Using project indicators and the current date

[m2mteck]

Is there a way to set up project indicators based on the current date verses
the finish date? I want it more for a visual for resources to basically alert
them visually if a task is due to finish within 2 weeks, or has passed.
Here's what I want to show:

Green - Finish date is < 2 weeks away
Yellow - Finish date is >= 2 weeks
Red - The Finish date has passed

This would be using the current date, not baseline.

 

[Ben Howard [MVP]]

Hi m2mteck,

Is this in MSProject, or Project Web Access?

 

[m2mteck]

Hi Ben,
This is in MSProject. I will probably want to create a view in PWA as well.
Thanks

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Hi m2,
In principle ( and technically ) yes you can. You can incorporate [current
date] into your formula. There is an issue with this though.

Lets say you publish your project 3 weeks before the finish date and the
traffic light indicates green. Since the custom field will only recalculate
when you open the project, it may be the case that if you have not opened
your project for 3 weeks that the traffic light still appears green even
though the finish date and current date are much closer and should indicate
amber or red. ( in a nutshell, formulas are not calculated real time, but
only when you recalculate you project). You need to be aware of this.

The problem only appears on project server by the way.
Hope this helps

 

[Ben Howard [MVP]]

Hi,

In MSP you can use either the fields [current date] or [status date]
depending on your use of MSP. Note that any fields will only be calculated
each time you open the project, close it, and publish it. The calculated
field will be "pushed" into the published DB, so it is available via PWA too.
--
Regards, Ben.

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