V
Vince
How do I enter TBD as a finish date in MS Project
R
Rod Gill
You can't. However, you can have estimated durations such as 2d? which will
suggest the finish date is not confirmed. Alternatively add a custom field
and add a formula to show TBD if the duration is estimated.
suggest the finish date is not confirmed. Alternatively add a custom field
and add a formula to show TBD if the duration is estimated.
T
tania_rosler
I'm very new to Project and was wondering just that. We'll be using it
primarily to generate status reports, so some dates are ASAP or TBD. When I
previously created Status Reports in Excel, I simply typed in 'ASAP' or 'TBD'
in the Due column, and drew no bars in the calendar. With Project it seems
that clients will see a date even if it hasn't been set yet..
So, how do I "add a custom field and add a formula to show TBD if the
duration is estimated" - and how will this show in the Gantt Chart view?
primarily to generate status reports, so some dates are ASAP or TBD. When I
previously created Status Reports in Excel, I simply typed in 'ASAP' or 'TBD'
in the Due column, and drew no bars in the calendar. With Project it seems
that clients will see a date even if it hasn't been set yet..
So, how do I "add a custom field and add a formula to show TBD if the
duration is estimated" - and how will this show in the Gantt Chart view?
J
JulieS
Hi Tania,
To answer your question about the custom field:
Insert a custom Text column (Text1 for example). Right click on the column
heading and select "Customize Fields" from the shortcut menu. In the
Customize Fields dialog box, select the Formula button and enter the
following formula:
IIf([Estimated]=1,"TBD"," ")
The formula will test to see if the duration is estimated and if so, display
the text "TBD" in the field. If the duration is not estimated (no ? next to
the duration measurement), it will be blank.
The bar will still show in the Gantt chart with the scheduled dates. If you
wished to, you could hide the bar by double clicking on the task to show the
Task Information button and on the general tab, click the "Hide task bar"
checkbox.
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
Julie
To answer your question about the custom field:
Insert a custom Text column (Text1 for example). Right click on the column
heading and select "Customize Fields" from the shortcut menu. In the
Customize Fields dialog box, select the Formula button and enter the
following formula:
IIf([Estimated]=1,"TBD"," ")
The formula will test to see if the duration is estimated and if so, display
the text "TBD" in the field. If the duration is not estimated (no ? next to
the duration measurement), it will be blank.
The bar will still show in the Gantt chart with the scheduled dates. If you
wished to, you could hide the bar by double clicking on the task to show the
Task Information button and on the general tab, click the "Hide task bar"
checkbox.
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
Julie
T
tania_rosler
Hi Julie
Thanks for your advice and sorry to take a while to respond.
I tried what you suggested. Got as far as inserting the custom Text column
and adding the custom field with the formula, but unfortunately that column
stays blank whether the duration is estimated or not... Have I missed
something?
Tania
PS. Presumably I can do the same (when I get it to work!) for an 'ASAP',
right?
Thanks for your advice and sorry to take a while to respond.
I tried what you suggested. Got as far as inserting the custom Text column
and adding the custom field with the formula, but unfortunately that column
stays blank whether the duration is estimated or not... Have I missed
something?
Tania
PS. Presumably I can do the same (when I get it to work!) for an 'ASAP',
right?
J
JulieS
Hi Tania,
Why don't you copy and paste the formula that you used and we'll see if
we can work out the details of what went awry.
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
Julie
Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project
Why don't you copy and paste the formula that you used and we'll see if
we can work out the details of what went awry.
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
Julie
Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project
T
tania_rosler
I actually copied and pasted yours into mine! Twas:
IIf([Estimated]=1,"TBD"," ")
right?
Would love to send screen grabs so you can see I did just as you said and
what my screen looks like, but don't know how..
IIf([Estimated]=1,"TBD"," ")
right?
Would love to send screen grabs so you can see I did just as you said and
what my screen looks like, but don't know how..
J
JulieS
Hi Tania,
Don't worry about the screen shots -- I believe you followed the
directions to a 't'
Now I'm embarrassed to say there was an error in the formula. Try this
one:
IIf([Estimated]=Yes,"TBD"," ")
So sorry for the misdirect. I hope this helps. Let us know how you get
along.
Wiping egg of face again!
Julie
Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project
Don't worry about the screen shots -- I believe you followed the
directions to a 't'
Now I'm embarrassed to say there was an error in the formula. Try this
one:
IIf([Estimated]=Yes,"TBD"," ")
So sorry for the misdirect. I hope this helps. Let us know how you get
along.
Wiping egg of face again!
Julie
Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project
T
tania_rosler
=YES, it worked!
Will use same principle for an 'ASAP' column.
Brilliant, thanks Julie!
Will use same principle for an 'ASAP' column.
Brilliant, thanks Julie!
J
JulieS
You're most welcome Tania and thanks for the feedback.
Julie
Julie
S
Steve House
What you are describing as your "Due Date" is a deadline, not the task
finish date. It is crucial to using Project successfully to understand that
you do NOT directly input task start and end dates - in truth, it is
actually impossible to do so. You do not determine the dates that tasks
will start and finish - instead Project's job is to determine those dates
for you based on the nature of the work and the availability of resources to
do it and the result of its calculation is what you and your clients are
seeing as the task finish date. The date you or your contract obligations
say the task must be done by is the deadline and you can enter those in the
task deadline field (Task Information form, Advanced tab) when you have
determined what they need to be. That date it CAN be done by is what
Project is computing and that could end up being on, before, or after the
date it is supposed to be done by. If its computed finish date turns out to
be later than the deadline you supplied, Project will red-flag the task to
alert you that unless you do something concrete - call in overtime perhaps
or reorganize the work that comes before it - it will not meet your required
finish when the rubber meets the road and people actually try to do the
work. IMHO, the basic reason to use a tool like Project is to help you
figure out how you need to organize the work and assign the resources in
order for the dates things can be done by to be "in sync" with and meet your
objectives.
finish date. It is crucial to using Project successfully to understand that
you do NOT directly input task start and end dates - in truth, it is
actually impossible to do so. You do not determine the dates that tasks
will start and finish - instead Project's job is to determine those dates
for you based on the nature of the work and the availability of resources to
do it and the result of its calculation is what you and your clients are
seeing as the task finish date. The date you or your contract obligations
say the task must be done by is the deadline and you can enter those in the
task deadline field (Task Information form, Advanced tab) when you have
determined what they need to be. That date it CAN be done by is what
Project is computing and that could end up being on, before, or after the
date it is supposed to be done by. If its computed finish date turns out to
be later than the deadline you supplied, Project will red-flag the task to
alert you that unless you do something concrete - call in overtime perhaps
or reorganize the work that comes before it - it will not meet your required
finish when the rubber meets the road and people actually try to do the
work. IMHO, the basic reason to use a tool like Project is to help you
figure out how you need to organize the work and assign the resources in
order for the dates things can be done by to be "in sync" with and meet your
objectives.
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An easier way to do this is to:
1. Change the task mode on that task to Manual from Auto Schedule. this removes the requirement for a date format to be entered, you can now enter text.
2. Select the field (Duration, Start or FInish) you want to change, and right click to "Clear Contents"
3. Enter TBD
Done!