Using Cusotm Fields (Date and Duration) to Track Progress

[kimmerj]

I am trying to manage several active projects (none of them with too many
milestones) from within one project file. Each parent task represents a
separate project.

I have created 3 custom fields:
Date1 - Estimated Start
Date2 - Estimated Finish
Duration1 - Estimated Duration - [Date2] - [Date1]
Text1 - Estimated Duration - using DateDiff in the formula

I would like these fields to behave (have the same relationship with each
other in regard to dependencies, formulas, predecessors, etc) as the "start",
"finish" and "duration" fields. I have 2 issues:

1. I cannot get either the custom duration field to calculate the duration
using the custom date field. Not sure what the formula for that field should
be. In trying to use a text field with the DateDiff function, I am not able
to exclude weekends in the duration calculation.

2. I cannot get the dates to behave like the other date fields in regard to
the predecessor.

I am intending to use them to take a snapshot of the original estimates and
then to be able to track variance between orignal estimates and actual dates.

I know that this may not be the best way to accomplish this and am open to
alternate suggestion.

 

[John]

I am trying to manage several active projects (none of them with too many
milestones) from within one project file. Each parent task represents a
separate project.

I have created 3 custom fields:
Date1 - Estimated Start
Date2 - Estimated Finish
Duration1 - Estimated Duration - [Date2] - [Date1]
Text1 - Estimated Duration - using DateDiff in the formula

I would like these fields to behave (have the same relationship with each
other in regard to dependencies, formulas, predecessors, etc) as the "start",
"finish" and "duration" fields. I have 2 issues:

1. I cannot get either the custom duration field to calculate the duration
using the custom date field. Not sure what the formula for that field should
be. In trying to use a text field with the DateDiff function, I am not able
to exclude weekends in the duration calculation.

2. I cannot get the dates to behave like the other date fields in regard to
the predecessor.

I am intending to use them to take a snapshot of the original estimates and
then to be able to track variance between orignal estimates and actual dates.

I know that this may not be the best way to accomplish this and am open to
alternate suggestion.

Kimmerj,
My first thought is why not create a consolidated master of the separate
projects? Then you wouldn't need any custom fields because the normal
Project fields (i.e. Start, Finish, Duration, baseline fields) will
track the progress. To create a dynamic master go to Insert/Project and
select each of the separate projects of interest. What you will end up
with is a dynamically consolidated master.

Nonetheless to address your questions:
1. To get the difference between two dates in working time, use the
ProjDateDiff function. Just remember that the value returned is in
minutes.

2. Custom fields are static, that is, they will only change as the
formula provides. Neither of your custom date fields appears to be based
on the Project Start and Finish field, therefore, they will not get
re-calculated. On the other hand, if by "Estimated Start" you mean the
normal Project Start field, then the custom dates will re-calculate
(assuming calculation is set for automatic).

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[kimmerj]

Thanks - I will try that.

I am trying to manage several active projects (none of them with too many
milestones) from within one project file. Each parent task represents a
separate project.

I have created 3 custom fields:
Date1 - Estimated Start
Date2 - Estimated Finish
Duration1 - Estimated Duration - [Date2] - [Date1]
Text1 - Estimated Duration - using DateDiff in the formula

I would like these fields to behave (have the same relationship with each
other in regard to dependencies, formulas, predecessors, etc) as the "start",
"finish" and "duration" fields. I have 2 issues:

1. I cannot get either the custom duration field to calculate the duration
using the custom date field. Not sure what the formula for that field should
be. In trying to use a text field with the DateDiff function, I am not able
to exclude weekends in the duration calculation.

2. I cannot get the dates to behave like the other date fields in regard to
the predecessor.

I am intending to use them to take a snapshot of the original estimates and
then to be able to track variance between orignal estimates and actual dates.

I know that this may not be the best way to accomplish this and am open to
alternate suggestion.

Kimmerj,
My first thought is why not create a consolidated master of the separate
projects? Then you wouldn't need any custom fields because the normal
Project fields (i.e. Start, Finish, Duration, baseline fields) will
track the progress. To create a dynamic master go to Insert/Project and
select each of the separate projects of interest. What you will end up
with is a dynamically consolidated master.

Nonetheless to address your questions:
1. To get the difference between two dates in working time, use the
ProjDateDiff function. Just remember that the value returned is in
minutes.

2. Custom fields are static, that is, they will only change as the
formula provides. Neither of your custom date fields appears to be based
on the Project Start and Finish field, therefore, they will not get
re-calculated. On the other hand, if by "Estimated Start" you mean the
normal Project Start field, then the custom dates will re-calculate
(assuming calculation is set for automatic).

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[John]

Thanks - I will try that.

Kimmerj,
You're welcome.

John