Base Calendar, Resource Calendar, Task Calendar - Help Needed

S

Sally

All -

I am working with Project Professional and have changed
the working time for the resources in my Gantt in every
way possible (I think), but when it calculates the
duration for the task it just uses the default
information for the gantt - instead of the resource
calendar or the task calendar. I've even changed the
project calendar and that didn't help.

Any ideas?

Toni
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Sally --

Click Tools - Options - Calendar. Set your Hours per day to the same number
of hours on the base calendar for the project. The hours per day settings
between the two must be "synched up" or else you will get weird Durations on
your tasks. Hope this helps.
 
S

Sally

I actually didn't change the base calendar for the
project. I left that as the standard calendar which
synchs with the hours per day settings on the menu you
list below.

I'm just trying to set specific resource availability as
different than the base calendar (other resources will
use the base calendar) and I can't get it to work - it
keeps calculating their durations as though they were
working from the base calendar.

Thanks for the help.

Sally
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Sally --

I am assuming you established a unique base calendar for those resources
that work a different schedule from the project calendar, and have set that
calendar in the Base Calendar column of the Resource Sheet view for those
resources. If you have done so, then be rest assured that Microsoft Project
will calculate the schedule of their task assignments correctly. Howver, do
know that Microsoft Project will continue to calculate Duration based on the
Tools - Options - Calendar - Hours per day value that you have specified for
the project. That's one of those little inconsistencies you will see in the
software.

For example, I have two resources in my resource pool: Resource A and
Resource B. Resource A works the standard company schedule of Monday
through Friday at 8 hours per day. Resource B, on the other hand, works a
4-day work week, working 10 hours per day Monday through Thursday with
Friday off. I assign Resource A to Task A at 100% Units and 40 hours of
Work. Microsoft Project calculates the Duration at 5 days, with the task
beginning on Monday and finishing on Friday. I assign Resource B to Task B
at 100% Units and 40 hours of Work. Microsoft Project calculates the
Duration at 5 days, with the task beginning on Monday and finishing on
Thursday. Notice in this example that the schedule for Task B is absolutely
correct, although the Duration does not match. Why does this happen?
Again, it is because Duration is calculated as follows: Duration =
Work/(Project Hours per Day X Units). I know this will probably drive you
crazy, but you should focus on the schedule and know that Microsoft Project
is scheduling the work correctly even though the Duration is not correct.
Hope this helps.
 
S

Sally

Thank you so much. That's it. That's really nutty.

I tried it out by creating a base calendar with 2
hours/day and assigning it to a resource. Then I
assigned the resource to an 8 hour task. The duration
shows up as 1 day, but I can see it on the schedule as
taking up 4 days and the start and end dates are
correct. I wasn't even paying attention to those
fields.

It really was driving me crazy.

Thanks very much for your help!!

S
 
M

Mike Glen

Hi Sally,

You might also like to see FAQ Item: 5. Default Working Hours

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://www.mvps.org/project/

Mike Glen
Project MVP
 
Top