Is this possible?

[Jo]

I have to do calculations using square foot for each task.
I have the estimated time it takes to perform each task,
so, is it possible to make it so that project can add in
an extra column to tell me how long a project should take
to perform (based on sqaure foot) each task and the cost?

Thanks!

 

[John]

Jo,
Square foot?? Enlighten us a little more on what you want to do.

The answer to your basic question is "yes". A custom field can be set up
with a formula to calculate most anything. If the necessary formula is
too complex or involved for a custom field, a simple VBA macro will
definitely do the trick.

John

 

[John Beamish]

Almost.

You'll need a column for the number of square feet (assume column Number1)
You'll need a column for the calculation (assume column Number2)

Let's assume that your formula is 300 square feet per day.

In the Number1 column you'd enter values such as 500, 600, 700, etc.
The formula in Number2 would be: [Number1]/300

Unfortunately, you need to move that value into the Duration field.
Fortunately there is a way.

1. Click on the column header for the Number2 field.
2. Press ctrl+C
3. RightMouseButton on the column header for the Duration field and click
on Paste Special
4. Click on the pastelink radio button.
5. Click on OK.

You have now dynamically linked the calculation to the duration. If you
change the value in Number1, the formula in Number2 will create a new
value and the dynamic link will update the Duration.

If you only want to do this for a few tasks then change step1 to click on
a specific Number2 cell and change step 3 to click on a specific Duration
cell.

JLB, PMP

I have to do calculations using square foot for each task.
I have the estimated time it takes to perform each task,
so, is it possible to make it so that project can add in
an extra column to tell me how long a project should take
to perform (based on sqaure foot) each task and the cost?

Thanks!

--

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hello John,

I'm interested in our solution with DDE links. But have you tried it on a
large project : i.e. more than 500 rows. What about the calculation speed,
the file size, the stability of the system ?
Thanks for you experience,

Gérard

Almost.

You'll need a column for the number of square feet (assume column Number1)
You'll need a column for the calculation (assume column Number2)

Let's assume that your formula is 300 square feet per day.

In the Number1 column you'd enter values such as 500, 600, 700, etc.
The formula in Number2 would be: [Number1]/300

Unfortunately, you need to move that value into the Duration field.
Fortunately there is a way.

1. Click on the column header for the Number2 field.
2. Press ctrl+C
3. RightMouseButton on the column header for the Duration field and click
on Paste Special
4. Click on the pastelink radio button.
5. Click on OK.

You have now dynamically linked the calculation to the duration. If you
change the value in Number1, the formula in Number2 will create a new
value and the dynamic link will update the Duration.

If you only want to do this for a few tasks then change step1 to click on
a specific Number2 cell and change step 3 to click on a specific Duration
cell.

JLB, PMP

I have to do calculations using square foot for each task.
I have the estimated time it takes to perform each task,
so, is it possible to make it so that project can add in
an extra column to tell me how long a project should take
to perform (based on sqaure foot) each task and the cost?

Thanks!

--

 

[John Beamish]

I have never used the technique on a large plan so I can't advise you.
But I have a couple of large plans on a different machine. I'll try them
tomorrow and let you know what I find.

JLB, PMP

 

[John Beamish]

Sample plan: 671 tasks (602 tasks, 69 summary tasks, 1 project summary
task). This machine has a P4 (1.8GHz) with 256MB of memory (not a monster
machine by anyone's standards).

Basically, I created a plan with data and equations similar to the one
described earlier in this thread. I exited from the account and came back
later.

When I opened the plan there was a question asking if I wanted to
re-establish the links. I said "yes" and it took, at most, 2 seconds.
Changing a bunch of durations took, at most, 2-3 seconds.

I thought I had a 5,000 task plan but can't find it. Based on what I saw,
though, the overhead doesn't appear to be monsterous.

I have never used the technique on a large plan so I can't advise you.
But I have a couple of large plans on a different machine. I'll try
them tomorrow and let you know what I find.

JLB, PMP

--

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hi John,

Thanks for the feed back !
Interesting indeed !

Gérard