Are you talking about adding subtasks to a task that already has work done
on it, turning it into a summary task? There are two issues you need to
consider. First of all, a summary task percent complete is an effective
percent complete based on a weighted average of its subtasks. When you take
a task that has had work and add subtasks, you are breaking it down into its
detailed component activities. The concept of work being applied diratly
against the summary no longer applies - anythig that was done was done on
one or more of its component subtasks. But when you add those subtasks,
Project has no way of knowing WHICH of them describes the work that has
already been performed. You must apportion the work that has been performed
manually. One way would be to display the Tracking table and manually enter
progress for all the newly added subtasks, letting Project recalcualte the %
Complete on the summary based on your entries.
Another issue to think about is the whole thing of adding subtasks to a
summary so late in the game. The whole reason for builing a project plan is
to be able to plan future events proactively. Such a process should take
place way way ahead of the actual work being done - you need to plan ahead
of time in order to tell which resources where to go with what tools to
perform what work so that all the work in the project is done in a timely
manner so that the project is completed on schedule and no work falls
through the cracks. Adding those subtasks after work has been performed is
simply documenting what has taken place and doesn't address the key
management issues of what SHOULD be taking place and WHEN is the best time
to do it. You need to complete the work breakdown and enter those subtasks
long before work begins so that you can direct the resources to be at the
right place at the right time to perform the right work and not leave it to
them to decide such matters.
--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
"(e-mail address removed)"
