Start/Finish dates adjust automatically when I enter WORK

[jdee]

I have Task A that starts on 4/3/06 and finishes on 4/28/06. There are three
resources assigned to it. Only 40 hours of work will take place during this
timeframe. When I enter in 40, the finish date jumps to 4/7/06. How do I keep
this from happening?

I am using Project 2003

J

 

[JulieS]

Hi jdee,

If you create the task and enter 20 days duration, the task will start on
4/3 and end on 4/28. (Assuming the project starts on 4/3 and there are no
non-working days in the calendar other than weekends).

Split your screen using the Window > Split command. In the task form at the
bottom, select fixed duration as the task type. Click OK in the task form.

Then select the resource name from the drop-down list in the task form
underneath the heading Resource Name. Enter in the work for each resource.
Click OK and Project will calculate the assignment units based upon formula
Work/Duration.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[jdee]

It did not work. If I start a task on 4/3 and finish on 4/28, and enter in 20
days duration, then split the screen, enter in 2 resources and assign 4 hours
to each resources, it changes the FINISH for the task to 4/3.

Any other thoughts?
Thanks

Jenna

 

[jdee]

I figured it out. I had to change Task Type to FIXED DURATION

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jenna,

Glad you got it to work. I probably should have written my instructions
about setting the task type to fixed duration in quotes to make it easier to
spot.

Julie

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

While you can set the task type to fixed duration and force the issue, does
it really make sense to do it that way? Why let your resources do the work
in drip and drops like that, spreading out over so long a time. Instead,
once they start have them go at it full tilt and just git 'er done. You've
said the task requires 40 hours of work, to be done by three people. That
means each person does about 13 man-hours of work. At 100% effort, 13 hours
of work is a little over 1 and a half 8-hour workdays. If the task can
start as early as 03 April, Monday, they can have it done, over with, and
out of the way well before the end of the day Tuesday the 4th. Why dawdle?