Bizarre Calendar error

[Naomin]

I am writing a new project that refuses to accept a start date of Monday,
July 16th. It automatically slides over to July 17th. The project
information box indicates the 16th but the table won't take that date. The
global calendar has no restrictions on that date. I've tried to recreate the
project, by copying all the tasks and dumping them straight into a blank
template and I get the same thing. The resource assigned to the beginning
task also has no restrictions in his calendar. Any clues?

Thanks!
Naomi

 

[JulieS]

Hello Naomi,

What version of Project? What is the start time for the Project on July
16th? Does the first task in the project have a start no earlier than
constraint?

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

 

[Naomin]

Hi Julie,

This is Project 2003. The first task does not have a constraint but as soon
as I try to change the date from 7/17 to 7/16, the constraint applies itself.
I don't know where to see start times; far as I know we never formatted for
that. It's very bizarre. I did find a customized enterprise field that was
applied to the enterprise table indicating a start date which for some reason
was still picking up the 17th, so I deleted that field, saved, closed project
and reopened the problem project. Still there.
In fact, just now recreating yet another project, I see that all the dates
are picking up TOMORROW. So there's a problem with the calendar somewhere.
I did change the global calendar to read from 9am to 5pm across the board by
selecting all the days of the week for all time; they now have hatchmarks
indicating the change. Could it be that?

Thanks!
Naomi

 

[JulieS]

Hi Naomin,

My comments/questions are inline.

Hi Julie,

This is Project 2003. The first task does not have a constraint but
as soon
as I try to change the date from 7/17 to 7/16, the constraint applies
itself.

How are you trying to change the date? If you type in a date in the
start field, *you* are applying the constraint.

I don't know where to see start times; far as I know we never
formatted for
that.

Tools > Options, View tab. Select a date format showing date and time.
Even though you have never seen the times, they are always there --
Project calculated to the minute level.

It's very bizarre. I did find a customized enterprise field that was
applied to the enterprise table indicating a start date which for some
reason
was still picking up the 17th, so I deleted that field, saved, closed
project
and reopened the problem project. Still there.

What do you mean when you say you deleted the field? Removing the field
from the table does *not* delete data. Is it possible the enterprise
field you removed was an actual start date?

In fact, just now recreating yet another project, I see that all the
dates
are picking up TOMORROW. So there's a problem with the calendar
somewhere.
I did change the global calendar to read from 9am to 5pm across the
board by
selecting all the days of the week for all time; they now have
hatchmarks
indicating the change. Could it be that?

I assume you are working with Project Server as you mention a customized
enterprise field. Can you check with the Project Server administrator
and have him/her check the Enterprise Global calendar? Is it possible
the Enterprise Global calendar has July 16th set as a non-working day?

Julie

 

[Naomin]

Hi Julie, thanks for your answers. I fiddled with a number of the settings,
turned on the times, and found buried in Project Information, Enterprise
Global, the hours were 12 hours off. As it's 3:21 pm now it was reading as
12 hours later, or 3:21 am tomorrow. Have NO idea how that was set.

Question: the project information also shows a default project start date of
May xx 2002. If I update that, will it throw off all the projects I have
online now?

Thanks again for your help, you're very thorough and clear!

Naomi

 

[JulieS]

Hello Naomi,

You're welcome for the help and thanks for the feedback.

To your latest question -- I assume you are referring to the Project
start date set in the template you are using. When you create a new
project based on the template, one of the first things you will do is
change the start date for the newly created project. That changes the
start date *only* for the new project, it will have no impact on any
other project files. Changing the start date of the template file will
also have no impact on any older projects, just new ones you create from
that time forward.

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

 

[Naomin]

Exactly what I thought. I had changed the global project start date
previously and it didn't affect any projects negatively.

However, now I have a different problem as a result of having changed my
global calendar from 8 hours to 7 hours. We are mid-stream in a number of
projects, and now the durations for tasks are off. Is there any way to
correct this with minimal headache?

thanks -
Naomi

 

[Steve House]

Are the durations really "off"? Remember the "hours per day" setting is
only a conversion factor as a convenience for data entry and display and has
no effect on the actual durations of tasks. All durations are stored and
tracked in minutes to the nearest tenth. If my settings for "hours per day"
is 8 and I enter a task with 1 day as the duration, what happens is my entry
is converted to 1d*8h*60.0m and stored as 480.0 minutes. IF I then later
change the hours per day setting to 7, the duration is STILL 480.0 minutes,
that won't change, only now that number is displayed as "1.14 days" because
we've said a 'standard day' is now defined as 420.0 minutes so a duration of
480 minutes is a "day plus an eighth and a smidge." If you look at the
start and end dates and times you'll find there's no change when you go from
hours per day = 8 to hours per day = 7 and back again.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Naomi,

I think Steve House has answered this particular question very well..
Please let us know if you have any other questions -- we'd be happy to
help.

Julie

 

[Naomin]

Hi Steve, thanks so much for your answer, and again Julie for all your help.
This makes total sense. I will inspect my dates, make sure they're solid,
and go on. This listserve is a life saver!

Naomi

Are the durations really "off"? Remember the "hours per day" setting is
only a conversion factor as a convenience for data entry and display and has
no effect on the actual durations of tasks. All durations are stored and
tracked in minutes to the nearest tenth. If my settings for "hours per day"
is 8 and I enter a task with 1 day as the duration, what happens is my entry
is converted to 1d*8h*60.0m and stored as 480.0 minutes. IF I then later
change the hours per day setting to 7, the duration is STILL 480.0 minutes,
that won't change, only now that number is displayed as "1.14 days" because
we've said a 'standard day' is now defined as 420.0 minutes so a duration of
480 minutes is a "day plus an eighth and a smidge." If you look at the
start and end dates and times you'll find there's no change when you go from
hours per day = 8 to hours per day = 7 and back again.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Exactly what I thought. I had changed the global project start date
previously and it didn't affect any projects negatively.

However, now I have a different problem as a result of having changed my
global calendar from 8 hours to 7 hours. We are mid-stream in a number of
projects, and now the durations for tasks are off. Is there any way to
correct this with minimal headache?

thanks -
Naomi

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Naomi and thanks for the feedback. Do drop by again
should you need some further help -- that's what we're here for

Julie

Hi Steve, thanks so much for your answer, and again Julie for all your
help.
This makes total sense. I will inspect my dates, make sure they're
solid,
and go on. This listserve is a life saver!

Naomi

Are the durations really "off"? Remember the "hours per day" setting
is
only a conversion factor as a convenience for data entry and display
and has
no effect on the actual durations of tasks. All durations are stored
and
tracked in minutes to the nearest tenth. If my settings for "hours
per day"
is 8 and I enter a task with 1 day as the duration, what happens is
my entry
is converted to 1d*8h*60.0m and stored as 480.0 minutes. IF I then
later
change the hours per day setting to 7, the duration is STILL 480.0
minutes,
that won't change, only now that number is displayed as "1.14 days"
because
we've said a 'standard day' is now defined as 420.0 minutes so a
duration of
480 minutes is a "day plus an eighth and a smidge." If you look at
the
start and end dates and times you'll find there's no change when you
go from
hours per day = 8 to hours per day = 7 and back again.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Exactly what I thought. I had changed the global project start
date
previously and it didn't affect any projects negatively.

However, now I have a different problem as a result of having
changed my
global calendar from 8 hours to 7 hours. We are mid-stream in a
number of
projects, and now the durations for tasks are off. Is there any
way to
correct this with minimal headache?

thanks -
Naomi




:

Hello Naomi,

You're welcome for the help and thanks for the feedback.

To your latest question -- I assume you are referring to the
Project
start date set in the template you are using. When you create a
new
project based on the template, one of the first things you will do
is
change the start date for the newly created project. That changes
the
start date *only* for the new project, it will have no impact on
any
other project files. Changing the start date of the template file
will
also have no impact on any older projects, just new ones you
create from
that time forward.

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


Hi Julie, thanks for your answers. I fiddled with a number of
the
settings,
turned on the times, and found buried in Project Information,
Enterprise
Global, the hours were 12 hours off. As it's 3:21 pm now it was
reading as
12 hours later, or 3:21 am tomorrow. Have NO idea how that was
set.

Question: the project information also shows a default project
start
date of
May xx 2002. If I update that, will it throw off all the
projects I
have
online now?

Thanks again for your help, you're very thorough and clear!

Naomi

:

Hi Naomin,

My comments/questions are inline.

Hi Julie,

This is Project 2003. The first task does not have a
constraint
but
as soon
as I try to change the date from 7/17 to 7/16, the constraint
applies
itself.

How are you trying to change the date? If you type in a date
in the
start field, *you* are applying the constraint.

I don't know where to see start times; far as I know we never
formatted for
that.

Tools > Options, View tab. Select a date format showing date
and
time.
Even though you have never seen the times, they are always
there --
Project calculated to the minute level.

It's very bizarre. I did find a customized enterprise field
that was
applied to the enterprise table indicating a start date which
for
some
reason
was still picking up the 17th, so I deleted that field,
saved,
closed
project
and reopened the problem project. Still there.

What do you mean when you say you deleted the field? Removing
the
field
from the table does *not* delete data. Is it possible the
enterprise
field you removed was an actual start date?

In fact, just now recreating yet another project, I see that
all
the
dates
are picking up TOMORROW. So there's a problem with the
calendar
somewhere.
I did change the global calendar to read from 9am to 5pm
across the
board by
selecting all the days of the week for all time; they now
have
hatchmarks
indicating the change. Could it be that?

I assume you are working with Project Server as you mention a
customized
enterprise field. Can you check with the Project Server
administrator
and have him/her check the Enterprise Global calendar? Is it
possible
the Enterprise Global calendar has July 16th set as a
non-working
day?

Julie


Thanks!
Naomi
:

Hello Naomi,

What version of Project? What is the start time for the
Project
on
July
16th? Does the first task in the project have a start no
earlier
than
constraint?

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


I am writing a new project that refuses to accept a start
date of
Monday,
July 16th. It automatically slides over to July 17th.
The
project
information box indicates the 16th but the table won't
take that
date.
The
global calendar has no restrictions on that date. I've
tried to
recreate the
project, by copying all the tasks and dumping them
straight into
a
blank
template and I get the same thing. The resource assigned
to the
beginning
task also has no restrictions in his calendar. Any clues?

Thanks!
Naomi