MS Project, show dates as d+1 etc

[Chigger Hill]

I want to set up a project schedule that is not related to a calendar.
Project is to start on D-day and tasks will start on dates counted from D-day
like D+10 which would be 10 days from the start date, or D+100 for 100 days
past start date.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Chigger Hill,

You can have that kind of info in the timescale in the Gantt view
(Format > Timescale). However, the dates showing in the Start and
Finish fields will show the actual date. You could use custom text
fields to calculate and show the "D + 10" info I suppose, but the
default date/time formats are shown in Tools > Options, View tab and
are all calendar driven.

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

 

[Jim Aksel]

To follow up on Julie's comment, you can use custom Date fields such as Date1
and Date2 along with the DateDiff forumula.

If you want Date1 to show start date as D+10 then you woud use the DateDiff
function with [Start] and [Project Start Date].

Since formulas only work "on the row you are in" it will be necessary to
write a macro to do this using VBA.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[vanita]

Hi Chigger Hill

As I understand your problem, you require a generic schedule showing
relative position of activities and do not want to show a specific date. You
could do it in the following manner:
1. List your activities with durations and do set the calendar (5 days/6
days) according to which work is expected to be executed.
2. Set the predecessors as you explained d+10 etc.
3. In the timescale format show generic labels. For example if Unit is
'Days', label would be 'D1, D2 ....' and if unit is 'Weeks' label would be
'W1, W2....'. These options are available through Format > Timescale
4. Hide your start/finish date columns in the reports
5. This way you can present a generic schedule and when the start date of
the project is finalised, set the correct start date and then you could
format the timescale accordingly.

I hope it helps
Vanita

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jim,

Just to clarify, macros are not required in this instance. The
following formula in a text field will show "D + number of days
since Project start"

"D + " & DateDiff("d",[Project Start],[Start])

Although you cannot usually refer to anything other than the current
task information in a formula, the reference to [Project Start] does
work.

Julie

To follow up on Julie's comment, you can use custom Date fields
such as Date1
and Date2 along with the DateDiff forumula.

If you want Date1 to show start date as D+10 then you woud use the
DateDiff
function with [Start] and [Project Start Date].

Since formulas only work "on the row you are in" it will be
necessary to
write a macro to do this using VBA.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

I want to set up a project schedule that is not related to a
calendar.
Project is to start on D-day and tasks will start on dates
counted from D-day
like D+10 which would be 10 days from the start date, or D+100
for 100 days
past start date.

 

[Rick]

Julie and Jim,

I followed this post because I am trying to write a plan with generic
timelines as well, not revealing the calander dates. I'm surprised Project
does not have the ability to select a generic calander.

Anyway, the tips provided below work great except for on the summary task.
The working duration shows up but the start day # and end day # do not roll
up. Instead they show Day 0 and Day 0 for every summary task. My generic
schedule would really be useful if I could show that a summary of tasks
starts on calendar day xx and finishes on calendar day yy.

Hi Jim,

Just to clarify, macros are not required in this instance. The
following formula in a text field will show "D + number of days
since Project start"

"D + " & DateDiff("d",[Project Start],[Start])

Although you cannot usually refer to anything other than the current
task information in a formula, the reference to [Project Start] does
work.

Julie

To follow up on Julie's comment, you can use custom Date fields
such as Date1
and Date2 along with the DateDiff forumula.

If you want Date1 to show start date as D+10 then you woud use the
DateDiff
function with [Start] and [Project Start Date].

Since formulas only work "on the row you are in" it will be
necessary to
write a macro to do this using VBA.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

I want to set up a project schedule that is not related to a
calendar.
Project is to start on D-day and tasks will start on dates
counted from D-day
like D+10 which would be 10 days from the start date, or D+100
for 100 days
past start date.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Rick,

When you define the custom field, make sure you select the option to
"Use formula" in the group or summary row.

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

Julie and Jim,

I followed this post because I am trying to write a plan with
generic
timelines as well, not revealing the calander dates. I'm
surprised Project
does not have the ability to select a generic calander.

Anyway, the tips provided below work great except for on the
summary task.
The working duration shows up but the start day # and end day # do
not roll
up. Instead they show Day 0 and Day 0 for every summary task.
My generic
schedule would really be useful if I could show that a summary of
tasks
starts on calendar day xx and finishes on calendar day yy.

Hi Jim,

Just to clarify, macros are not required in this instance. The
following formula in a text field will show "D + number of days
since Project start"

"D + " & DateDiff("d",[Project Start],[Start])

Although you cannot usually refer to anything other than the
current
task information in a formula, the reference to [Project Start]
does
work.

Julie

To follow up on Julie's comment, you can use custom Date fields
such as Date1
and Date2 along with the DateDiff forumula.

If you want Date1 to show start date as D+10 then you woud use
the
DateDiff
function with [Start] and [Project Start Date].

Since formulas only work "on the row you are in" it will be
necessary to
write a macro to do this using VBA.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com



:

I want to set up a project schedule that is not related to a
calendar.
Project is to start on D-day and tasks will start on dates
counted from D-day
like D+10 which would be 10 days from the start date, or D+100
for 100 days
past start date.

 

[Rick]

Thanks Julie. That did the trick.

Hi Rick,

When you define the custom field, make sure you select the option to
"Use formula" in the group or summary row.

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

Julie and Jim,

I followed this post because I am trying to write a plan with
generic
timelines as well, not revealing the calander dates. I'm
surprised Project
does not have the ability to select a generic calander.

Anyway, the tips provided below work great except for on the
summary task.
The working duration shows up but the start day # and end day # do
not roll
up. Instead they show Day 0 and Day 0 for every summary task.
My generic
schedule would really be useful if I could show that a summary of
tasks
starts on calendar day xx and finishes on calendar day yy.

Hi Jim,

Just to clarify, macros are not required in this instance. The
following formula in a text field will show "D + number of days
since Project start"

"D + " & DateDiff("d",[Project Start],[Start])

Although you cannot usually refer to anything other than the
current
task information in a formula, the reference to [Project Start]
does
work.

Julie


To follow up on Julie's comment, you can use custom Date fields
such as Date1
and Date2 along with the DateDiff forumula.

If you want Date1 to show start date as D+10 then you woud use
the
DateDiff
function with [Start] and [Project Start Date].

Since formulas only work "on the row you are in" it will be
necessary to
write a macro to do this using VBA.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com



:

I want to set up a project schedule that is not related to a
calendar.
Project is to start on D-day and tasks will start on dates
counted from D-day
like D+10 which would be 10 days from the start date, or D+100
for 100 days
past start date.

 

[JulieS]

Great Rick. Thanks for the feedback.

Julie

Thanks Julie. That did the trick.

Hi Rick,

When you define the custom field, make sure you select the option
to
"Use formula" in the group or summary row.

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

Julie and Jim,

I followed this post because I am trying to write a plan with
generic
timelines as well, not revealing the calander dates. I'm
surprised Project
does not have the ability to select a generic calander.

Anyway, the tips provided below work great except for on the
summary task.
The working duration shows up but the start day # and end day #
do
not roll
up. Instead they show Day 0 and Day 0 for every summary task.
My generic
schedule would really be useful if I could show that a summary
of
tasks
starts on calendar day xx and finishes on calendar day yy.

:

Hi Jim,

Just to clarify, macros are not required in this instance.
The
following formula in a text field will show "D + number of
days
since Project start"

"D + " & DateDiff("d",[Project Start],[Start])

Although you cannot usually refer to anything other than the
current
task information in a formula, the reference to [Project
Start]
does
work.

Julie


message
To follow up on Julie's comment, you can use custom Date
fields
such as Date1
and Date2 along with the DateDiff forumula.

If you want Date1 to show start date as D+10 then you woud
use
the
DateDiff
function with [Start] and [Project Start Date].

Since formulas only work "on the row you are in" it will be
necessary to
write a macro to do this using VBA.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com



:

I want to set up a project schedule that is not related to
a
calendar.
Project is to start on D-day and tasks will start on dates
counted from D-day
like D+10 which would be 10 days from the start date, or
D+100
for 100 days
past start date.