Release Notes Available for Project 2002? Having unexpalined problemwith 10.0.2002.0502

[Rob Schneider]

Folks,

I've done some Googling on the internet and searching on Microsoft's web
site, with no success.

On my machine at work I have Project 2002 (10.0.2002.0502). I'm having
problems Project incorrectly recomputing Duration when I insert a
subproject file into a linked rollup master file. Both the subproject
and master file are using a specific non-default working-time calendar.
Project is acting as if it forgets the working time calendar. In the
subproject file, for example it's a fixed duration 1-day, but when I put
it into the master file it changes to 1.07 day.

Since I never saw this happen before, I moved all the subproject files
to another machine (my personal machine) running a slightly newer
version of Project 2002 (10.0.2104.1305 SP-1) which I believe is the
most up-to-date version of Project 2002. I see the same problem on the
same master file, but if I recreate the master file, then re-insert the
4 subproject files, the problem does not re-occur.

This makes me think that there was a bug fix between the two versions of
Project 2002. While I can't guarantee this is the root cause of the
problem (more testing is required and I'm short of time), it will help
my cause to request the IT Dept to upgrade to 10.0.2104.1305 SP-1 if I
can show that Microsoft recognised and fixed the bug. Without this, the
IT Dept's attitude will be that I'm doing something wrong since they
will claim that nobody else reports the problem. They don't know much
about Project, and will be hard pressed to really understand the problem.

Anybody recall this particular flaws in Project 2002? A long shot, but
is there a published list of bug-fixes to Project 2002?

Thanks in advance. I have my hands full re-planning a high-profile
project, and I don't have time to mess with what looks to be a bug.

thanks,
rms

 

[JulieS]

Hi Rob,

It sounds to me as though this is not a bug, but a difference in the
definition of the number of hours in a day in the master project and
subprojects.

My guess is that in the master project, a "day" is defined as 7.5 hours
(Tools> Options, Calendar tab). The definition of a "day" in the subproject
file is 8.0 hours. When you inserted the subproject file a one day (8 hour)
task is reflected as 1.07 days in the master because a day means 7.5 hours
to the master project file. When you created a new master file, the
definition of a day was 8.0 hours (the default) and the problem did not
re-appear.

See FAQ #5 at:
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

If this isn't the case see below for some information on SP-1 fixes:

For a list of issues fixed by Project 2002 - SP1 see:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830241&Product=prj2002

There is a reference (towards the end of the list) to the following KB
article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830282/
"Task durations are calculated incorrectly if the calendar has non-working
times that enclose default non-working times in Microsoft Project
Professional 2002"
but this is specific to Project Server.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie