Project by hours not days 2

[sbudzynski]

Is it possible to change the duration column to hours not days? The topmost duration columns are locked out when tasks are below it. I can change the duration of the tasks to hours but I cannot adjust the topmost duration columns.

For instance,

Phase 1 - Duration .02 Days <--- Can this be changed?
Task 1 - Duration 30 mins
Task 2 - Duration 1 hr.

I am trying to make a short project to teach users how to use project, from the very basic level. For example, the project would be making lunch therefore the durations would be very short.

Maybe Microsoft Project is not made for short (less then 1 day) projects?

Thank you for your input!


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Steve Budzynski


"So, pass another round around for the kids. Who have nothing left to lose and for those souls old and sold out by the soles of my shoes"

 

[sbudzynski]

anything actually with an indented task below it automatically changes from whatever time label I have back to days.

Task a -- Duration 6 hrs
Task b -- Duration 2 hrs

(IF I INDENT TASK B)

Task a -- Duration .25 days
Task b -- Duration 2 hrs


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Steve Budzynski


"So, pass another round around for the kids. Who have nothing left to lose and for those souls old and sold out by the soles of my shoes"

 

[PDQBach]

Tools | Options | Schedule-tab and set "Duration is entered in" to hours.

I usually use building a swimming pool because a number of tasks are done in parallel (build the pool; build the cabana; etc.) while others must have a predecessor (can't add water until the pool is constructed; can't add chemicals until the water is circulating; etc.)

Your lack of familiarity with setting up such simple elements as duration scheduling units concerns me. Do you understand the importance of Fixed Work, Fixed Duration and Fixed Units task types? What is the only reason for entering a Start Date? What is the only reason for entering a Finish Date? What is the relationship between work and duration? What is the difference between %Complete and %Work Complete?

 

[sbudzynski]

My lack of familiarity is due to my being given project and told "make this work".

My learning materials include TekTips (and other online forums), Project Server 2003 Unleashed, Project Step by Step, and Project for Dummies.

Project being a powerful peice of software that should be left to the professionals is not an acceptable excuse. My company does not want to outsource help with Microsoft Project and is convinced I will be able to figure it out.

Thanks though you did help me with my days to hours problem!


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Steve Budzynski


"So, pass another round around for the kids. Who have nothing left to lose and for those souls old and sold out by the soles of my shoes"

 

[PDQBach]

Project is infinitely more complicated than other MS end-user offerings such as Word (a simple text editor with a bunch of formatting options) or Excel (a text editor with formatting and equation interpretation -- somewhat on the level of early Basic programs, nothing too sophisticated).

And if, based on the books you've been given, you're actually using project server then you absolutely *must* go on a training course.

Before you pose your next question, click on Help | About so you can tell us exactly which version you are using. It will help in formulating an answer for you.

Incidentally, you did not answer any of my questions above. It would be a good idea for you to do sufficient reading in the books you have so that you can give me the answers. I can assure you that the time you spending trying to get those answers will be well worth it.

 

[sbudzynski]

I am using Project Professional 2003 (SP1)
Also, yes we are using Project Server. I will look into a training course, possibly at nearby community colleges.

Do you understand the importance of Fixed Work, Fixed Duration and Fixed Units task types? What is the only reason for entering a Start Date? What is the only reason for entering a Finish Date? What is the relationship between work and duration? What is the difference between %Complete and %Work Complete?

**Fixed work is the task type where the work value is fixed. When work or units are changed project recalculates the duration.
Fixed duration is when duration is fixed. If you change duration or units then work will be recalculated.
Fixed units is the task type in which units value is fixed. If you change the duration of a task, project recalculates the amount of work scheduled for the task.. if you change units or work, Project recaluates duration
Fixed Units
**Enter a known start date to calculate when the project will finish.
**Need to be finished by a certain date to calculate when the project should start.
**work=duration x units (duration=length of time require to complete a task)(work=total scheduled effort for a task, resource, resource assignment, or entire project measured in person or hours)
**%complete vs work complete - %complete amount of time elapsed for task to be completed/ work complete - amount of actual work that has been completed


A few of these I had to get defined and if you have a better (easier to understand) description please feel free to post it!


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Steve Budzynski


"So, pass another round around for the kids. Who have nothing left to lose and for those souls old and sold out by the soles of my shoes"

 

[PDQBach]

Oh, dear.

I asked if you understood the difference between the task types. I didn't ask what you could tell me about each of the task types.

Ok ... here's the answer: there is absolutely NO difference between the task types. The difference is in the way Project applies the W = U * D equation. Any task can be a fixed work, fixed units or fixed duration task -- it just can't be two of those simultaneously.

Entering a task start date (or finish date) has nothing to do with when a project starts or finishes. Please do more research in this area.

Finally ... show me an example that demonstrates you understand the differences between %Complete and %Work Complete.

You will need to use a regular task and a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ task.

 

[sbudzynski]

PDQBach
I asked if you could tell me how to change the time variable from days to hours. I did not ask for you to quiz me on my lack of knowledge of Microsoft Project.

Thank you for answering my original post.


For future questions: I am using Project Professional 2003 (SP1) as well as Project Server.

I am going to be taking a training course, at either a nearby community college or the current university I am attending.


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Steve Budzynski


"So, pass another round around for the kids. Who have nothing left to lose and for those souls old and sold out by the soles of my shoes"

 

[PDQBach]

Another satisfied client.

 

[johnherman]

Star for the maestro Bach. Steve is not the only person who has been given project and told "make a project plan". It's tough enough to make pretty pictures with it, let alone do real project management. The Tek-tips user community should be grateful that the maestro responds to our queries "Pretty Darn Quick".

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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright