Formula Prob

[Steve Scott]

I have a formula that checks to see if Finish is less than Date(). However I
have noticed that it does not automatically recalculate. Why is this if
calculation is set to automatic?

 

[JackD]

It is just speculation, but I believe that for date() or now() that Project
just takes a snapshot to avoid the possibility of going into an endless
recalculation cycle. Imagine you have that formula recalculating for every
task in a 10,000 task schedule every second. It could slow things down
pretty badly, especially if you were doing something else with the results
of the calculation.

I'm pretty sure that if you change the finish date for that task that it
will recalculate. Try it out and see.

However, there are some silly tricks you can do with project if you are
bored and want to torment it. Try this:
Create two tasks. Copy the finish date of one task and paste special /paste
link that value into the start of the other task.
Now with the other task, paste link that finish into the start of the first
task.

 

[Steve Scott]

Thanks, it does update if I change the Finish date, however is it possible to
create a macro that performs an autocalculate when the file is opened each
time, ie it would then update the formula results without the user having to
do anything?

Thanks In advance - Steve

 

[JackD]

Hmm.... it should recalc if the file is reopened.
There is no specific method to recalculate custom fields, so you might need
to do something that changes the finish date.
At that point you might be better off having a macro run at open which
requests a date (and uses the current date as default) and then stores the
date in a project level field (which you can use in a formula). When the
value of that field changes the formulas should recalc. Are you sure it is
not recalculating when you close and reopen the file?