Entering Reserve (buffer) time

[EagleUK]

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to adjust the duration of all of my tasks
simultaneously to add some buffer or reserve time. For example, I have three
tasks with durations of 1d, 2d, and 3d, and want to add a 20% fudge factor
to each.

Obviously I can do this manually. What I'm looking for is a way to do it
reliably for many tasks at once. Perhaps someone has written a macro to do
this?

Thanks in advance,

EagleUK

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hello,
Try the following VBA procedure.

Gérard Ducouret [Project MVP]
Pragmasoft ® - Paris

Sub Fudge_factor()
'Want to add a 20% fudge factor to each task.

Dim oTache As Object
For Each oTache In ActiveProject.Tasks
If Not oTache Is Nothing Then
If oTache.Summary = False Then
oTache.Duration = oTache.Duration * 1.2
End If
End If
Next

End Sub

 

[EagleUK]

Gérard,

Merci beaucoup!

EagleUK

Hello,
Try the following VBA procedure.

Gérard Ducouret [Project MVP]
Pragmasoft ® - Paris

Sub Fudge_factor()
'Want to add a 20% fudge factor to each task.

Dim oTache As Object
For Each oTache In ActiveProject.Tasks
If Not oTache Is Nothing Then
If oTache.Summary = False Then
oTache.Duration = oTache.Duration * 1.2
End If
End If
Next

End Sub

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to adjust the duration of all of my tasks
simultaneously to add some buffer or reserve time. For example, I have three
tasks with durations of 1d, 2d, and 3d, and want to add a 20% fudge factor
to each.

Obviously I can do this manually. What I'm looking for is a way to do it
reliably for many tasks at once. Perhaps someone has written a macro to do
this?

Thanks in advance,

EagleUK

 

[davegb]

Before you go adding a buffer to each individual task, I'd like to
offer an alternative.
First, the reasons I prefer not to buffer each task. In my experience,
both "in the field" and by asking in the classroom for 13 yrs, when
you add buffer to each task, no matter how you determine the amount of
buffer, the resources, normally under pressure to get many things done
in little time, will start on the latest date they can start and still
finish on time. In other words, if I buffer a 10 day task by adding 3
days, most resources will start work on day 4, figuring they'll finish
by day 13. The buffer is thrown away. The only result is that the
planned duration is longer than neccessary. Any unexpected problems
only add to the 13 day duration, because the resource didn't start day
1.
I've tried to keep 2 schedules, one I published and one I kept secret,
the secret one showing the buffer. Always backfires somehow, when
you're sneaky!
What I learned to do years ago is to add a task at the end of the
project containing all the buffer or contingency time. Then, after
explaining why, you entreat your resources to finish on schedule, and
to try not to use up the buffer. This also is a very good team
building tool, if you handle it well. I've had much greater success
finishing projects on time since I started doing this rather than
padding individual tasks.
Hope it helps you, or someone, out.

David G. Bellamy
Bellamy Consulting

Hello,
Try the following VBA procedure.

Gérard Ducouret [Project MVP]
Pragmasoft ® - Paris

Sub Fudge_factor()
'Want to add a 20% fudge factor to each task.

Dim oTache As Object
For Each oTache In ActiveProject.Tasks
If Not oTache Is Nothing Then
If oTache.Summary = False Then
oTache.Duration = oTache.Duration * 1.2
End If
End If
Next

End Sub

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to adjust the duration of all of my tasks
simultaneously to add some buffer or reserve time. For example, I have three
tasks with durations of 1d, 2d, and 3d, and want to add a 20% fudge factor
to each.

Obviously I can do this manually. What I'm looking for is a way to do it
reliably for many tasks at once. Perhaps someone has written a macro to do
this?

Thanks in advance,

EagleUK