stop task durations from changing!

[Larry]

I have turned off effort driven scheduling, and am using fixed duration
tasks. MS project continues to randomly change task durations, more so when I
try to resource level. How can I stop this?

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

You probably have a setting in Resource levelling that levels individual
assignments. Turn that off and you should be OK.

 

[Larry]

Hi, Rod

Thanks, but that is not it. I have all the boxes in the lower section
unchecked.

Larry

 

[John]

Hi, Rod

Thanks, but that is not it. I have all the boxes in the lower section
unchecked.

Larry

Larry,
As I recall, Fixed Duration isn't pure. There are times when Project
will change the duration, (and I agree with you, I don't like that
"feature"), but off hand I can't remember the conditions when that
occurs. However, you mentioned that you set task type to Fixed Duration.
Did you also set Tools/Options/Schedule tab for a Fixed Duration default
task type? Note: changing the option will NOT change existing tasks, it
will only affect new tasks that are added (i.e. this setting works best
if done before the schedule is laid into Project).

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Larry]

Hi, John

Thanks. Yes, I periodically highlight the whole column of tasks, go to the
task dialog/advanced, and set the task type to fixed duration. It seems to
work to change it for all the tasks. Nonetheless, MS project changes
durations and splits tasks.

The documentation says it will change duration if you have resource
calendars, etc., so I also tried to put all that on the same calendar. No joy.

Anyhow, I soled the problem by brute force: created a new file, adjusted the
standard calendar, and copied over one column at a time as text. It solved
all three problems. It now resource levels, does not split the tasks, and
does not change the task duration. So, something must have gotten corrupted
in the original file that I could not change.

Regards,
Larry