Scheduling/Logic Error

[MarkC]

Take a look at the following tasks using 2003 sp3, you will notice 2 tasks
start at 17:00. This is a standard project using the standard calendar with
all activties having FS with no lag and all have "start as soon as possible"

Durn Start Finish
25 days 07/09/09 08:00 09/10/09 17:00
15 days 09/10/09 17:00 30/10/09 17:00
10 days 02/11/09 08:00 13/11/09 17:00
10 days 16/11/09 08:00 27/11/09 17:00
5 days 30/11/09 08:00 04/12/09 17:00
5 days 04/12/09 17:00 11/12/09 17:00
30 days 14/12/09 08:00 22/01/10 17:00

Why do the 2nd and 6th activities start at 17:00? I have even deleted the
logic prior to the activity and re-assigned it. I have changed the durations
and still no change to 17:00. Why?

 

[MarkC]

I have half solved this now. I missed off 1 important point: all tasks have 1
resource aneed 2 materials assigned to it. The problem tasks are the only
tasks that have 0 work against them. When I put a value in then the
activities move to a 8am start. Solved but why does 0 work agisnt the
resources effect the start date?

 

[JulieS]

Hi Mark,

My assumption is that project is a bit muddled by the zero work and
disregards all calendars - similar to setting a task duration to
elapsed time. Usually when a task has no resources assigned, it
follows the working time definition in the project calendar. When
you assign resources, the resources' calendars define the working
time. However, when you assign a resource but zero the work out,
Project appears to disregard both the project calendar and the
resource calendar.

I don't follow why you would assign a resource then zero out the
work. If you want to make the resource's name appear next to the
task, consider typing the name into a text field (Text1 for example)
and modifying the Gantt chart format to show that field.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

 

[MarkC]

Hi Trevor,
Did I mention the Zero resources are infact defineds materials. This could
make a difference to your test. I tried it in a new project and the same
thing happened.

I reckon Julie is virtually right. As it's a material then you can't define
a calendar. The resource calendar takes priority to the activity calendar but
in this case materials have none.

This happened on a colleagues project. I am not sure of the reason why there
is zero materials. Perhaps he is waiting for the figure or perhaps there
isn't any and has left the resource in rather than deleted the resource.
Cheers,
Mark