leveling after change in duration

[GTS]

I am in the planning stages of a project using MSP 07.

Task 1 is 5 days and has Crew 1 assigned to it.
Task 2 is 12 days and has Crew 1 and Crew 2 assigned to it.
The two tasks overlap a little and are not dependent on each other

I had leveled the resources so that Crew 1 wasn't overallocated. Project
recalculated Task 2 appropriately.

THEN

My boss gave me an updated estimate: Task 2 is 10 days, not 12.

I went in and changed the duration to 10, and then messed with the resources
about a billion times and applied leveling and I can't get it to adjust to
the correct duration. It either cuts the duration in half (to 5 days, even
though I know full well that Crew 1 is not available for the first four days)
or it reduces the duration to 9 days. By my calculations, Project should
adjust the duration to 7 days (4 days with Crew 2 working alone and 3 days
with both crews working 100%).

Did I mess things up by changing the duration? The tasks are fixed-unit,
effort driven.

I had a leveling problem before and thought I had it figured out, but now
something's wrong again (argh).

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

With only durations, no dates, you leave too much guesswork to do.
Moreaver you mix Work and Duration "Task 2 now is 10 days" then later "It
should be 7 days".
Again, I think I can guess what you mean but a clear diagnostic isn't
possible at this stage.
You don't even mention the leveling setting "Leveling can adjust individual
assignments" which is crucial.

I cannot see what you may have done to have this result. In short, can you
send me the file (or just the few tasks) I'll be able to explain

jandemesATprom-ade.be (change the AT into @)

Greetings,

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[GTS]

Thanks, Jan. You rock!

I sent you the file, but in the meantime, figured out that the reason
Project is doing what it's doing is that the work had been calculated when I
assigned the resources before, so that when I changed the duration it held on
to the work.

Is there any way to change the amount of work on a task without re-entering
the task and setting up the dependencies all over again?

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Insert the Work column and change it
Better do this in the task usage view as it allows you to differentiate
between assignments.
And there is a long explanation on leveling with the reply i sent offline.

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf