ms project - elapsed time versus actual time

[cmmrfrds]

Can anyone tell me to show actual time planned on a task as opposed to elapsed time for the task. For example, I want a task to cover 3 weeks but it will only be worked on 5 days during those 3 weeks. So, the schedule should the task taking 3 weeks but the time spent is 5 days. Also, can one set the planned time on a major task but record the actual time against the sub tasks.<br><br>Any help or online references will be appreciated.<br><br>Thank you,<br>Jerry

 

[Imagineer]

Edit the resource calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;The resource calendar allows you to set the working days and work hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can set (5) eight hour days or (4) 10 hour days giving you 40 hours/week.&nbsp;&nbsp;Set your task to 120 hours and MS Project will span it over 3 weeks.<br><br>Yes, you can record actual time.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the extra fields records this.&nbsp;&nbsp;Can't remember which one, right click on the fields list and choose field list.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will see that MS Project has tons more fields then are initially shown.<br>

 

[cmmrfrds]

Thank you, Imagineer. I found the extra fields and the Calendars for the resources and the tasks. I still have a problem with the way the duration field shows up on summay tasks. First MSProject won't let me edit duration on the summary task, second it reflects the sub tasks incorrectly. For example, one recurring task with 6 people 1 hour per week for 13 weeks show 780 hours of duration on the summary task. Although each individual person shows 1 hour per week. As you can see 13 times 6 should be 78 hours total. Another example is two subtask are 8 hours each and the summary task duration is 7 hours total. Any ideas?????<br><br>Jerry

 

[Storyteller]

Hello Jerry,<br><br>Have you tried &quot;splitting&quot; the task over the 3 weeks. That way the duration will show the 3 weeks, but the work will be the 5 days.<br><br>Do keep in mind that you cannot edit a summary level task. Its duration is determined by the subtasks beneath it. <br><br>When entering &quot;actuals&quot; do you have Project calculating the costs automatically or are you entering them manually? If Project is doing the calculations you cannot enter the &quot;actuals&quot; (for cost) until the task is 100% complete. <br><br>If you enter the &quot;actual&quot; hours for duration and the task is not 100% complete Project will increase the duration of the task but not the work. So, try marking the task as 100% complete and then put in the &quot;actuals&quot;. You should then have a varience of some type.<br><br>Try this &quot;View&quot; - Resource Usage or Task Usage then add the row for &quot;Actual Work&quot; (by R-Click on chart [yellow] side).<br><br>Good Luck,<br>Michael