Task time changes automatically?

[Shelley]

I'm trying to change task times and i get a dialog box asking to link
tasks, so I did (even though the tasks aren't dependant upon each
other). After linking tasks, Microsoft Project would allow me to
change the start time and end time of the task. However, once I
changed them, saved and closed, Project would revert back to the time
displayed before. How do I fix this?

Also, I am using a file from 2002 and I updated all of the dates to
2003. However, the Gantt chart still shows all of 2002 and I have to
scroll all the way to the right to get to my tasks in 2003. How do I
fix that? I already tried to create a new baseline calendar, but that
didn't seem to work either.

Help!!

Thanks!
Shelley

 

[Sarah]

Shelley,

I agree with Jan. It sounds like you would really benefit from some
formal training. But as far as the Gantt chart showing 2002, you
probably need to change the project start date. Click Project>Project
Information and change the Start date to the actual start date of this
new plan. This should adjust the Gantt timescale view.

Sarah

 

[Shelley]

I changed the start date by Clicking Project -> Project Information.
However, the End Date is grayed out and it is still 2002, so I can't
change the start date. Is there a way to fix this?

Thanks,
Shelley

 

[Steve House]

Project allows you to set EITHER the start date or the end date, but not
both. The same screen in Project Information has a pull down that allows
you to set whether to schedule from start date forward or from end date
backwards. Very very rarely would you want to schedule backwards from end
date as this gives rise to all sorts of headaches. Whichever scheduling
method you select, the opposite date entry becomes a calculated value and
will be greyed out. That's the idea of Project - you know when you can
start, what you need to do, and the resources at your disposal to get it
done, and Project takes that info and tells you the schedule of the tasks
and when you'll be done.

 

[Shelley]

My situation is this: I have the same project each year, so I want to
use the same tasks year after year. Should I create a new project and
copy the tasks into it? I followed the assumption that I could use the
exact same project file, just update it for the new year. Is that not
what I should do?

Thanks,
Shelley

 

[Steve House]

Sure, not a problem with that, however any actuals in the original plan need
to be cleared when you move it to the new year. An easy way of doing this
is to take your original plan and save it as a Project Template. When you
do so, you'll be asked if you wish to save certain elements, including
actuals. By saying "no" you'll clear out some of the values that can give
you headaches. Then for the new project, just start a new plan using the
saved project template, specify the new start date and make and changes
necessary for the new version.

 

[Shelley]

Thanks, Steve. You've been most helpful!

Shelley