Can a project be scheduled without using specific dates?

[MAPretty]

I have a customer who needs to have a plan built, but does not want it built
on a specific start date. Instead, they want to see the relationship between
tasks in days. Does anyone know of a way to do this?

 

[TonyK]

Hi
You can create a Schedule without worrying about dates. The dates will
start from the current date when you start the plan. If you ensure you do
not put hard Constraint dates in the plan once you have finalised it you can
just change the Project Start Date and all dates will move accordingly.
Hope this helps.

 

[JulieS]

Hello MAPretty,

In addition to Tony's input, you may also find it helpful to modify
the timescale in the Gantt chart to a more "generic" look. From the
Gantt chart view, choose Format > Timescale and select labels such as
Week1, Week 2, etc.

You can also hide the Start and Finish fields (columns) in the task
table (left side) by clicking your secondary mouse button (right) on
the column heading and choosing "Hide column" from the shortcut menu.

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

 

[MAPretty]

Thanks, Julie and Tony for your comments. These are good points, and things
I would do to 'generalize' a project plan to indicate effort. The customer
has specifically asked, however, if the project plan can be written without a
specific start date (which is an unusual request, I agree), and I don't know
of a way to do that.

 

[salgud]

Thanks, Julie and Tony for your comments. These are good points, and things
I would do to 'generalize' a project plan to indicate effort. The customer
has specifically asked, however, if the project plan can be written without a
specific start date (which is an unusual request, I agree), and I don't know
of a way to do that.

No, there is no way to eliminate the Project Start date. Julie's suggestion
is as good as it gets.