Entering hours assigning resources

[Greg M]

Project newbie here...I have set up my project, created deadlines, must start
on dates etc so now I need to do two things enter the estimated hours to
complete task and assign resources. My first task I entered the amount of
estimated man days to complete the task in the duration field (which I
probably realize is wrong, but I'm not sure where else to put it), then
started assigning resources and the duration starting dropping, as expected.
The next task I started doing the same thing (using different resources) and
the duration didn't decrease and the percentage of work increased on each
resource. Everything seems to be the same in comparing the two fixed work or
fixed duraton (I tried both).

 

[JulieS]

Hi Greg,

Welcome to the Project Newsgroup. My comments/questions are inline.

Project newbie here...I have set up my project, created deadlines,
must start
on dates etc

[Julie] Although you don't mention it, I hope you have created
predecessor and successor relationships between your tasks to drive the
schedule -- not just set constraints.

so now I need to do two things enter the estimated hours to
complete task and assign resources. My first task I entered the
amount of
estimated man days to complete the task in the duration field (which I
probably realize is wrong, but I'm not sure where else to put it),
then
started assigning resources and the duration starting dropping, as
expected.

[Julie] When you first create tasks (and don't have any resources
assigned) enterering the estimate "man-days" in the duration field is
*not* wrong -- it's about the only avenue available to you. Once you
start assigning resources, the "man-hours" is calculated by MS Project
and is called Work. Work is calculated by the following formula:

Work = Task Duration * Resource Assignment Units.

If you just selected the resource's name from the Assign Resources
dialog box or selectged the resource name from the Resource Name field
in the Gantt chart view, you have assigned the resource at 100%
assignment units. In the instance where there is one resource assigned
at 100% assignment units to a task, then Work does equal duration. When
you continued to assign resources to the task then what gets calculated
is dependent upon two task settings - Effort Driven and Task type.

If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Unit tasks
(default setting in project) total amount of work on the task stays the
same and the duration drops for each new resource you add.
If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Duation
tasks - total amount of work on the task stays the same and the
assignment units drops for each resource you add.
If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Work tasks -
total amount of work on the task stays the same and the duration drops
for each new resource you add.

If you assign additional resources to non-effort driven, Fixed Unit
Tasks - work increases for each resource added. No change in duration
nor assignment units
If you assign additional resources to non-effort driven, Fixed Duration
tasks - work increases for each resource added. No change duration nor
assignment units.

The next task I started doing the same thing (using different
resources) and
the duration didn't decrease and the percentage of work increased on
each
resource. Everything seems to be the same in comparing the two fixed
work or
fixed duraton (I tried both).

[Julie] My personal favorite way of seeing all details about work,
duration, assignment units, task type (fixed work, fixed duration, fixed
units), and effort driven is to use the task form visible at the bottom
of a Gantt chart. From the Gantt chart view, split the screen (Window >
Split) to show the task form.

I also suggest taking a read of Mike Glen's excellent series of articles
on MS Project. They can be accessed through the URL below:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm

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

 

[Greg M]

Thanks a bunch, I did create the realtionships....I'll try what you
suggested, while I was waiting for a post I went into the gantt chart view
"work" and typed in the hours for the estiamted work....and that seemed to
work.

Agian thanks for your help!

Hi Greg,

Welcome to the Project Newsgroup. My comments/questions are inline.

Project newbie here...I have set up my project, created deadlines,
must start
on dates etc

[Julie] Although you don't mention it, I hope you have created
predecessor and successor relationships between your tasks to drive the
schedule -- not just set constraints.

so now I need to do two things enter the estimated hours to
complete task and assign resources. My first task I entered the
amount of
estimated man days to complete the task in the duration field (which I
probably realize is wrong, but I'm not sure where else to put it),
then
started assigning resources and the duration starting dropping, as
expected.

[Julie] When you first create tasks (and don't have any resources
assigned) enterering the estimate "man-days" in the duration field is
*not* wrong -- it's about the only avenue available to you. Once you
start assigning resources, the "man-hours" is calculated by MS Project
and is called Work. Work is calculated by the following formula:

Work = Task Duration * Resource Assignment Units.

If you just selected the resource's name from the Assign Resources
dialog box or selectged the resource name from the Resource Name field
in the Gantt chart view, you have assigned the resource at 100%
assignment units. In the instance where there is one resource assigned
at 100% assignment units to a task, then Work does equal duration. When
you continued to assign resources to the task then what gets calculated
is dependent upon two task settings - Effort Driven and Task type.

If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Unit tasks
(default setting in project) total amount of work on the task stays the
same and the duration drops for each new resource you add.
If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Duation
tasks - total amount of work on the task stays the same and the
assignment units drops for each resource you add.
If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Work tasks -
total amount of work on the task stays the same and the duration drops
for each new resource you add.

If you assign additional resources to non-effort driven, Fixed Unit
Tasks - work increases for each resource added. No change in duration
nor assignment units
If you assign additional resources to non-effort driven, Fixed Duration
tasks - work increases for each resource added. No change duration nor
assignment units.

The next task I started doing the same thing (using different
resources) and
the duration didn't decrease and the percentage of work increased on
each
resource. Everything seems to be the same in comparing the two fixed
work or
fixed duraton (I tried both).

[Julie] My personal favorite way of seeing all details about work,
duration, assignment units, task type (fixed work, fixed duration, fixed
units), and effort driven is to use the task form visible at the bottom
of a Gantt chart. From the Gantt chart view, split the screen (Window >
Split) to show the task form.

I also suggest taking a read of Mike Glen's excellent series of articles
on MS Project. They can be accessed through the URL below:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm

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

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Greg and thanks for the feedback. I'm glad to know
that all is working as you expected.

Julie

Thanks a bunch, I did create the realtionships....I'll try what you
suggested, while I was waiting for a post I went into the gantt chart
view
"work" and typed in the hours for the estiamted work....and that
seemed to
work.

Agian thanks for your help!

Hi Greg,

Welcome to the Project Newsgroup. My comments/questions are inline.

Project newbie here...I have set up my project, created deadlines,
must start
on dates etc

[Julie] Although you don't mention it, I hope you have created
predecessor and successor relationships between your tasks to drive
the
schedule -- not just set constraints.

so now I need to do two things enter the estimated hours to
complete task and assign resources. My first task I entered the
amount of
estimated man days to complete the task in the duration field
(which I
probably realize is wrong, but I'm not sure where else to put it),
then
started assigning resources and the duration starting dropping, as
expected.

[Julie] When you first create tasks (and don't have any resources
assigned) enterering the estimate "man-days" in the duration field is
*not* wrong -- it's about the only avenue available to you. Once you
start assigning resources, the "man-hours" is calculated by MS
Project
and is called Work. Work is calculated by the following formula:

Work = Task Duration * Resource Assignment Units.

If you just selected the resource's name from the Assign Resources
dialog box or selectged the resource name from the Resource Name
field
in the Gantt chart view, you have assigned the resource at 100%
assignment units. In the instance where there is one resource
assigned
at 100% assignment units to a task, then Work does equal duration.
When
you continued to assign resources to the task then what gets
calculated
is dependent upon two task settings - Effort Driven and Task type.

If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Unit tasks
(default setting in project) total amount of work on the task stays
the
same and the duration drops for each new resource you add.
If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Duation
tasks - total amount of work on the task stays the same and the
assignment units drops for each resource you add.
If you assign additional resources to Effort Driven, Fixed Work
tasks -
total amount of work on the task stays the same and the duration
drops
for each new resource you add.

If you assign additional resources to non-effort driven, Fixed Unit
Tasks - work increases for each resource added. No change in
duration
nor assignment units
If you assign additional resources to non-effort driven, Fixed
Duration
tasks - work increases for each resource added. No change duration
nor
assignment units.

The next task I started doing the same thing (using different
resources) and
the duration didn't decrease and the percentage of work increased
on
each
resource. Everything seems to be the same in comparing the two
fixed
work or
fixed duraton (I tried both).

[Julie] My personal favorite way of seeing all details about work,
duration, assignment units, task type (fixed work, fixed duration,
fixed
units), and effort driven is to use the task form visible at the
bottom
of a Gantt chart. From the Gantt chart view, split the screen
(Window >
Split) to show the task form.

I also suggest taking a read of Mike Glen's excellent series of
articles
on MS Project. They can be accessed through the URL below:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm

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