Working with Tasks in MS Project

[MackT]

Hi All,

I am a newbe to MS Project so maybe this is a simple question to some
of you.

I have been struggling with something in Project that I'm hoping some
of you've ran across already. I need to setup tasks that show the
actual work time of the task but spread out over a few weeks. For
example, I need to setup a task where I give someone two weeks to do it
but it will only take them three hours. I don't care when they work
their three hours in those two weeks but I want to show that they had it
assigned on May 1 and it needs to be complete by May 14th and it took
three hours of effort. Is this possible?

Thanks
MackT

 

[John]

Hi All,

I am a newbe to MS Project so maybe this is a simple question to some
of you.

I have been struggling with something in Project that I'm hoping some
of you've ran across already. I need to setup tasks that show the
actual work time of the task but spread out over a few weeks. For
example, I need to setup a task where I give someone two weeks to do it
but it will only take them three hours. I don't care when they work
their three hours in those two weeks but I want to show that they had it
assigned on May 1 and it needs to be complete by May 14th and it took
three hours of effort. Is this possible?

Thanks
MackT

MackT,
Yes. What you want to do is to set up the tasks as fixed duration. That
will give you exactly what you want.

I don't have Project open at the moment but if memory serves me, the
task type is set under Project/Task Information/Advanced tab. As I
recall you can also set up the default for new tasks to be fixed
duration under Tools/Options/Schedule tab.

You can read more about task type in the help file. You might also want
to take a look at fellow MVP, Mike Glen's tutorial series on Project. Go
to, http://project.mvps.org/links.htm, Gut the button for Mike's
Tutorials.

John
Project MVP

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Yes.
Enter the duration.
In Task Information, Advanced tab, select fixed duration as the task type
Now assign the resource
Insert a column "Work"
Set work as desired.
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[Dennin Smith]

I might use one of two options:
1. Add a task and when you assign the resource change the units when you
assign them. Eg. A task is 1 week in duration but you only need the person to
do 5 hours of actual work. Assign the person so that their units is 12,5%
(equal to 1 hour in an 8 hour day). This will make the duration 5 days but
the man hours (work) 5 hours. With this method you will need to calculate the
units accurately.
2. Add a task and set it to fixed duration on the advanced tab of the task
information dialog box. Open the split screen Window - Split. Right click on
the grey area at the bottom and change the bottom portion of the screen to
Resource Work. Select the resource from the list and specify the work hours
for the resource in the Work column. This will allow you to control the work
on the task.