Calendar

[Doug]

I am using Project 2000. I went to Project, Project
Information and assigned a calendar. Let's say the
calendar name is "ABC". If I go a task, and double click
that task, then go to the Advanced tab, it says my
Calendar is None. Shouldn't it say my calendar is "ABC"
Calendar? When I create a calendar for my project, why
doesn't it apply to everything for that project.

Thanks

Douglas

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Doug --

The Project Calendar you selected is applied by default to every task in the
project. If you wish to override the Project Calendar's schedule for a
particular task, then you specify a different calendar for the task. Hope
this helps.

 

[Steve House]

There's a check box next to the Task Calendar drop down on the task info
advanced tab that allows one to specify when a task calendar is designated
and a resource assigned, whether the task calendar or the resource calendar
is to govern the task's scheduling.

--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer/Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

 

[Dominic Moss]

I think that if you check you will discover that even if the "scheduling
ignores resource calendar" option is not selected that a resources base
calendar will be over-ruled if a task calendar with a different working
pattern is assigned to the task. If you don't select the option you get a
conflict warning that there is a conflict between the resource and task
calendars and that the task scheduling will ignore the resources calendar.
You will then also get 2 icons in the indicator column, one indicates that a
task calendar is applied the other that there is a conflict with
insufficient "Intersecting" calendars.

If you apply a task calendar and select the "scheduling ignores resource
calendar" the only difference is that you get no warning sign.

The existence of task calendars allows "normal rules" to be suspended in
specific circumstances to model an exception. By default all tasks are
scheduled on the base calendar for the project consequently the task
calendar option shows blank (what is the point of stating the obvious?),
resources can influence the scheduling of tasks by virtue of the concept of
Resource Driven Scheduling - in the main I always reccomend that an
organisation creates a company base calendar that is then employed in all
projects AND the Resource Pool to ensure projects and resources are in synch
(this is very elegantly supported by the Enterprise options available with
Project Pro & Server), any task calendars then assume precedence in terms of
scheduling.

--
Dominic Moss

www.projectability.co.uk

Helping people achieve more with Microsoft Project

Tel +44 8707 303 400
Fax +44 8707 303 500

 

[Steve House]

Thanks for the heads up, Dom. I double checked with a test file and you're
absolutely right. I think this is new in 2003 because in the earlier
versions the resource calendar rules if the check box is turned off and the
task calendar rules if it is turned on. I demo this in my classes and never
had that warning message pop up before but none of my clients are using 2003
yet so haven't actually tried it in the current release until now. Also
observed another new behavior. Set up the Project Calendat for the default
0800-1700 and enter a 1 day task. Schedule shows 0800-1700. Create a
resource who hasa calendat what is 0900-1800 and assign him to the task.
Task schedule changes to 0900-1800. Create an exception calendar showing
1700-2300 and make it the task calendar for the task, leaving the
"scheduling ignore resource calendar" option turned off. The task will now
show working 1 hour per day, 1700-1800 for 8 work days! This too is
different from earlier versions where it is either completely the task
calendar or completely the resource calendar that governs.

--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer/Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs