Summary task durations randomly miscalculating?

[Ted M H]

I'm working with a simple project with about 15 summary tasks. All summary
tasks have at least 1 detail task and some have up to three detail tasks.
Most of the Summary tasks accurately show the duration, but 3 - 4 of them
simply show 0 as the duration (Everything I'm doing is in hours, by the way),
even though the detail tasks are not zero duration.
Oddly, the start and finish dates and times are calculated just fine for the
summary tasks--it's just the duration that's the problem.
The only clue I have is that the zero duration summary tasks were somehow
designated as milestones in task information. Clearing the mark as milestone
check box however doesn't change anything.

Any suggestions?

 

[Jim Aksel]

That is odd. Are you certain the "subtasks" are properly indented under the
"milestone"?

Verify what you want to be a summary task is not a milestone (as you have
already done). Then, indent the subtasks even if they appear like they
already are.

If necessary, you may want to show the "Outline Level" column just in case.
You can always outdent.

This is really odd, post back if necessary. Also try F9 to recalculate.
Verify automatic calculations are on: Tools/Options/Calculations.. Automatic.
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Jim Aksel, MVP

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

 

[Ted M H]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your reply. I checked all the items you suggested--I think I'm
doing everything correctly. I agree this is odd. I tried outdenting and
then indenting again, and the best I could do was to get the summary task to
show a duration that is completely wrong, but at least not zero.

My guess is that the file is somehow corrupted. I looked for an open and
repair option such as Word and Excel have, but it appears that Project has no
such option.

I guess I'll try to start with a new file and see if the problem persists.

Any suggestions as far as a quick way to build a new file? I'm thinking
that if I export to Excel and them copy and paste into a new blank project
file I'll get all the task data without the corruption. Your thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Ted M H]

Hi again,

I copied the task descriptions to Excel and then back to a new project file.
Then I re-entered the durations, intented the subordinate tasks, re-did the
task links and re-did the resource and project calendars for working and
non-working time. The new file does not seem to have the problem that the
original file did.

I'm glad I wasn't working with a 1000-task project that was already half-way
done!

Again, thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions.