Why Do Summary Tasks Show Incorrect Totals?

[David]

I can't seem to get summary taks to display correct durations, and yes, I
know it's supposed to be from the start date of the first task to the end
date of the last task. Here's an example from adding a recurring task
(Monday update meeting) to a project. The span is 35 days. The summary task
shows a duration of 105.13 days.

Remodel Status Meeting 105.13d Mon 4/21/08 Mon 5/26/08
Remodel Status Meeting 1 1h Mon 4/21/08 Mon 4/21/08
Remodel Status Meeting 2 1h Mon 4/28/08 Mon 4/28/08
Remodel Status Meeting 3 1h Mon 5/5/08 Mon 5/5/08
Remodel Status Meeting 4 1h Mon 5/12/08 Mon 5/12/08
Remodel Status Meeting 5 1h Mon 5/19/08 Mon 5/19/08
Remodel Status Meeting 6 1h Mon 5/26/08 Mon 5/26/08

Another summary task in a different project shows a duration of 0.38 days
for 6 tasks totaling 16 hours of fixed work for one person working a standard
calendar and work week. The resource is otherwise unassigned. The work column
totals correctly, just not the summary task duration.

Wed 1/2/08 0.38d Fixed Duration 16h
Wed 1/2/08 3h Fixed Work 3h
Wed 1/2/08 3h Fixed Work 3h
Wed 1/2/08 3h Fixed Work 2h
Wed 1/2/08 3h Fixed Work 3h
Wed 1/2/08 2h Fixed Work 2h
Wed 1/2/08 3h Fixed Work 3h


Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[JulieS]

Hello David,

The second example (6 tasks with a duration of .38 days) is fairly
easy. I assume all tasks begin at the start of the day and are
schedule for 3 hours in duration. A 3 hour duration task is .38d
based upon a day being defined as 8 hours. Try showing the start and
end times of the tasks (Tools > Options, View tab) -- most likely all
tasks are scheduled for the same time. Your resource is wildly
overallocated.

The first example is a bit tougher. Assuming a standard calendar, the
duration of the summary level task should be approx. 25 days. Is the
first task in the same project as the second series of tasks?

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

 

[David]

Thanks both for the answers. Julie, the 2 examples are from different
projects. I will check your suggestions out and post later on, maybe not
until tomorrow

 

[JulieS]

Hello David,

If the examples are from different project files, I suggest checking
the hours per day definition . My guess is somehow you have a
definition of a day in Tools> Options as somewhere around under 2
hours. The duration of the summary task should be around 25 days, not
105 days. As Trevor also mentions, make sure the project calendar is
appropriately defined and check if there is a task calendar assigned
to the summary level task.

Julie