Enterprise Custom Field Question

[Vistool]

We currently track our projects as "late" if the Project Finish Date is later
than its baseline. I have a custom field set up for graphical indicators
written for project server 2007, and it works fine.

We would like to start tracking these by task instead. In other words, if a
single task is running behind, the entire project would be tracked as late.

I would also like to track the total of tasks that are running late in a job.

I would like the end result to basically be -

A view with a graphical indicator that will change from green to yellow if a
single task is behind schedule.

A column that lists the total number of tasks that are running behind.

I'm pretty new to Project Server (and Project in general) and could use some
help with the custom field. All I can come up with now is -

iif([Project Status]<>"3_On Schedule",1,0)

"3_On Schedule" is the value i give the task as long as it is at or ahead of
schedule.

This gives the column a value of 1 if the task is late...but if more than 1
late task is present, the 2nd one wont have a value of 2 etc.

I assume I'm missing something dumb due to inexperience and would appreciate
any help you guys can give me.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Vistool --

Why don't you create a custom enterprise task Flag field that tests each
task to see if the Finish date is later than the Baseline Finish date? If
so, the field calculates a True value; if not, the field calculates a False
value. Then, in the Calculation for Group and Summary Rows section, select
the OR option. This will roll a True value all the way up to the Project
Summary Task (Row 0) if any task is late against its Baseline Finish date.
Then create a custom enterprise project Flag field that reads the custom
enterprise task Flag field. Specify a graphical indicator for the True
value (such as a Red stoplight) and the False value (such as a Green
stoplight). That's one easy way to do it, if you consider that much work
"easy." Hope this helps.

 

[.jussi]

Dale gives excellent advice as always. I'd like to add that it might be
useful - not sure how easy though - to check if the task is on the critical
path before using its lateness to determine the project status. This is,
after all, why the critical path exists. Small deviations in non-critical
tasks are nearly certain in any given non-trivial project but as they do not
affect the overall project delivery, they should not flag the project as late.

That is something to consider, at least.

Hope that doesn't... overcomplicate matters
- Jussi

Vistool --

Why don't you create a custom enterprise task Flag field that tests each
task to see if the Finish date is later than the Baseline Finish date? If
so, the field calculates a True value; if not, the field calculates a False
value. Then, in the Calculation for Group and Summary Rows section, select
the OR option. This will roll a True value all the way up to the Project
Summary Task (Row 0) if any task is late against its Baseline Finish date.
Then create a custom enterprise project Flag field that reads the custom
enterprise task Flag field. Specify a graphical indicator for the True
value (such as a Red stoplight) and the False value (such as a Green
stoplight). That's one easy way to do it, if you consider that much work
"easy." Hope this helps.

We currently track our projects as "late" if the Project Finish Date is
later
than its baseline. I have a custom field set up for graphical indicators
written for project server 2007, and it works fine.

We would like to start tracking these by task instead. In other words, if
a
single task is running behind, the entire project would be tracked as
late.

I would also like to track the total of tasks that are running late in a
job.

I would like the end result to basically be -

A view with a graphical indicator that will change from green to yellow if
a
single task is behind schedule.

A column that lists the total number of tasks that are running behind.

I'm pretty new to Project Server (and Project in general) and could use
some
help with the custom field. All I can come up with now is -

iif([Project Status]<>"3_On Schedule",1,0)

"3_On Schedule" is the value i give the task as long as it is at or ahead
of
schedule.

This gives the column a value of 1 if the task is late...but if more than
1
late task is present, the 2nd one wont have a value of 2 etc.

I assume I'm missing something dumb due to inexperience and would
appreciate
any help you guys can give me.