Import produces few or no work items

The image may be too small or low resolution. Try a higher-quality export.
Complex charts with overlapping elements can confuse extraction. Crop to a cleaner section.
Charts with very small text may not be readable. Zoom in and re-screenshot.

Dependencies are missing or wrong

If the source chart doesn't show explicit dependency arrows, the AI may not infer them. Add dependencies manually in the editor.
Sequential positioning (task A ends where task B starts) is sometimes interpreted as a dependency, sometimes not.

Import fails with an error

Check that your file is under 10 MB.
Ensure the file is a supported format (PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF).
PDFs are processed first-page only. If your chart spans multiple pages, screenshot the relevant page instead.

Extracted dates look wrong

The AI reads dates from the chart's timeline axis. If dates are partially obscured or in an unusual format, they may be misread.
You can correct start dates in the Advanced Editor after import.

Visualizing Projects with Charts - Understanding Excalidraw and other chart formats
2-Way Sync with Jira - Import and export with Jira
Using the Advanced Editor - Edit your project definition

Last updated: 2026-03-09