Problem scheduling dates

[NewbieCB]

I am having trouble entering start and finish dates for some tasks. I would
like to be able to set my start and finish dates regardless of resoruce units
etc.. Therefore I though I could use a task type of fixed duration. I then
enter in a few tasks and it is allowing me to set my start and finish dates
as well as assign resources and units to each resource. However every few
tasks I run into a problem where I can't set the start or finish. If I choose
a date for the finish it sets the start date to the same day. If I then
change the start date it changes the finish to the same day. It is almost
like it is assuming the task is a 1 day task, even before I assign resources
to it. Any ideas on what I am doing wrong? I simply want to lay out all my
tasks and choose the start and finish dates.
Thanks,

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

One of the first strong advices I give my students is NEVER USE THE FINISH
FIELD in Project.
Project calculates either start or finish from the other one and the
duration (at least, most of the time)
In fact, some of my fellow MVPs argue that you shoudln't enter EITHER: MS
Project's objective is to CALCULATE start and finish dates/times for tasks
from relationships between tasks, constraints, and Actual performance data.

BTW if you set the tasks fixed duration, you won't be bothered by resource
units.
Hope this helps,

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

 

[Steve House]

You actually CAN'T "set" the start and finish dates in Project at all, at
least not directly. Entering a date in the Start field DOES NOT set that as
the date the task will begin - instead it sets a "Start No Earlier Than"
constraint which, just as it sounds, sets the earliest date the task could
be scheduled to start. But any number of factors can push it to start later
than that date you have input. Likewise, an entry in the Finish field
doesn't set a finish date, it sets a "Finish No Earlier Than" constraint
which works the same as the SNET. If you enter something in BOTH fields,
you get just one of those constraints, the one that is applied depending on
which entry you last typed.

I think that, like many newcomers to the program, you're labouring under a
false impression of what it is that Project is designed to do. Project is
not intended to document a schedule that you have determined through some
other method! You don't tell it the dates your tasks will take place - just
the opposite, it tells you the dates your tasks CAN take place. You tell it
what date will kickoff the entire project, the list of items you need to do,
your estimates of how long each task will require, and when your resources
will be available and it tells YOU what dates you need to schedule
everything on. Unless there are pressing reasons otherwise, the only date
you supply Project yourself is Project Start Date - everything else is
calculated for you by Project. Among other things, one of the reasons for
using software such as this is to give you a 'reality check' - you may
really, really want or need Task X to start the 1st of March but is it
really possible for it to do so given what needs to happen first and when
your resources are available? Project is designed to answer that question,
not just slavishly reflect what you think ought to be able to happen.