Work Duration versus Calendar Days

[Duncan]

I am getting twisted up on how to build a relatively simple plan. I think I
have reached the point where I am 2nd guessing myself too much as to what
impact changing task types, constraint types, etc. will have.

Task 1 is 2 hours of effort.
Task 2 is 4 hours of effort (dependency on Task 1).
Task 3 is 2 hours of effort (dependency on Task 2).

So I am estimating it taking 8 hours of effort to complete the above tasks.

The above tasks can occur any time between 9/15 and 9/26. They are sort of
a "do it in your spare time" type of tasks. I want to show that the work is
planned to occur during that two week window and I want to show how much of
an effot I feel it will take. That's on the plan the project side.

When I am recording the actual work on the plan, I would like to show what
date the work actually occured and how long it took, but that is not
absolutely critical.

I don't care about resources being overallocated, reports that show slipping
tasks, how effective plan vs actual was, etc. It is more of a "print out
the plan and show me where we are" type of project.

Thanks... I appreciate any help / suggestions.

 

[John]

I am getting twisted up on how to build a relatively simple plan. I think I
have reached the point where I am 2nd guessing myself too much as to what
impact changing task types, constraint types, etc. will have.

Task 1 is 2 hours of effort.
Task 2 is 4 hours of effort (dependency on Task 1).
Task 3 is 2 hours of effort (dependency on Task 2).

So I am estimating it taking 8 hours of effort to complete the above tasks.

The above tasks can occur any time between 9/15 and 9/26. They are sort of
a "do it in your spare time" type of tasks. I want to show that the work is
planned to occur during that two week window and I want to show how much of
an effot I feel it will take. That's on the plan the project side.

When I am recording the actual work on the plan, I would like to show what
date the work actually occured and how long it took, but that is not
absolutely critical.

I don't care about resources being overallocated, reports that show slipping
tasks, how effective plan vs actual was, etc. It is more of a "print out
the plan and show me where we are" type of project.

Thanks... I appreciate any help / suggestions.

Duncan,
Your scenario is pretty common. You have a span of time during which a
set of tasks must be accomplished but the work on them won't necessarily
be done full time.

Set each task up as fixed duration. Select the tasks, then go to
Project/Task Information/Advanced tab. Set the task type to fixed
duration and clear the effort driven option. Set the Duration field to
be the length of time in working days (e.g. 10 days) or calendar days
(e.g. 12ed) during which the tasks must be performed. Enter the effort
in the Work field and assign resources. Project will automatically
spread the work linearly over the duration span. Use the Resource Usage
view to enter Actual Work on a daily basis.

That should give you what you want.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Duncan]

Thanks John...

Should have been able to come up with that on my own, but I think I was over
thinking it.

Thanks again....

 

[John]

Thanks John...

Should have been able to come up with that on my own, but I think I was over
thinking it.

Thanks again....

Duncan,
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. Sometimes it's difficult to
see the forrest for the trees

John
Project MVP