Automatic Task Splitting Based on Progress 1

[JaySanders6]

I have been using Microsoft Project for a couple of years now and I keep running into the same brick wall. My workflow is to gather task lists from the team, determine estimates for these tasks, enter them into MS Project, and link them all to see how far out a given resource’s work goes. I get status updates twice per week and update the percent complete section. My problem is that not one single member of my team works on one task at a time so I am left with many tasks that are marked as partially completed. When I look at my Gantt chart I have work that needs to be done on partially completed tasks that were scheduled in the past, and work that needs to be done on partially completed tasks in the future. Is there a way for MS Project to reconcile this data so that I can see only how much work remains? Can it automatically split the task based on percent complete, and move the completed part to be finished on the day I enter the status information? I really need to know how much work a given resource has left to do and if they have fifty tasks and fifteen of those are partially completed, I can’t do it.

 

[PDQBach]

Let's start here and you can tell me what it does (and what it doesn't) solve and we'll handle those items as they come up.

1. Project | Project information... and set the Project Start Date to Oct 1, 2007; Current Date to Oct 5; and Status date to Oct 8.

2. Tools | Options | Schedule-tab
3. Place a checkmark in "Split in-progress tasks"

4. View | Gantt
5. Format | Gridlines; set Current Date to a solid green line; set Status Date to a solid red line.

6. Create a Resource (R1).
7. Create a Task (T1) with
Start (default date Oct 1)
Duration 10 days
Type "Fixed Duration"
Work 4 days
Assign the resource

8. RightMouseButton on a blank area next to the tool bars and display the Tracking toolbar.

9. Click on task T1
10. Click on the Tracking toolbar button labelled "25%"
11. Click on the Tracking toolbar button that has the bubble help "Reschedule Work"

You'll get a warning popup; click on OK.

How are we doing so far to meet your requirements?