Need help with 'Status Date' custom field

[Hemmige S Prashanth]

Dear Friends,

I'm trying to create a custom field as below to find tasks that start
to the left of the status date (basically an error).

IIf ([Actual Start] =ProjDateValue("NA"), IIf ([Start] < [Status
Date], "1", "2"), "3")

However, even when task start date is < status date, "1" never
occurs.

What is wrong? My status date is set via - Project -> Project
Information -> Status Date. When I insert a 'Status Date' column, it
always shows 'NA'. Don't know if this is the problem and if it is, how
do I resolve this?

Thanks,
Prashanth

 

[alavinsky]

It might be a usage issue. I took your formula and pasted it into a
file, and it seems to work as it should.

I would question how you're updating the Status Date. There is no
column, I don't believe, for Status Date. To get it to show up in MS
Project, you need to create a custom date field, and set it to equal
[Status Date]. You shouldn't be getting "NA" if you've filled out the
Status Date entry in the Project > Information tab.

-A

 

[Hemmige S Prashanth]

Hello Alavinsky,

Thanks for the response.

1. What is the significance of the 'Status Date' column?

2. My formula for the custom field - "IIf ([Actual Start]
=ProjDateValue("NA"), IIf ([Start] < [Status Date], "1", "2"), "3") "
- throws up '1' even when the task is a future task! I would have
expected future tasks to throw up '2'. What is wrong? Did you say that
the formula is working for you? i.e. are you getting a '1', '2' or '3'
anywhere on your MPP?

Thanks for the help,

Prashanth

 

[Dytham]

That formula works fine for me.
What type of field are you using to contain your output, ie. Number, Text ?

Chas.

 

[Hemmige S Prashanth]

Hello Chas,

I used 'Text'. Should I be using something else?

I'm wondering if I should reinstall MPP 2007.

Thanks,
Prashanth

 

[Jim Aksel]

I have noticed similar behavior with formulas in text and number fields. Try
using a number field, especially if you want to use totals and the like.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[Dytham]

That was my first thought too Jim, but I couldn't get it to not work with
Text or Number fields, both giving identical results.

Chas.

 

[Hemmige S Prashanth]

All,

I reinstalled project 2007, still the same issue.

Two questions -

1. What is the significance of 'Status Date' column? It shows 'NA'
although the status date is set via - "Project -> Project Information -

Status Date"

2. I was writing this macro to find out a) tasks that have work
scheduled in the past and b) tasks whose "Actual start date" > status
date.

Irrespective of this macro issue, how do I achieve the above?

Thanks,
Prashanth