Cost total doesn't add up

[Cirene]

I'm new to Project 2007. I have this...

TASK A / 1.5 days / $1560
- subtask 1 / .5 days / $260
- subtask 2 / .5 days / $260
- subtask 3 / .5 days / $260

TASK A shows the correct sum of the days, but why is the Cost column off? I
would expect it to add up the 3 subtask costs.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Cirene,

Do you have resources assigned to Task A as well as subtasks 1, 2,
and 3?

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[John]

I'm new to Project 2007. I have this...

TASK A / 1.5 days / $1560
- subtask 1 / .5 days / $260
- subtask 2 / .5 days / $260
- subtask 3 / .5 days / $260

TASK A shows the correct sum of the days, but why is the Cost column off? I
would expect it to add up the 3 subtask costs.

Cirene,
First of all, duration of a summary will normally NOT sum up the
duration of its subtasks. However if the "x" days you are showing is
actually the Work field, then the numbers will sum up.

Duration for a summary line is simply the time in working days between
the start of the earliest subtask and the finish of the latest subtask.
If all subtasks are linked finish-to-start, then the durations will add
up, but it's a rare case that the schedule is that routine.

My guess as to why the Cost field doesn't add up is that there are
resources assigned to the summary level (i.e. Task "A"), or there is a
value in the Fixed Cost field of the summary line. You might want to go
to our MVP website at, http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm, and take a
look at FAQ 49 - Summary Task Resources.

John
Project MVP

 

[Cirene]

This is probably the most SIMPLE scenario: I am the ONLY resource. I
charge a flat $50 per hour. The client wants a project plan showing all the
major tasks with each one broken down into subtasks. To keep things simple
i'll probably plan for one task at a time, when one ends the next begins,
etc... Any suggestions on how I can do this?

And, yes, I assigned myself as the resource to every task, yet the indented
"subitems" dont add up in it's "parent"/major task.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[JulieS]

Hello Cirene,

To schedule your tasks sequentially you'll need to link them (look
for the link tasks button on the standard toolbar.) If you select
two tasks and click the link tasks button, Project will set the
first task selected as the predecessor to the second task in a
finish to start relationship.

To get accurate cost estimate, you need to assign yourself *only* to
the subtasks not to the summary task (what you call the parent
task). Assigning yourself to both the subtask and the summary is
what is causing the doubling of cost.

You might also find Mike Glen's series of tutorials on using MS
Project to be very helpful in understanding many of the pieces of
the Project puzzle. See:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm

Julie

 

[Cirene]

Thanks! You ROCK!

Hello Cirene,

To schedule your tasks sequentially you'll need to link them (look for the
link tasks button on the standard toolbar.) If you select two tasks and
click the link tasks button, Project will set the first task selected as
the predecessor to the second task in a finish to start relationship.

To get accurate cost estimate, you need to assign yourself *only* to the
subtasks not to the summary task (what you call the parent task).
Assigning yourself to both the subtask and the summary is what is causing
the doubling of cost.

You might also find Mike Glen's series of tutorials on using MS Project to
be very helpful in understanding many of the pieces of the Project puzzle.
See:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm

Julie

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Cirene. Glad to have helped and thanks for the
enthusiastic feedback.

Julie

 

[Cirene]

$1560 is the sum of the sub-costs x 2.
So where does the extra $780 come from?
There are only two ways this can happen.
You have the same resource assigned to to the Summary (v likely), or maybe
you have a Fixed Cost on the Summary (see the Cost Tabe).

THANKS!