Task> Steps > Rolling Finish Date

[gnat127]

The boss just handed me this project and asked me to "fix it". I could use some help as my day of research hasn't yielded any results.
The situation is that for each task, there are 10 steps. These steps have been set up as date columns in between the Start and Finish Columns. As each step is completed, she wants the resource to go down the row and enter the date of completion. (that part is set up) Then as each field is populated with a date she wants the most recent date entered to automatically become the task finish date and thereby make the Duration field reflect how many days a task has spanned. Is this possible and how? If this is not possible, is there a different way to do it with the same result?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Her deadline has become MY deadline.

 

[PDQBach]

Your manager's requirement is quite bizarre. This can be done but you are doing things that run counter to the way Project is built internally.

All tasks must be assigned work (but you don't have to assign a resource to the task).

Display the %WrkComplete column

To update any row:
1. Update %WrkComplete (it must be non-zero, this will lock down the start date).
2. Update the Date1-Date10 column
3. Copy the value from the most recent Date1-Date10 column to the Finish date


Alternatively:
2. Update the duration so that the Finish date reflects the most recent date
3. Copy the value from the Finish date to Date1-Date10

Me? I thought you'd never ask.

Display the Rollup column
Display the %WrkComplete column
Display the Work column
Create 11 tasks
Indent tasks 2-11 underneath task1 (Task1 is now a Summary task)
Link tasks 2-11 in sequence
Enter the Work for each task
Change the Rollup value for each task from No to Yes.

Your set up is now complete.

As each task is done, change the Start Date and Duration to reflect what actually happened; change %WrkComplete to 100 for that task.