Predecessor column No Longer Impacts Finish Date Col.

[Kari]

Hi,

I am not sure why, but no matter what I put in a predecessor column nothing
changes in the finish date column. It had been working fine. I use MS
Project 2003. I have recently been playing around with Project Server, not
sure if something happened in doing that. Any input would be appreciated.

thanks,

 

[Reid McTaggart]

Is there a constraint on the finish date? Is recalculation set to automatic?
Is resource leveling set to automatic?

 

[Kari]

Hi,

Recalculation is set to automatic. Resource leveling is set to manual.
Some of the tasks have constraints and some don't. None seem to be effected
by changes in predecessors. I have done a handful of tests switching out
predecessors to see if anything happens and nothing does.

Any thougths?

Thanks - Kari

 

[Reid McTaggart]

It would be best to pick a single situation in which there seems to be a
problem; figure out why; then see if the explanation applies to other such
situations.

So, pick one task.

What type of predecessor dies it have (FF, SF, FS, SS)?
Does it have more than one predecessor?
Considering the above two questions, is it possible that changing one
predecessor should not necessarily change the finish date?

On a completely different tack: Are you running other applications while
using Project? Have you tried closing all other apps and restarting Project?
Virtual memory shortages often cause miscalculations and other odd behavior.

If you like, you can e-mail me a portion of the schedule that seems not to
be working right, and I will examine it for you.
--
Reid McTaggart
(e-mail address removed)
Alegient, Inc., Houston
Project Server Experts
Microsoft Certified Partner

 

[Kari]

Hi,

I do have situations with multiple predecessors. The long pull should be
the finish date, correct? I was going to go the route of sending you part of
my plan to review, so copied and pasted a portion into a new a new plan.
Some how, this new plan calculates properly. Does this have something to due
with the "problemactic" plan being published to the Project Server I have
been testing? Does it now have save attributes or someting that impact
calculations?

Thanks - Kari

 

[Reid McTaggart]

Publishing would not affect these calculations. I more suspect a memory
problem or possibly a corruption of the larger project.

How much RAM and Virtual memory does your computer have? Have you closed
other apps and restarted Project?

Also, you could try saving the entire project as a .mpp and then
re-importing it to see if the problem clears up. If not, send me a copy to
look at. If it is larger than 2MB, send it to my gmail account (see below).

--
Reid McTaggart
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
Alegient, Inc., Houston
Project Server Experts
Microsoft Certified Partner

 

[Kari]

Hi,

I have 747 MHz, 624 MB of RAM and 261 MB of Virtual Memory. Hope this is
correct, got the later from PF usage in the task manager.

I closed everything and restarted MS Project on its own. It did not solve
the problem. I had already saving as .mpp instead of .published. It did not
help.

Sent file to Gmail.

Thanks - Kari

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hello Kari,

And if you press the [F9] function key ? If that [F9] function key liberate
the plan, that means it was not in automatic calculation :
Tools / Options / Calculation / Mode : Automatic

Gérard Ducouret

 

[Reid McTaggart]

I've looked at the file, and I see no problems. It calculates fine for me.
For example, changing the predecessor of Task 32 from 25 to 24 causes the
finish date of the task to change from 9/9/05 to 9/15/04.

I do note that there are very many external links in this schedule. This
could be a management challenge, but not likely the direct cause of
miscalculations.

To check your memory and virtual memory: In Project Pro select Help > About
Microsoft Office Project > System Info. You should have a LOT more than
261MB of virtual memory, and this could very well be causing your calculation
problem.

Perhaps your hard disk is nearly full. Try deleting a few gigabytes of
unneeded files, empty your recycle bin, then restart your computer and see if
Project behaves better.

 

[Kari]

Hi,

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to do that.

I got a new ThinkPad yesterday and tried to do the same thing with my
project to no avail. I was really surprised.

I have another project that is set up the same way but not nearly as complex
and it resets the date just fine when I make changes to predecessors.

For one more final test, I had a co-worker try to make a similar change. He
was unsuccessful.

Any further ideas on this and the fact that you are able to do it?

Thanks,
Kari

 

[Reid McTaggart]

I still wonder if you have enough Virtual Memory, and if you are running
other applications at the same time.

Also, have you installed SP1 for Project 2003 on both the server and your
desktops?

 

[Kari]

I now show 386 for PF usage. What other apps are you thinking of? I have
outlook, a browser instance or two, AIM, and that's about it. Neither Word
nor Excel are open.

I will see if I can find out about SPAC 1 on the server. It is installed on
my desktop.

I am almost ready to copy all of the task from my master plan into a new
unadulterated file and start over. Am I being to rash? Any pointers?

-Kari

 

[Kari]

Hi,

I now have 3069MB of virtual memory and the problem has not gone away. Do
you have any other thoughts on this?

Thanks - Kari