Entering actuals after a baselined item should have completed

[IanDavison]

I have a MS Project 2003 baselined plan. On 1 particular entry the activity
was meant to be completed by the end of March. It is currently showing as 80%
complete. Due to circumstances beyond my control I now want to enter some
'actual' data against it in May but it does not allow me to enter data when I
try using the task usage screen. Any ideas please?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Ian,

I assume by saying to want to enter "actuals" in May, you are talking
about Actual work in the Task Usage view. I assume you are showing
Actual Work in the timescaled (right side) portion and attempting to add
Actual Work to tasks? Can you give a bit more information around "it
does not allow me" -- what error messages if any are you seeing? What
are you attempting to do?

Julie

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hi Ian,

Aren't you using Managed Periods in Project Server ?

Gérard Ducouret

 

[John]

I have a MS Project 2003 baselined plan. On 1 particular entry the activity
was meant to be completed by the end of March. It is currently showing as 80%
complete. Due to circumstances beyond my control I now want to enter some
'actual' data against it in May but it does not allow me to enter data when I
try using the task usage screen. Any ideas please?

Thanks in advance.

IanDavison,
Just for your reference, the only thing you control is your actions.
That means that virtually everything that happens in the world around
you are "beyond" your control. That's your snippet of wisdom for today


You should be able to enter data for May even if the task was shown as
complete. We need additional information. What "actual" data are you
trying to enter? What type of task is it (i.e. Fixed Duration, etc.)?
What is the actual start date?

John
Project MVP

 

[IanDavison]

Hi Julie,

To enter 'actuals' data I use the View menu to bring up the task usage
sheet. In the 'Details' column I right click the mouse to show the 'Act W'
rows. The figures in the @Work' row finish on 27/3. When I try to enter an
'Act W' figure for 01/05 the screen won't accept any data. No error messages
are shown. I assume that it is because I am trying to enter data after the
end date of the planned work in the Gannt chart.

 

[IanDavison]

John,

To enter 'actuals' data I use the View menu to bring up the task usage
sheet. In the 'Details' column I right click the mouse to show the 'Act W'
rows. The figures in the @Work' row finish on 27/3. When I try to enter an
'Act W' figure for 01/05 the screen won't accept any data. No error messages
are shown. I assume that it is because I am trying to enter data after the
end date of the planned work in the Gannt chart.

 

[IanDavison]

Gerard - I don't know what managed periods are - I am not using project server.

Regards

Ian D

 

[JulieS]

Hi Ian,

Well, there is nothing wrong with the method you describe.

You should be able to enter Actual Work for any time you wish - before
or after the task was originally scheduled (baselined).

Just to check, you note you are using Project 2003. Are you using 2003
Professional or 2003 Standard? Project Professional does have an
[Actual Work Protected] field that will not allow manual data entry.

Let us know.

Julie

 

[IanDavison]

Julie,

I am using MS Project 2003 Professional - however the help file says that
the Actal Work Protected field only comes into play when I am using actuals
from Web Access which I am not.

I think I am beaten. My work around is that I can enter the actual data
during the existing duration i.e. back in March. I have obviously done
something wrong somewhere in my programme!

Thanks for all your help anyway.

Regards
Ian D

Hi Ian,

Well, there is nothing wrong with the method you describe.

You should be able to enter Actual Work for any time you wish - before
or after the task was originally scheduled (baselined).

Just to check, you note you are using Project 2003. Are you using 2003
Professional or 2003 Standard? Project Professional does have an
[Actual Work Protected] field that will not allow manual data entry.

Let us know.

Julie

Hi Julie,

To enter 'actuals' data I use the View menu to bring up the task usage
sheet. In the 'Details' column I right click the mouse to show the
'Act W'
rows. The figures in the @Work' row finish on 27/3. When I try to
enter an
'Act W' figure for 01/05 the screen won't accept any data. No error
messages
are shown. I assume that it is because I am trying to enter data after
the
end date of the planned work in the Gannt chart.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Ian,

Sorry we weren't able to help you sort it out. If you would like, zip
the file and send it along to me via e-mail at:
passport 6847 at maine dot rr dot com
[remove the spaces and replace the at with @ and the dots with .]

As an aside, the Actual Work Protected field can be added to a Task
Usage view even though your are not using Project Web Access (PWA) and
will act as you describe -- not allowing manual data entry.

Julie

Julie,

I am using MS Project 2003 Professional - however the help file says
that
the Actal Work Protected field only comes into play when I am using
actuals
from Web Access which I am not.

I think I am beaten. My work around is that I can enter the actual
data
during the existing duration i.e. back in March. I have obviously done
something wrong somewhere in my programme!

Thanks for all your help anyway.

Regards
Ian D

Hi Ian,

Well, there is nothing wrong with the method you describe.

You should be able to enter Actual Work for any time you wish -
before
or after the task was originally scheduled (baselined).

Just to check, you note you are using Project 2003. Are you using
2003
Professional or 2003 Standard? Project Professional does have an
[Actual Work Protected] field that will not allow manual data entry.

Let us know.

Julie

Hi Julie,

To enter 'actuals' data I use the View menu to bring up the task
usage
sheet. In the 'Details' column I right click the mouse to show the
'Act W'
rows. The figures in the @Work' row finish on 27/3. When I try to
enter an
'Act W' figure for 01/05 the screen won't accept any data. No error
messages
are shown. I assume that it is because I am trying to enter data
after
the
end date of the planned work in the Gannt chart.

:

Hi Ian,

I assume by saying to want to enter "actuals" in May, you are
talking
about Actual work in the Task Usage view. I assume you are
showing
Actual Work in the timescaled (right side) portion and attempting
to
add
Actual Work to tasks? Can you give a bit more information around
"it
does not allow me" -- what error messages if any are you seeing?
What
are you attempting to do?

Julie

message
I have a MS Project 2003 baselined plan. On 1 particular entry
the
activity
was meant to be completed by the end of March. It is currently
showing
as 80%
complete. Due to circumstances beyond my control I now want to
enter
some
'actual' data against it in May but it does not allow me to
enter
data
when I
try using the task usage screen. Any ideas please?

Thanks in advance.