Kurt --
Yes, you can create a customized Work Contour according to your own needs.
The technique to accomplish this is as follows:
1. Apply the Task Usage view (Work Contours must be created in either the
Task Usage or Resource Usage views)
2. Double-click the first assignment that you wish to contour (an
assignment is the resource name which is indented and formatted in italics
below the name of the task)
3. In the Assignment Information dialog box, select one of the default
contours fromt the Work Contours drop-down list
4. Click the OK button
The Work Contour will be applied to the Work hours that are shown in the
timephased grid (yellow/white timesheet) on the right.
5. Click the Go To Selected Task button on the Standard toolbar to bring
the Work hours into view on the timephased grid
6. In the timephased grid, type the Work hours for the assignment exactly
the way that you want the work to be performed (you may also have to delete
"leftover" hours in the timephased grid, if necessary)
7. Keep an eye on the Work column in the Task Sheet on the left, making
sure you do not exceed your original estimate of how many hours of Work will
be performed on this assignment
8. Repeat this process for each assignment that needs a Work Contour
Kurt, using this technique, you will begin with a pre-formatted contour,
such as the Bell contour, then you will edit the contoured Work in the
timephased grid to schedule the Work according to your specifications. The
edited work is known as a Contoured pattern.
The only thing you cannot do is to edit the underlying formula that governs
each of the pre-formatted Work Contours, as the formulas are "hard coded" in
the underlying software code in Microsoft Project. Hope this helps.
