Actual Hours Changing When Statusing File

[Tim]

Working on Project Pro/Server 2003 SP1

I am readying the project file for earned value calcs (condcuted using a
separate application), but prior to doing so, I need to status numerous
deliverables/activities in the project file (using Project Pro). Most of the
time, I am zeroing out remaining work (at the assignment level) on
tasks/activities in order to make the activity 100% complete (and the
corresponding summary deliverable 100% complete). I complete this step in
the Gantt view with the screen split to show individual assignments.

In zeroing out remaining work, I first zero out the Remaining Work for each
resource, then adjust Work, so that it is equal to Actual Work (or zero if
there is no actual work for a resource--this was recommended by our Project
consultant). I click "ok" to have Proj Pro complete its calculations.
Sometimes Proj Pro automatically changes % Complete to 100%, sometimes it
does not. If it does not, I then manually change the % complete to 100% (the
task is complete, there is no Remaining Work).

Here's where the problem occurs. Yesterday, Proj Pro tacked on about 500
hours of Actual Work once I statused a task (no idea where this came from).
The message about syncing actual hours popped up during this time (sorry I
can't be more specific about the actual message wording). I clicked ok (not
sure if there's another option). I am working with Managed Periods (though I
don't think the periods are locked down). Actual Work and Actual Work
Protected are equal (for the several resources I checked).

Am I statusing incorrectly? Have I missed a step? Is there an option that
is enabled that shouldn't be?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tim

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tim --

I don't understand the logic of the process your consultant recommended, and
this process might be the source of your problem. A better approach would
be for team members to set the Remaining Work to 0 hours on any task that
was completed early. This can be done on the timesheet in PWA since the
Remaining Work column is unlocked for editing. In addition, I would also
recommend that team members add a Note to any task that they complete early
to document the reason for the early finish. The same goes if they increase
the Remaining Work to show a potential late finish. Hope this helps.