Leveling resources?

[Gasperix]

Hi, I have the following question:

I am starting to use MS Project on one of my projects and after promising
start I am stuck with the following issue:
From each of my resource I get the information about how much time will he
need for the task, approx. start date of the task and we set a deadline for
the task.

I'd like to put this information in MS Project to plan the project and track
progress, but am having difficulties as MS Project is adjusting start and end
of the task in accordance to the information above, and I am getting a bit
confused.

One possibility would be to calculate the average availability of the
resource from the above data, but this number would change from task to task,
depending on other projects the resource is working on - a lot of redundant
information to be entered. And why when this could be calculated by MSP?

I guess I would actually like to enter the information about start date,
deadline and hours of actual work for each task, assign the resources and MS
Project would have to calculate the availability% of resources by itself.

Can someone point me into the right direction here?

 

[Darrell]

If you want Project to calculate the Units you need to provide the Duration
and Work first. Set the task type to fixed Duration or Fixed Work, Enter the
duration, the work and then add the resource. Project should calculate the
Units for you. For example – 5 days Duration, 10 hours Work = 25% Units. If
your resources can provide you with the Duration (how long to get it done in
your environment) and the Work (how many hours of actual effort without
interruption) Project will calculate the Units.

You may also want to consider not entering the start of finish dates and
instead use the proper dependencies to drive start and finish dates for all
tasks. If you are entering actual start and finish dates you will have to
manually adjust every task down stream when there is a delay versus Project
doing it for you.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Gasperix ,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

I think you're heading for trouble! The accepted method for setting up a
project is to enter Tasks, Durations, Precedence Links (logic) and
Resources - generally in that order. Project will then do what it is
designed to do - give you a schedule with the dates that is possible with
the data you've entered. If you enter Start or Finish dates, Project will
set up constraints and you will lose the flexibility you will need for the
future. If you have deadlines, then enter these for the appropriate tasks in
the Task Information dialog.

As you say you're just starting to use Project, can I advise you to take a
minimum of a 2-day introductory course, as Project is not that intuitive.
Meanwhile. you might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project
in the TechTrax ezine, particularly #, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the articles before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP