Re: How do I split a microsoft project task that takes x hours ov

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Because the equation W=D*U must ALWAYS stay in balance, if the task type is Fixed Units and you change the units anyway, Project has to decide whether it's the Work or Duration that must also be adjusted. Since it's more common for the work to be constant in the real world (it takes the same amount of work to paint 100 square feet of wall regardless of how fast or slowly the painters work on it) the default behaviour in the scenario you pose is to treat the task as if it were Fixed Work and change the duration. This doesn't have anything to do with effort driven or not - the settings of effort driven versus non-effort driven only come into play when you add bodies to or take them away from the task - when editing the resources that are there without changing the actual number of resources assigned the effort driven setting are ignored.

Idiot proof templates in project management are an impossible dream. The function of Project is to help decision makers predict the outcomes of their decisions. It is not a clerical tool and cannot be used passively - and passive use where you just plug in the numbers for the template to massage while the template designer has done all the brain-work is what templates are all about. Because it is such a powerful tool, the only way to idiot proof it is to make sure that idiots aren't expected or allowed to use it. And that means the people who will be using it need to be properly trained, not only in how to "work the software" but also how it fits in the overall managment strategies of your organization. I'm a very strong believer that skills in Project cannot be learned by rote memory of procedures in "how to use the tool." Giving someone MS Project who does not have some understanding of PM principles, some of the WHY Project works the way it does, and how project managment methodology should be applied to meeting the objectives of the firm is tantamount to giving a child a loaded gun to play with.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs



"AndyB" <AndyB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:6BD3E20D-4637-4CBC-8186-574BE0657400@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This has now thrown up another interesting development.

With the Task Type set to Fixed Units if I adjust the %effort on the
assigned resource it increases the duration to reflect this new percentage
automatically. This doesn't happen if Task Type is set to Fixed Duration but
of course this has the other problem that we discussed with splitting the
task. Do you think there is a setting to avoid this. Effort Driven is
unchecked btw.

This isn't as serious as the last issue as you can simply adjust the
duration back to what it was originally but it would be nice to set it up
properly so giving less to worry about in adapting processes to circumvent
it. Bearing in mind I need the templates to be fairly idiot proof.

Thanks,

Andy.

"Steve House [Project MVP]" wrote:

Well I'll be .... you're right. Hadn't discovered that behavior before and
frankly I don't quite know what to make of it.


--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs


"AndyB" <AndyB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8FF323F7-3183-498E-A5DB-A4004ECE8D5F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Well step by step, try the following:
>
> Insert a task...
> Right click to enter 'task info'...
> on 'Advanced' tab set 'Task Type' to 'Fixed Duration'...
> Now introduce a split by right clicking the task bar in the Gantt, but
> keep
> an eye on the duration. You will notice the duration increases to > include
> the split/non-work duration also.
>
> Now repeat but set 'Task Type' to 'Fixed Units' et voila, the split is
> introduced but the duration remains the same. Presumably as it now
> includes
> work effort as the measurable, as it should be (or at least how I > wanted
> it).
>
> It's a strange one for sure, I never encountered it before.
> I hope this helps.
>
> Andy.
>
> "Steve House [Project MVP]" wrote:
>
>> That's funny, it doesn't do it on mine. I take a two week task and >> split
>> it, introducing 1 week of down time in the middle. Now the total >> elapsed
>> time on the task is three weeks but the duration column still reads "2
>> wks"
>> because the downtime in the middle doesn't count for duration. I mark >> it
>> 50% complete and the dark line runs through the first half. I mark it
>> 60%
>> complete and the dark line runs just into the second half a skoshe and
>> shows
>> actual duration 6 days, remaining duration 4 days. Take us step by >> step
>> exactly how you can recreate the problem if you can - I'm really
>> curiuous.
>> -- >> Steve House [Project MVP]
>> MS Project Trainer & Consultant
>> Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
>>
>>
>> "AndyB" <AndyB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:D49B3087-30F0-440C-BA54-90ABAC52C780@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > Hi Steve and John,
>> >
>> > It is defintely the duration that I'm refering to against tasks (not
>> > summaries). If I introduce a split into any individual task the
>> > duration
>> > increases to encapsulate the over time including the split portion >> > of
>> > the
>> > task. Furthermore, if I the increase the percentage complete it
>> > calculates
>> > based on the overall duration including the split. Given that this
>> > duration
>> > is incorrect, 50% for example is somewhere in the middle of the >> > split
>> > and
>> > not
>> > clearly reference in the gantts prgress.
>> >
>> > I agree that it is not a template issue as I wrote them. It would
>> > appear
>> > to
>> > be a setting for project itself but I can't find it. I am new to >> > MSP
>> > 2003
>> > but not to MSP itself which I have been using since 95 and most
>> > recently
>> > MSP2000.
>> >
>> > Thanks for your responses,
>> >
>> > Andy.
>> >
>> > "Steve House [Project MVP]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Are you sure you're notconfusing duration with elapsed time? A >> >> split
>> >> will
>> >> increse the elapsed time between start and finish but not the
>> >> duration.
>> >> ([Duration] = [Elapsed Time] - [Non-working Time])
>> >>
>> >> -- >> >> Steve House [Project MVP]
>> >> MS Project Trainer & Consultant
>> >> Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "AndyB" <AndyB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >> news:1AA9891C-BF3E-4A83-B277-6CFF91B5E1E4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> > Steve,
>> >> >
>> >> > Hi btw, I have the reverse problem with project 2003 by which I
>> >> > mean
>> >> > that
>> >> > the split task increases the duration thus making the % complete >> >> > of
>> >> > say
>> >> > 50%
>> >> > somewhere in the split portion of the task bar. I am using a
>> >> > template
>> >> > some
>> >> > maybe it's a setting that I need to change. Can you tell me how >> >> > to
>> >> > change
>> >> > this so that the duration does not increase when introducing a
>> >> > split.
>> >> >
>> >> > Kind regards,
>> >> >
>> >> > AndyB
>> >> >
>> >> > "Steve House [Project MVP]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> A task with 6 six hours of work spread out into 3 2-hour >> >> >> segments
>> >> >> of
>> >> >> full-time work over 2 months is not a 2 month duration task. It >> >> >> is
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> 6
>> >> >> hour
>> >> >> duration task. The time between segments is "off the books" >> >> >> just
>> >> >> as
>> >> >> if
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> task took a vacation and as far as duration is concerned it's >> >> >> like
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> weekend, it doesn't exist.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Try it. Create a 2 week task. Using the "split task" tool on >> >> >> the
>> >> >> toolbar,
>> >> >> click in the middle of the task and drag the second week out for
>> >> >> two
>> >> >> weeks
>> >> >> into the future. You should see a bar for the first week, a >> >> >> dotted
>> >> >> line
>> >> >> for
>> >> >> two weeks, and a bar for the last week. Now look at the >> >> >> duration
>> >> >> field.
>> >> >> It'll still say "2 weeks," not 4.
>> >> >> -- >> >> >> Steve House [MVP]
>> >> >> MS Project Trainer & Consultant
>> >> >> Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "MrDRBC" <MrDRBC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:6314CD02-7994-4142-8900-380B3CA46C93@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >> >I posted a question about splitting a task in MS Project >> >> >> >yesterday
>> >> >> >on
>> >> >> >an
>> >> >> >MS
>> >> >> > discussion page that came up from Help in MS Project.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I then noticed this posting.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I tried the instructions given by Mike Glen to split the task >> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > also
>> >> >> > went
>> >> >> > the web site TechTrax and followed the instructions there
>> >> >> > including
>> >> >> > when
>> >> >> > it
>> >> >> > did not work.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > When I go to adjust the ending date to 2 months for the 6 hour
>> >> >> > task
>> >> >> > it
>> >> >> > moves
>> >> >> > my start date to the last day of the 2 months.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I cannot split this task successfully. It is a 6 hour task >> >> >> > that I
>> >> >> > wanted
>> >> >> > to
>> >> >> > split into 3 separate 2 hour segments.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I am the only resource for this project so I do not have any
>> >> >> > resources
>> >> >> > assigned.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I posted ÃfffÃf,Ã,¢?oSplit TaskÃfffÃf,Ã,¢?Ãff,Ãf,Ã,Â? by >> >> >> > MrDRBC.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Any ideas?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Bill Perschke
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "Mike Glen" wrote:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> Sorry, Levi, that referred to the TechTrax article - at the >> >> >> >> end.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Mike Glen
>> >> >> >> Project MVP
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Levi Page wrote:
>> >> >> >> > Thanks so much. I will give that a try. How do I rate you?
>> >> >> >> > This
>> >> >> >> > is
>> >> >> >> > the first I have used the Microsoft Online Discussion >> >> >> >> > Groups
>> >> >> >> > and
>> >> >> >> > I
>> >> >> >> > don't see anywhere to specify a rating?
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > Thanks,
>> >> >> >> > Levi
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > "Mike Glen" wrote:
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >> Hi Levi,
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :)
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> From the Gantt Chart view, Window/Split, and in the lower
>> >> >> >> >> screen
>> >> >> >> >> change Fixed Duration to Fixed Work and then OK. Now >> >> >> >> >> change
>> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> Work to 6h and OK now re-set the Duration to 2 months. >> >> >> >> >> The
>> >> >> >> >> Units
>> >> >> >> >> should change to 2%. These techniques are explained for
>> >> >> >> >> multiple
>> >> >> >> >> resources (but obviously apply to a single resource) in my
>> >> >> >> >> series
>> >> >> >> >> on
>> >> >> >> >> Microsoft Project in the TechTrax ezine, particularly >> >> >> >> >> #10 -
>> >> >> >> >> Multiple
>> >> >> >> >> Resource Assignments, at this site: >> >> >> >> >> http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc
>> >> >> >> >> (Perhaps you'd care to rate it before leaving the site, :)
>> >> >> >> >> Thanks.)
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> FAQs, companion products and other useful Project >> >> >> >> >> information
>> >> >> >> >> can
>> >> >> >> >> be
>> >> >> >> >> seen at this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Mike Glen
>> >> >> >> >> MS Project MVP
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Levi Page wrote:
>> >> >> >> >>> I have tasks such as Project Planning that will 6 hours, >> >> >> >> >>> but
>> >> >> >> >>> the
>> >> >> >> >>> six
>> >> >> >> >>> hours will occur over a two month period. I want my >> >> >> >> >>> duration
>> >> >> >> >>> to
>> >> >> >> >>> reflect how long it will take me to do all tasks, but >> >> >> >> >>> since
>> >> >> >> >>> I
>> >> >> >> >>> am
>> >> >> >> >>> specifying two months as a duration, it thinks i am >> >> >> >> >>> actually
>> >> >> >> >>> performing two months worth of work instead of six hours
>> >> >> >> >>> worth.
>> >> >> >> >>> How
>> >> >> >> >>> do I specify that a task will take x amount of hours over >> >> >> >> >>> a
>> >> >> >> >>> certain
>> >> >> >> >>> period of time? Currently I have to add an addiational >> >> >> >> >>> field
>> >> >> >> >>> called
>> >> >> >> >>> Task Hours, but this will not automatically adjust my >> >> >> >> >>> start
>> >> >> >> >>> and
>> >> >> >> >>> finish dates which is what I want. My email address is
>> >> >> >> >>> LeviPage@xxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>



.

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