task B = 30 % task A

[Alain R.]

Hi,

I would like to know how to do automatically this operation:
I have 2 tasks A and B.
A has a duration and B equal 30 % of task A everytime.

Can we do it in a special way that everytime that i will modify task A
duration, MP2000 willupdate automatically task B duration (without any
manual intervention) ?

thanks in advance,
Alain

 

[Rob Schneider]

Hi,

I would like to know how to do automatically this operation:
I have 2 tasks A and B.
A has a duration and B equal 30 % of task A everytime.

Can we do it in a special way that everytime that i will modify task A
duration, MP2000 willupdate automatically task B duration (without any
manual intervention) ?

thanks in advance,
Alain

No, can't think of a way to do this. Project is not a spreadsheet. You
could write a small VBA macro that you run (via a button toolbar or
keys) which would do this for you.

Just curious ... why do you have to change the duration of a task so
much that automating this is so useful?

 

[Alain R.]

i need it especially for the first steps.
I want to plan some reserve time for each tasks...
and i don't know how to do it without including this reserve time into task
duration
Alain

 

[Steve House]

Task durations really should represent an estimate of how long you thing the
tasks actually will take. If you need schedules that include contingency
allowances, you might want to investigate the PERT tools in help. It may
serve your needs better.

 

[Arno Hente]

Project is not a spreadsheet ...
and Excel is not a planning tool?
Looking at the vast amount of organisations that do use
Excel for planning, not everybody seems to agree.
Maybe, project should be more like a spreadsheet (?)

I know this does not relate to Alain's orignal question,
but Rob's comment brought back some memories of
experiences from a "Project-intensive" past.

 

[Rob Schneider]

Arno,

Yes, you are correct with the first assertion. I don't think Project
should be considered a spreadsheet (especially for people just starting
to use Microsoft Project). Thinking of it that way seems to lead to
misunderstandings and frustrations. From a computer tool perspective, I
perceive (and explain) Microsoft Project as being a specialised front
end user-interface for a complex database designed for project
management, a calculation engine, report engine, and data manager...all
as a tool to assist in management of a project.

I never said, and do not agree, with your next suggestion that I think
Excel is not a planning tool. I believe that it is entirely appropriate
to use computer tools like spreadsheets, word processors, web browsers,
etc. for planning and project management.

It's not the tool that that matters so much as how they are used and
what are is expected to be accomplished with them.

And even then, they are only tools. None of them manage the project.

 

[Rob Schneider]

Arno,

Yes, you are correct with the first assertion. I don't think Project
should be considered a spreadsheet (especially for people just starting
to use Microsoft Project).

Thinking of it that way seems to lead to misunderstandings and
frustrations. From a computer tool perspective, I perceive (and
explain) Microsoft Project as being a specialised front end
user-interface for a complex database designed for project management, a
calculation engine, simple report engine, and data manager...all as a
tool to assist in management of a project.

I never said, and do not agree, with your next suggestion that I think
Excel is not a planning tool. I believe that it is entirely appropriate
to use computer tools like spreadsheets, word processors, web browsers,
etc. for planning and project management.

It's not the tool that that matters so much as how they are used and
what is expected (and anticipated) to be accomplished with these tools.

And even then, they are only tools. None of them manage the project.