Change Duration and Actual Finish

[Kirsty]

Hi,
I am trying to change the duration and end dates of tasks in my MPP (2003,
no Project Server). There is only one resource assigned to any task. All
durations are estimate until completed. All tasks pretty much have a
predecessor.
Feature of each task:
* Fixed Units
* Effort driven
* Earned Value method is % complete

I want to update the duration and finish date, but the task may not have
been able to be worked on directly after its predecessor. Due to multiple
dependancies not able to be captured in the MPP, resources may work on any
task in any sequence, may stop working on a task for a few weeks, and return
to it.
I am only interested in how long a task took all up, and on what date that
task was finalised.

When we try to update the duration and actual finish date, 99% of the time,
the task will run from the Start date, and we end up with a much longer
duration than acutal. If we re-modify the duration to the actual amount of
time, then the finish date is much earlier than it actually was.

I am able to do this successfully with a different MPP (much simpler, only
10s of tasks, not 100s of tasks), and cannot figure out what is different
that is stopping me from making these modifications successfully.

Thanks in anticipation of any help or insight,
Kirsty

 

[Dave]

How about you enter the Actual Start date for the task (this is a column
you can display). Then the task will move to the interval in which it
was worked on.

Alternatively, capture actual hours of work and enter those against the
task on the correct dates and once again the task will move.

 

[Jim Aksel]

Method 1: Select Update Tasks from the Tracking toolbar. Key in actual
start/finish dates.

Method 2: Insert the columns [Actual Start], [Actual Finish] into the Gantt
chart and key them there.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[LS123]

Hi Kirsty,

I suggest you go to Tools/Level Rsources and turn OFF the automatic
levelling to Manual. I hope this would sort out your problems.

 

[Kirsty]

Hi LS123,

Automatic levelling is turned off.

Thanks,
Kirsty

 

[Kirsty]

Hi Dave,

I think a combination of Actual start and using dummy dates will work this
out. Part of the problem is that our tasks are not necessarily worked on as
planned. A resource may work on a task at 50% for two days, then they will be
waiting on an available software environment for a week, then work on that
task again at 100% for two days. So, overall, they've worked three days in
7-10 working days.

At the moment, because of the nature of resources working on a variety of
tasks in non-sequential order, I'm most concerned about capturing accurate
duration and end-dates.
Thanks,
Kirsty

 

[Kirsty]

Hi Jim,

Thanks, I didn't know about that Update Tasks dialog box. I think using
that, in combination with mocked actual start dates (based on the duration
and actual end dates) will do what I need.

Thanks,
Kirsty

Method 1: Select Update Tasks from the Tracking toolbar. Key in actual
start/finish dates.

Method 2: Insert the columns [Actual Start], [Actual Finish] into the Gantt
chart and key them there.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

Hi,
I am trying to change the duration and end dates of tasks in my MPP (2003,
no Project Server). There is only one resource assigned to any task. All
durations are estimate until completed. All tasks pretty much have a
predecessor.
Feature of each task:
* Fixed Units
* Effort driven
* Earned Value method is % complete

I want to update the duration and finish date, but the task may not have
been able to be worked on directly after its predecessor. Due to multiple
dependancies not able to be captured in the MPP, resources may work on any
task in any sequence, may stop working on a task for a few weeks, and return
to it.
I am only interested in how long a task took all up, and on what date that
task was finalised.

When we try to update the duration and actual finish date, 99% of the time,
the task will run from the Start date, and we end up with a much longer
duration than acutal. If we re-modify the duration to the actual amount of
time, then the finish date is much earlier than it actually was.

I am able to do this successfully with a different MPP (much simpler, only
10s of tasks, not 100s of tasks), and cannot figure out what is different
that is stopping me from making these modifications successfully.

Thanks in anticipation of any help or insight,
Kirsty

 

[Dave]

Hi Kirsty

Entering actual dates would automatically solve the "not being worked on
as planned" problem because as soon as you enter the actual start, the
task would move to that date. You don't need any other 'dummy' dates.

The "working three days out of ten" is commonplace on projects. You, as
project manager, have to distinguish between the amount of work (the
total number of hours that will be worked) on a task and the interval in
which that work will be accomplished. So, in your example, the 3 days
work would be 24 hours but spread over a 10 day period. That would mean
that your plan would be more realistic if you assigned them at 30%.
Alternatively, you can stretch out the task bar to cover a realistic
interval.

Dave

 

[Steve]

Jim

What happends if can not change actual start or actual finish can not be
changed? They are grayed out. The duration is not grayed but I can not
change it.

Thanks
--
Stephen Gardner
MaxitHC
Test Team Lead LHP

Method 1: Select Update Tasks from the Tracking toolbar. Key in actual
start/finish dates.

Method 2: Insert the columns [Actual Start], [Actual Finish] into the Gantt
chart and key them there.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

Hi,
I am trying to change the duration and end dates of tasks in my MPP (2003,
no Project Server). There is only one resource assigned to any task. All
durations are estimate until completed. All tasks pretty much have a
predecessor.
Feature of each task:
* Fixed Units
* Effort driven
* Earned Value method is % complete

I want to update the duration and finish date, but the task may not have
been able to be worked on directly after its predecessor. Due to multiple
dependancies not able to be captured in the MPP, resources may work on any
task in any sequence, may stop working on a task for a few weeks, and return
to it.
I am only interested in how long a task took all up, and on what date that
task was finalised.

When we try to update the duration and actual finish date, 99% of the time,
the task will run from the Start date, and we end up with a much longer
duration than acutal. If we re-modify the duration to the actual amount of
time, then the finish date is much earlier than it actually was.

I am able to do this successfully with a different MPP (much simpler, only
10s of tasks, not 100s of tasks), and cannot figure out what is different
that is stopping me from making these modifications successfully.

Thanks in anticipation of any help or insight,
Kirsty