Actual and Remaining Work is not scheduling properly in MS Pro.

[Sophos]

When a resource updates their task on PWA by 'Actual Work' and 'Remaining
Work', and the PM updates this on Project, something goes wrong:

If for example Task 1 was estimated to take 15h to do, but in fact the
resource took 7.5 hours to do and updated this on Actual Work as 7.5 and
Remaining Work as 0. When this is updated for the PM to update on Project
2003, Project does not schedule this so that it took 7.5h to do. Instead, it
updates it as 100% which is right but it is still scheduling this to have
taken 15h to do.

Is this something to do with the setting I have done? I have checked the
calenders and they are all right.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Sophos --

Are you using Fixed Duration tasks, by chance? Let us know.

 

[Sophos]

Dale,

Which one are you suppose to use? I went on Tools>Options>Schedule>Default
task type.

I first used Fixed Duration and that didnt work. Then I changed it to Fixed
Work and that didnt work either!

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Sophos --

There is no "right" Task Type setting, as you can use any Task Type that you
actually need in your environment. You can set the default Task Type for
all new tasks in a project using the steps you detailed. You can set the
Task Type individually for each task by double-clicking the task, clicking
the Advanced tab, and setting the Task Type value. If you initially used
Fixed Duration as the default Task Type setting in the project, then I would
suspect that the task in question is set as a Fixed Duration task, which
would explain why the Duration did not change after updating actuals. Hope
this

 

[Sophos]

Hi Dale,

I have changed the tasks to 'Fixed Work' and tried 'Fixed Unit' too but it
still isn't updating the actuals from PWA.

The weird thing is if I did the opposite e.g. Estimated that Task A takes
15h to do but it fact it takes longer so the resource types in Actual Work =
16h, Remaining Work = 4h in their timesheet and updates this. Project
schedules this in and makes the duration for that task longer.

To sum it up, it updates tasks that takes longer but not the other way
round. Very confusing I know! Any other suggestions?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Sophos --

What steps did you perform to actually change the tasks from Fixed Duration
to either Fixed Units or Fixed Work? If you clicked Tools - Options and
changed the value there, this did not change the Task Type for any of the
tasks in the project. To change all tasks to a different task type, you
should do the following:

1. Click the Select All button in the upper left corner of the task sheet
2. Click Project - Task Information
3. Click the Advanced tab
4. Set the Task Type value to Fixed Units
5. Click OK

Did you actually perform steps #1-5 above? Let us know.

 

[Sophos]

Hello again,

Yes I created a task and assigned it 2 days. I then assigned an enterprise
resource to the task. Performed steps 1-5 you suggested, saved the project
onto the server, typed in 7.5h (Actual Work) and 0h (Remaining work) on 'View
My Tasks', Update, PM then accepts all, then Project opens and asks if you
want to save. Clicked yes. The task STILL says it has taken 2 days with 100%
complete!

P.S. Resources calender, PWA and MS project are set to 7.5h a day

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Sophos --

I'm getting tired of asking you the same question. I asked you if you
changed the Task Type for all tasks in the project, and all you give me for
an answer is, "Yes I created a task and assigned it 2 days." In other
words, you won't answer my questions, so I'm not sure I can help you much
more.

The behavior you are describing is that of a Fixed Duration task.
Double-click the task, go to the Advanced tab, and I think you may see Fixed
Duration as the Task Type value. Set it to Fixed Units and the Duration
will adjust correctly to 1 day. Hope this helps.

 

[Sophos]

Dale,

Sorry if I didnt answer your question clear enough for you. The answer is a
definite fat YES! I did change ALL the tasks to 'Fixed Units'. I tested this
out again and it still doesn't decrease the number of days.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Sophos --

I'm not sure I can help you much more than I already have. The behavior you
are describing is that of a Fixed Duration task that finishes early.
Perhaps you'd like to repost your original question and see if anyone else
can take a stab at it.

 

[Missy]

Hi Dale,

Thank you for trying to help me out. I will repost the question and see what
other people think to it.

I wonder sometimes if it has anything to do with the settings on PWA.
Perhaps the permissions where it isn't allowing team members to adjust
actuals?

Anyways thanks for all the help!