why percentages don't add up?

[mareveli]

I was double checking the percentages complete on my summary tasks and when I
do the math they don't seem to calculate correctly. Why is this? I am
manually entering the task's percentage complete by using the % complete
button on the tracking tool bar. I have the % complete column open before
the task and it shows the % that I enter. Is it calculating something else
and not just using my entry?

In some cases what ms project is showing is less than what it should be and
in come cases more. In one case the % complete is 95% and it is showing 34%.
We need to show an accurate % complete to our customer. Please help!

 

[John]

I was double checking the percentages complete on my summary tasks and when I
do the math they don't seem to calculate correctly. Why is this? I am
manually entering the task's percentage complete by using the % complete
button on the tracking tool bar. I have the % complete column open before
the task and it shows the % that I enter. Is it calculating something else
and not just using my entry?

In some cases what ms project is showing is less than what it should be and
in come cases more. In one case the % complete is 95% and it is showing 34%.
We need to show an accurate % complete to our customer. Please help!

mareveli,
First of all summary line values for % Complete DO show correctly and
are NOT supposed to be the sum of subtask percent complete values.

Here's why (and this topic has been discussed multiple times in this
newsgroup). The % Complete value for a summary line is a weighted
average based on the following formula:
Summary Line % Complete = (sum of subtask Actual Duration)/(sum of
subtask Duration)*100%

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[mareveli]

another question...the percentage of a task is showing up at 100% just
because the time has passed for the task to be complete. How can I stop this
from happening since the task is late and hasn't even begun yet? I wonder how
many other times this has happened in this schedule without my noticing.

thanks,
mareveli

 

[John]

another question...the percentage of a task is showing up at 100% just
because the time has passed for the task to be complete. How can I stop this
from happening since the task is late and hasn't even begun yet? I wonder how
many other times this has happened in this schedule without my noticing.

thanks,
mareveli

mareveli,
Well, the only way that tasks show progress is when, a) the user
manually enters a value in % Complete, % Work Complete or Actual Start
and Actual Finish, or b) the user uses Tools/Tracking/Update Project. I
suspect you (or someone) has been using the latter.

Project doesn't know whether a task is completed or even started, the
user has to provide that information. And if the auto update feature
(item b above) is used without understanding what it means, then shame
on the user.

It sounds like you need to go back and check each task for validity
(i.e. actually manage the project), and stop using the auto update
feature.

John
Project MVP