DAY versus HR assignation dilemna

[Kokomojo]

I want to use MS Project for budget tracking but I face a dilemma:

I'm told that I should enter tasks down to the DAY level, not more granular
than that. However, if I assign resources and rates, it will multiply by the
8 hr work day, even if a task will only take 1 hr to complete.

On the flipside, if I enter tasks down to the estimate HR level, it skews
the true project timeline. The application will assume that task B can take
place right after task A, even if the task wouldn’t technically start until
the following day.

Any insights? Thanks.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

First, Project internally only knows ONE time unit: the minute.
You simply cannot run Project and limit it to Day granularity.
But what you seem to need can be done.
Be awae that Project distinguishes Duration from Work.
I read you need duration to be whole days whereas work can be hours or any.
Best is to start by making all tasks "fixed duration". Double-click on a
task line, Advanced Pad, set Task type
Also go to Tools, Options, Schedule and set the default task type to be
fixed duration.
Now you can assign any work time to a task and duration will remain what you
set it to be (for instance whole days)

You can now start.
Than as soon as possible enroll in a two day BASE course for Microsoft
Project.
If you have much more time that that, buy a book.
And go on asking your questions here - guys like me LOVE answer them.

Hope this helps,

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Kokomojo,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You might like to have a look at my free series on Microsoft Project in the
TechTrax ezine, at this site: http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the articles before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

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

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP

 

[Kokomojo]

Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to help me out. I'm a
Microsoft Certified Trainer in Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access,
Outlook). One of my Excel students needed help with Project at his job. I
encourage my students ask me any and all questions and I often turn to the
online Forums for help. I personally haven't used Project since the late
1990s.

But your links look great! I have passed them on and will keep them handy
if future Microsoft Project questions come up. I really appreciate your help.

Joe

 

[Kokomojo]

Hi Jan,

Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to answer my questions. I'm
a Microsoft Certified Trainer in Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Access, Outlook) and have been since Office 1997. I'm also pretty good with
Publisher and Expression Web.

One of my Excel students needed help with Project at his job. I encourage
my students to ask me any and all questions, and I often turn to the online
Forums for help, especially with applications that I don't have and/or don't
use. I personally haven't used Project since the late 1990s. When I did use
Project, I had a rather voluminous book that I referred to.

The tone of your message and your use of all caps tells me that you were
annoyed with such basic questions. Unfortunately in the corporate world, at
least with the current economic climate in the United States, 2-day courses
are rare. I used to teach such classes. Now, I am expected to train people
in Excel or PowerPoint in 3 hours.

I do love helping my students find solutions to their applications
quandries. I hope that you were sincere when you said that you love
answering questions as well.

I forwarded your information to my student and he was very thankful. I gave
all credit to you and to the wonderful MVPs that are so helpful on these
forums.

Joe

 

[Mike Glen]

You're welcome, Joe. Maybe you'd give me some feedback in the future

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials