Project Tip: Non Fixed-Duration Tasks

Did you know this little feature of MS Project?

For a non fixed-duration task, let us say that you enter a start date of May 7th and a finish date of May 9th, Project calculates the duration as three days.  If you change the finish date to May 11th, the duration is recalculated to five days. Correct?  All right that seems fair.  For example, if you enter a start date of May 1 and a finish date of May 4, Project calculates the duration as three days. If you change the finish date to May 5, the duration is recalculated to four days. But if you change the finish date to May 8 instead of editing the duration, Project recalculates the start date to May 4, keeping the duration constant at four days because the last two fields that you changed were for the finish date and duration.

If you start with..
Start Date:   Finish Date:    Duration:
May 7           May 9              3 days

Change the Finish Date to May 11…
Start Date:   Finish Date:    Duration:
May 7           May 11            5 days

But now, if you change the duration to 10 days instead of editing the start and finish dates - what happens to the task?

Well actually Project recalculates the start date to back to May 1 because the last two fields that you changed were for the finish date and duration.  Thus the start date is changed to May 1st.

Changing the Finish Date to May 8th…
Start Date:   Finish Date:    Duration:
May 1           May 11            10 days

Symptoms:
A task's duration (The total span of active working time that is required to complete a task. This is generally the amount of working time from the start to finish of a task, as defined by the project and resource calendar.) changes when you change its start (The date when a task is scheduled to begin. This date is based on the duration, calendars, and constraints of predecessor and successor tasks. A task's start date is also based on its own calendars and constraints.) and finish (The date that a task is scheduled to be completed. This date is based on the task's start date, duration, calendars, predecessor dates, task dependencies, and constraints.) dates.

Cause:
If you enter a task's start and finish dates instead of a duration, Project calculates the duration based on the working time (Hours designated in a resource or project calendar during which work can occur.) between those dates. If you later change the start date or finish date (but don't change the duration), the duration is recalculated.

!!!! OF A TASK'S DURATION, START DATE, AND FINISH DATE FIELDS, PROJECT TRACKS THE LAST TWO FIELDS THAT WERE EDITED AND RECALCULATES THE EARLIEST EDITED OF THOSE THREE FIELDS BASED ON THE LATEST FIELD THAT YOU CHANGED. SO IF YOU ENTER A START DATE AND THEN ENTER A FINISH DATE, THE DURATION IS CALCULATED. IF YOU THEN CHANGE THE DURATION, THE START DATE IS RECALCULATED !!!!

Resolution:
If you must enter start and finish dates, and if you want the duration to remain constant, make sure the new start and finish dates represent the same number of working days as the previous dates. The duration will remain the same as before.

Comments

[Santosh]

Hi,
I am having Project manager access on Project Server and i have assigned some tasks to some resources, from 3/6 to 3/12, under following catagories:
Fixed Duration effort driven,
Fixed Duration effort driven,
Fixed Units effort driven,
Fixed Units non effort driven,
Fixed Work
One of the resources enterd his work hrs starting from 3/8 and submitted the task. Its affecting the actual start date and finish date, ie. 3/6 & 3/12 to 3/8 & 3/14.
How should I restrict that?
please guide me.

[Project Management Software]

Project management software is specially designed to work efficiently and strategically on any kind of project. That means you can easily work on the activities to plan it, organize it and control it to achieve goals that have been set for a particular project. The best thing is that you can have multiple projects on the same software with different access.

[resume]

if you must enter start and finish dates

[buy generic viagra]

Interesting, it's an important blog but in the public sector of countries constituted as representative democracies, voters elect politicians to public office. Such politicians hire many managers and administrators, and in some countries like the United States political appointees lose their jobs. 23jj

[erectile dysfunction remedies]

You had a very interesting point but i am not convinced that all the grounds are covered. Still you can keep putting new posts for us to decide.

[cheap jerseys]

I’m just trying to clarify slot size calculations and how to roll it up to figuring out the number of requires servers in an HA cluster.

[Vimax penis enlargement pills]

This project is very interesting on many levels and thankfully the response is productive.

[Erectile dysfunction pills review]

The project looks promising on so many levels.

[Tory Burch Shoes]

I’m just trying to clarify slot size calculations and how to roll it up to figuring out the number of requires servers in an HA cluster.

[Instant Performer sexual enhancement gel]

I really didn't understand anything, Just got to understand that had something realated with time.

[Official Kobe Bryant Jersey]

I’m just trying to clarify slot size calculations and how to roll it up to figuring out the number of requires servers in an HA cluster.
http://www.jerseyscheapchina.com/ cheap Packers Jersey
http://www.wholesalechinacenter.com/ wholesale Browns Jersey
http://www.underjersey.com/ wholesale falcons jersey
http://www.cheapusajersey.com/ wholesale lions jersey
http://www.chinacheapjerseyswholesale.com/ wholesale Green Bay Packers Jersey
http://www.chinawholesalecheapjerseys.com/ wholesale Denver Broncos Jersey

[NFL Reebok Saints Jerseys]

Cornerback Dunta Robinson and center Todd McClure won't play inAtlanta's preseason game at Jacksonville.Coach Mike Smith ruled both starters out following a jointpractice Wednesday night between the Falcons and Jaguars.Robinson is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Smith saysMcClure is just getting extra rest.
http://www.authenticsaintsjerseys.com/ NFL Reebok Saints Jerseys

[Erectile dysfunction pills review]

You had a very interesting point but i am not convinced that all the grounds are covered. Still you can keep putting new posts for us to decide.

[Jordan Shoes]

The most important concept to remember is that Project Server is only a component on a SharePoint Farm, so when you migrate a Project Server you are installing new services on your http://www.cheapjordanretroshoes.com SharePoint environment. With this in mind, it is easier to understand how to distribute the services on the new environment because the existing

[UGG Nightfall Fox]

nice post.i like it.http://www.uggskin.com/

[Moncler Outlet]

Functional managers are often equally frustrated with the lack of visibility into project schedules and demands. They are surprised to find their resources spending time on unauthorized work for projects that are not in line with company or departmental objectives.

[Detroit Tigers Jersey]

Your post is an excellent example,I keep on reading this attractive blog.

[xl pharmacy]

I think that it is a great way to solve a problem. You have to divide and fix the smallers pieces.

[Moncler Outlet]

Last time, I talked about Project Tracking through Milestone Management, and how to set up a structure in your project plans where you could track a defined set of milestones.

[Tamba Hali Jersey Authentic]

''We'll worry about thatlater Pittsburgh in the last seven years Our defense is a little different than other people'sdefenses and we feel good about itBut here's the thing: All the hoopla aside, the outcome of Sunday's game will likely go a long way toward determining the overall success of the season for the Patriots" Cowboys Lee will play with cast on injured right wrist vs"It's a great opportunity to showcase where we are as a team,and I think everybody's amped up, even more so," Staley said''But Nelson was quick to clarify, and reiterated what he saidearlier in the week, that he had never planned to turn a sidelinemoment into a marriage proposal

[Jordan Shoes]

The shoes are comfortable, fashionable Jordan shoes
design and good protection, so a lot of consumers are fond of the Air Jordan

[Timberland Boots]

I adore how we are able to all communicate our f