Determine how many days ahead or behind a task is

[McGeeky]

Hi. How can I calculate how many days ahead or behind a given task is with
respect to a given date, such as the project status date? When looking at
the Gantt chart I can see visually whether a task is behind or ahead the
current date. But how to get that same information programmatically?

Thanks!!

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Have a look at the DateDifference function in the help (e.g. the object
browser)

 

[McGeeky]

Thanks for your reply, but unfortunately it does not help me. Sorry, I
should have been clearer what I meant.

I am looking for how many days ahead or behind *schedule* a given task is
with respect to a given date.

E.g. A task has 10 days estimated effort, with 1 resource assigned. The task
starts on the 7th of August 2006 continuing through to18th August. 5 working
days in, on the 11th August, the task should have 5 days effort against it
(50% complete). Therefore if I measure how many days behind or ahead of
schedule the task is I should get 0. Ie. We are exactly on schedule. If only
4 days are complete against the task (40%) then I should get -1 (1 day
behind). If 6 days are complete against the task (60% complete) the I should
get +1 (1 day ahead).

I hope you can help me again now that I have clarified what I need!

Thank you!

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I know this mlust be possible but it is so far against my method of thinking
that I have a problem finding a solution.
First, "should be" values should be frozen as baseline.
Then, once I update the project, I end by using Tools, Uppdat project,
reschedule uncomplete work ... that changes my finish date such taht I get a
Finish Variandce against the baseline.
Does that help?

 

[McGeeky]

Hi Jan,

Does that variance state how many days behind or ahead of schedule the
project is compared to the previous baseline?

Thanks.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

It shows how many days behind the newly calculated start or finish date is
vis a vis the baseline start or fiinish.
HTH

 

[McGeeky]

Hi Jan,

Although that feature sounds useful it is not exactly what I am after. On a
day to day basis I simply want to click a button and have project tell me
which tasks I am behind or ahead on and by how much. I don't want to have to
create a baseline and adjust the project simply to discover that
information.

Thanks for your help though. I think I'll have to sharpen my MSP programming
skills to solve this one!

Thanks.