Critical Path and Late Finish Date

[Michael Longdin]

I have a strange situation where critical path indicators and the late finish
date are both showing different values for tasks depending on which user
opens the project file.

e.g. If one User opens the project from Project Server then Task A shows the
following (I believe correctly)
Forecast Date : 02/07/08
Critical?: No
Late Finish: 12/08/08

If another User opens the project (in eother read/write or read only mode)
then the following shows. I think this has to be incorrect anyway as the the
Critical indicator would be showing Yes if the late finish date was the same
as the forecast date?

Forecast date: 02/07/08
Critical?: No
Late Finish: 02/07/08

Can anyone explain why this happens?

We're using MS Project Server & MS Project Pro 2003

 

[Michael Longdin]

Sorry I mean the 'Start' field (all fields referred to are MSP fields)

Task A in this example is a milestone (which is probably why I am also
mixing start and finish dates). However, the problem is applicable to all
tasks of varying lengths and across more than one project.

Another example would be

Task B (duration 4 days)
Start: 02/07/08,
Finish: 08/07/08
Late Start: 06/08/08
Late Finish: 12/08/08
Critical: No

When another User opens it is showing

Start: 02/07/08,
Finish: 08/07/08
Late Start: 02/07/08
Late Finish: 08/07/08
Critical: No

i.e. the late start and late finish dates are the same as the start dates
even though when you look at the plan it is clear they are not on the
critical path (and the critical flag is correctly showing 'No')

 

[Michael Longdin]

ok. Thank you. I guess I can get round it by recreating my own 'late
start/finish date" as the 'slack' fields seem to be showing correctly.

It has however, made my CIO a bit skeptical of the data as it was his
machine that we first noticed it on!

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Michael,

Have a look at the times as there may be a diffence due to calendar or
working hour settings. Nevertheless, please try posting on the server
newsgroup. Please see FAQ Item: 24. Project Newsgroups. FAQs, companion
products and other useful Project information can be seen at this web
address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Mike Glen
Project MVP