How do I set a What-If scenario based on 150% remaining work?

[IMAFriend]

There are some custom duration fields. I figured out how to make
duration10 = remaining duration * 1.5.

That works.

What type of formula would I use for a custom finish field, do I need a
custom start field?

How can I keep the predecessors?

If I can figure this out, it will be MUCH easier than maintaining TWO
MSProject files, one based on 150% remaining work.

Thanks!
DougB

 

[John]

There are some custom duration fields. I figured out how to make
duration10 = remaining duration * 1.5.

That works.

What type of formula would I use for a custom finish field, do I need a
custom start field?

How can I keep the predecessors?

If I can figure this out, it will be MUCH easier than maintaining TWO
MSProject files, one based on 150% remaining work.

Thanks!
DougB

IMAFriend,
I'm afraid you are giving us too much information on HOW you want to do
something rather than WHAT you are trying to do. For example, if we knew
what you want to do, we might be able to suggest an appropriate formula
for a custom finish field.

Did you lose some predecessors? I'd say the best way to keep
predecessors is to pay them a fair wage and treat them like
predecessors. In business, predecessor turnover is the biggest single
factor facing the average Project Manager today. . . . Seriously, what
are you trying to do?

Why do you feel you have to maintain two Project files? Maybe it's
appropriate, and maybe it's not.

John
Project MVP

 

[IMAFriend]

Hi John.

Sorry, I was flustered and frustrated with my objective when I wrote,
so I may not have explained clearly.

I have a semi-normal (I'm somewhat new to project, but catching on
quick) project. I'm sure I'm doing many things wrong.

Most tasks are at a level 3, summary tasks are at level 2, and major
tasks at level 1. There's about 200 lines in the project. There are
many tasks that have predecessors. You cannot move the car forward
until you close the door. You cannot close the door til you are inside
the car. You also cannot move the car forward until you start the car.

So, say I have Mr. Business. His schedule is:
4:30.00 WalkToCar - 2 minutes
4:32.00 GetInCar - 30 seconds
4:32.30 CloseDoor - 15 seconds
4:32.45 StartCar - 15 seconds

Finish is at 4:33.00

Now, I want to change 2 things. I want to change the speed at which
things happen, and the starting time.
This would be the what-if. I want to say instead of starting at 4:30
pm, I start at 4:00 pm.
But make the time remainging * 4..

What I would LIKE to see would be an overlap using the custom fields
that represents:
4:00.00 WalkToCar - 8 minutes
4:08.00 GetInCar - 2 minutes
4:10.00 CloseDoor - 1 minute
4:11.00 StartCar - 1 minute

I don't mind writing VB code, I've written plenty for Word and Excel.
But I don't know the structure for Project.

I know I can use a custom field to say (remaining duration * 4) but
that does not account for starting task2 after the additional delay of
task1.

Does that make more sense?

Thanks,
DougB



6 minutes to walk to the car, 1.5 minutes to get into the car, 45
seconds to close the door, and 45 seconds to start the car.

How can I run this type of scenario? Using custom fields, I can say
duration10 = duration remaining * 3.
But that does not change the start of each field.

So.. if WalkToCar starts at 4:30 and takes 2 minutes

seconds to

 

[IMAFriend]

Sorry, I didn't realize I did not delete the rest of my message. You
can ignore all that text after the Does that make more sense?

 

[John]

Hi John.

Sorry, I was flustered and frustrated with my objective when I wrote,
so I may not have explained clearly.

I have a semi-normal (I'm somewhat new to project, but catching on
quick) project. I'm sure I'm doing many things wrong.

Most tasks are at a level 3, summary tasks are at level 2, and major
tasks at level 1. There's about 200 lines in the project. There are
many tasks that have predecessors. You cannot move the car forward
until you close the door. You cannot close the door til you are inside
the car. You also cannot move the car forward until you start the car.

So, say I have Mr. Business. His schedule is:
4:30.00 WalkToCar - 2 minutes
4:32.00 GetInCar - 30 seconds
4:32.30 CloseDoor - 15 seconds
4:32.45 StartCar - 15 seconds

Finish is at 4:33.00

Now, I want to change 2 things. I want to change the speed at which
things happen, and the starting time.
This would be the what-if. I want to say instead of starting at 4:30
pm, I start at 4:00 pm.
But make the time remainging * 4..

What I would LIKE to see would be an overlap using the custom fields
that represents:
4:00.00 WalkToCar - 8 minutes
4:08.00 GetInCar - 2 minutes
4:10.00 CloseDoor - 1 minute
4:11.00 StartCar - 1 minute

I don't mind writing VB code, I've written plenty for Word and Excel.
But I don't know the structure for Project.

I know I can use a custom field to say (remaining duration * 4) but
that does not account for starting task2 after the additional delay of
task1.

Does that make more sense?

Thanks,
DougB

Doug,
I understand and sympathize with your frustration. Sometimes I think the
sole purpose of Project is to fluster and frustrate its users. It is one
of the most unintuitive and perhaps non-userfriendly applications I've
ever used. Don't get me wrong, it is a great application - it just has a
steep learning curve.

Anyway, a few comments to your file structure. First, summary lines,
regardless of which outline level, are not tasks. They simply summarize
information about the performance subtasks below them. Think of summary
lines as noun based (no action performed) whereas performance tasks are
verb based (some action is performed). As such, there should never be
links tied to summary tasks (see FAQs 48 & 49 on our MVP website at:
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm).

In your example of the slow moving businessman (most people move like
lightning at quitting time), why do you want to use custom fields?
Custom fields are static, that is, they can not be used to dynamically
change the project schedule. If all you are trying to do is to try
different scenarios, then just change the basic scheduling fields in
Project (i.e. Start, Duration and Predecessors) to see the effects. For
example, each car task is an individual performance task with a duration
in minutes and all are linked in a finish-to-start sequence. The start
time and date of the first task is defined under Project/Project
Information/Start Date or the Start field of the first task can simply
be entered directly, although this will set a start-no-earlier
constraint.

Nonetheless, a VBA macro could be used to modify the schedule based on a
set of user input criteria. For example the user could input various
start times and a fixed or variable factor applied to the task
durations. The details of the necessary code are dependent on the file
structure (i.e. which tasks, etc.).

By the way, Remaining Duration is a separate field from Duration. You
seem to be using them interchangeably.

John
Project MVP

 

[IMAFriend]

I'm sending this post from a different application, and not even sure
if it will show as me or as my other me. Anyway..

My boss says "add 50% to the remaining workload". More specifically,
take the remaining duration and add 50%.

At the same time, he wants to see the as-is schedule, but with a big
pause put in. In other words, if we take a break, come back, and work,
or if we don't take a break, but everything takes longer.

I think he wants to maintain both schedules. I figured if I could
overlap them in the same Project file it might not only be more
efficient, but also offer visual comparisons in the Gantt chart. That
is why I was tryingn for custom fields.

I have read people comment that summary tasks are not ideal for
linking. I'll read up on that FAQ and learn more.

I actually had thought that linking was fine if from Summary to Summary
or Task to Task.

Thanks for your inputs, and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions
as time goes on.

DougB - the student.

 

[John]

I'm sending this post from a different application, and not even sure
if it will show as me or as my other me. Anyway..

My boss says "add 50% to the remaining workload". More specifically,
take the remaining duration and add 50%.

At the same time, he wants to see the as-is schedule, but with a big
pause put in. In other words, if we take a break, come back, and work,
or if we don't take a break, but everything takes longer.

I think he wants to maintain both schedules. I figured if I could
overlap them in the same Project file it might not only be more
efficient, but also offer visual comparisons in the Gantt chart. That
is why I was tryingn for custom fields.

I have read people comment that summary tasks are not ideal for
linking. I'll read up on that FAQ and learn more.

I actually had thought that linking was fine if from Summary to Summary
or Task to Task.

Thanks for your inputs, and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions
as time goes on.

DougB - the student.

Doug,
In Project Work and Duration are two separate things. Duration is the
time span during which a task is performed. In Project it is usually
expressed in working time (assuming a normal calendar with 8 hour days
and 5 day weeks). On the other hand, Work is the total effort expended
by one or more resources to actually accomplish the task. If a single
resource is assigned full time to a given task, then and only then, the
Duration and Work will be the equal. So adding 50% to the remaining
workload is not necessarily the same as adding 50% to the remaining
duration.

Trying to read between the lines, it sounds like your boss simply wants
to capture the original plan so it can be compared to the current
working schedule as the plan is executed. This is called baselining and
any good planning/scheduling application (e.g. MS Project) has this
feature built-in. It also sets up the basis for classical earned value
metrics. None of this requires any customizing of spare fields.

You might be interested in fellow MVP, Mike Glen's series on Project
lessons and techniques. A link to Mike's lessons can be found on:
http://project.mvps.org/links.htm

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

Adding 50% to the remaining workload is NOT necessarily the same thing as
adding 50% to the remaining duration time. Think of a 1 kilowatt electric
space heater. In one hour it converts 1 kilowatt hour's worth of energy
into heat. That total energy is equivalent to work, the time the heater is
in use is the duration. If we double the workload, we either could run the
1 heater for 2 hours (work doubles amd time doubles) or we could turn on a
second heater and run them both together for 1 hour (work doubles, time
remains the same). Either way we have now converted a total of 2 kilowatt
hours into heat output and doubled the workload.