Real task duration
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From: "Steve House" sjhouse at hotmail dot on 7 May 2010 19:00 FYI - Project calculates EVERYTHING in units of minutes to the nearest 10th. All other units are just there for user convenience and are always converted into minutes internally for calculation. Actual duration is that amount of time that has passed during which work has or could have taken place according to the calendar since the task began. Duration (ie, total duration) = Actual Duration + Remaining Duration. Work is the amount of actual activity that has taken place. A painter starts Mon at 8am and spends an hour applying a primer coat which has to dry overnight. He comes back Tues and does a second primer coat, also taking an hour. Then Wed he spends an hour on a first colour coat, letting it dry overnight. Thur he spends an hour doing the second colour coat.. Then Fri he comes in for all day doing all the fine detail and cleanup. Before work begins the plan states that Duration is 40 hours and Work is 12 man-hours. Thursday evening at 5pm we update progress and everything has happened exactly as planned. Actual Duration to the status point is 32 hours, Remaining Duration is 8 hours. Actual Work to the status point is 4 man-hours, Remaining Work is 8 hours. % Complete is 32/40 or 80%. % Work Complete is 4/12 or 33%. -- Steve House MS Project Trainer & Consultant "Danny_dH" <DannydH(a)discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:FC09919E-0C2F-42F0-A36D-6A2C31188D56(a)microsoft.com... > Hey Julie, > > well.. it is as you say: my idea of worked days/hours is different then > what > project does with it.. > > My idea was that, when choosing the column 'actual duration', project > should > calculate everything in days. > > I now changed the "Work is entered in" to days.. and now calculation is > fine in days.. but I cannot enter hours anymore.. > > maybe I want to much of it ;) > Is there a way to have both? > > Thanks for helping me out Julie :) > > > > "JulieS" wrote: > >> Thanks for the clarification, Danny. That helps. >> >> The summary (Main in your example) calculation is correct. If >> one of the subproject's total duration is 3 days, then the >> summary duration is 3 days. I don't understand how you expect it >> to show 2 workdays if it starts on Monday and ends at the end of >> the day on Wednesday. Is that not 3 days? >> >> I think the issue is in your interpretation of duration. It is >> *not* "man hours". If you'd like to see man hours, the correct >> field is Work. You may display work in days if that helps. See >> Tools > Options, Schedule tab -- "Work is entered in" setting. >> >> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along. >> >> Julie >> Project MVP >> >> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional >> information about Microsoft Project >> >> On 5/7/2010 3:52 AM, Danny_dH wrote: >> > Hello Julie, >> > >> > sorry bout the bad choice of date: I acutally ment 3 following days: >> > >> > better example: >> > Mon 4 jan> Wed 6 Jan >> > I am using the standard calendar, meaning, Mon-Fri, 8.00> 12.00, >> > 13.00> >> > 17.00 >> > The rest of my situation stays the same.. so I hope this is more >> > clear.. >> > >> > sorry bout the misunderstanding. >> > Danny >> > >> > "Danny_dH" wrote: >> > >> >> Hello, >> >> >> >> I'm a total Project Noob. I'm using Project 2007 and I want to do a >> >> 'simple'? task. >> >> >> >> I have a main project (MAIN). Then I have a sub project (indent >> >> 1)(SUB). >> >> This sub has 2 subprojects (indent 2) (SUB1 - SUB2). >> >> So it looks like this: >> >> MAIN start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 >> >> dur: 3 days >> >> SUB start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 >> >> dur: 3 days >> >> SUB1 start: 01/01 - end: 01/01 >> >> dur: 1day >> >> SUB2 start: 03/01 - end: 03/01 >> >> dur: 1day >> >> >> >> Now, that Projects says that the duration is 3 days.. ok.. I can live >> >> with >> >> that, but then I add a column named actual duration.. and that one >> >> does the >> >> same. >> >> When I now add a column 'Actual Work', it tells me SUB1: 8h, SUB2: 8h, >> >> SUB: >> >> 16h, MAIN: 16h.... so this column does a correct calculation. >> >> >> >> Now how can I add a column, which gives me the correct REAL sum of >> >> workdays, >> >> so one that says 2 days... I just want to have this overview to >> >> calculate my >> >> total number of spent workdays. >> >> >> >> Sorry if this is a stupidly simple question, but.. I don't seem to be >> >> able >> >> to find it. >> >> >> >> Any help should be appreciated. >> . >>
From: JulieS on 7 May 2010 20:23 You're welcome, Danny. You can enter work or duration in whatever time unit you want, ranging from minutes to months. Just include the unit measurement as you key enter data. Use: m for minutes h for hours d for days w for weeks mo for months Julie Project MVP Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information about Microsoft Project On 5/7/2010 4:15 PM, Danny_dH wrote: > Hey Julie, > > well.. it is as you say: my idea of worked days/hours is different then what > project does with it.. > > My idea was that, when choosing the column 'actual duration', project should > calculate everything in days. > > I now changed the "Work is entered in" to days.. and now calculation is > fine in days.. but I cannot enter hours anymore.. > > maybe I want to much of it ;) > Is there a way to have both? > > Thanks for helping me out Julie :) > > > > "JulieS" wrote: > >> Thanks for the clarification, Danny. That helps. >> >> The summary (Main in your example) calculation is correct. If >> one of the subproject's total duration is 3 days, then the >> summary duration is 3 days. I don't understand how you expect it >> to show 2 workdays if it starts on Monday and ends at the end of >> the day on Wednesday. Is that not 3 days? >> >> I think the issue is in your interpretation of duration. It is >> *not* "man hours". If you'd like to see man hours, the correct >> field is Work. You may display work in days if that helps. See >> Tools> Options, Schedule tab -- "Work is entered in" setting. >> >> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along. >> >> Julie >> Project MVP >> >> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional >> information about Microsoft Project >> >> On 5/7/2010 3:52 AM, Danny_dH wrote: >>> Hello Julie, >>> >>> sorry bout the bad choice of date: I acutally ment 3 following days: >>> >>> better example: >>> Mon 4 jan> Wed 6 Jan >>> I am using the standard calendar, meaning, Mon-Fri, 8.00> 12.00, 13.00> >>> 17.00 >>> The rest of my situation stays the same.. so I hope this is more clear.. >>> >>> sorry bout the misunderstanding. >>> Danny >>> >>> "Danny_dH" wrote: >>> >>>> Hello, >>>> >>>> I'm a total Project Noob. I'm using Project 2007 and I want to do a >>>> 'simple'? task. >>>> >>>> I have a main project (MAIN). Then I have a sub project (indent 1)(SUB). >>>> This sub has 2 subprojects (indent 2) (SUB1 - SUB2). >>>> So it looks like this: >>>> MAIN start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 >>>> dur: 3 days >>>> SUB start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 >>>> dur: 3 days >>>> SUB1 start: 01/01 - end: 01/01 >>>> dur: 1day >>>> SUB2 start: 03/01 - end: 03/01 >>>> dur: 1day >>>> >>>> Now, that Projects says that the duration is 3 days.. ok.. I can live with >>>> that, but then I add a column named actual duration.. and that one does the >>>> same. >>>> When I now add a column 'Actual Work', it tells me SUB1: 8h, SUB2: 8h, SUB: >>>> 16h, MAIN: 16h.... so this column does a correct calculation. >>>> >>>> Now how can I add a column, which gives me the correct REAL sum of workdays, >>>> so one that says 2 days... I just want to have this overview to calculate my >>>> total number of spent workdays. >>>> >>>> Sorry if this is a stupidly simple question, but.. I don't seem to be able >>>> to find it. >>>> >>>> Any help should be appreciated. >> . >>
From: Danny_dH on 12 May 2010 09:26 Hey both, just a general reply then: since the actual calculation I want is not something project does by default: is it possible to have both actual work in hours and days? I know have set the following Day1: 8hours Day2: - nothing Day3: 8hours And the column Actual Work gives me 16 hours, which is fine, but I now want an additional column that converts this hours > days.. possible? thanks a lot. bR Danny "JulieS" wrote: > You're welcome, Danny. You can enter work or duration in > whatever time unit you want, ranging from minutes to months. > Just include the unit measurement as you key enter data. > > Use: > m for minutes > h for hours > d for days > w for weeks > mo for months > > Julie > Project MVP > > Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional > information about Microsoft Project > > On 5/7/2010 4:15 PM, Danny_dH wrote: > > Hey Julie, > > > > well.. it is as you say: my idea of worked days/hours is different then what > > project does with it.. > > > > My idea was that, when choosing the column 'actual duration', project should > > calculate everything in days. > > > > I now changed the "Work is entered in" to days.. and now calculation is > > fine in days.. but I cannot enter hours anymore.. > > > > maybe I want to much of it ;) > > Is there a way to have both? > > > > Thanks for helping me out Julie :) > > > > > > > > "JulieS" wrote: > > > >> Thanks for the clarification, Danny. That helps. > >> > >> The summary (Main in your example) calculation is correct. If > >> one of the subproject's total duration is 3 days, then the > >> summary duration is 3 days. I don't understand how you expect it > >> to show 2 workdays if it starts on Monday and ends at the end of > >> the day on Wednesday. Is that not 3 days? > >> > >> I think the issue is in your interpretation of duration. It is > >> *not* "man hours". If you'd like to see man hours, the correct > >> field is Work. You may display work in days if that helps. See > >> Tools> Options, Schedule tab -- "Work is entered in" setting. > >> > >> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along. > >> > >> Julie > >> Project MVP > >> > >> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional > >> information about Microsoft Project > >> > >> On 5/7/2010 3:52 AM, Danny_dH wrote: > >>> Hello Julie, > >>> > >>> sorry bout the bad choice of date: I acutally ment 3 following days: > >>> > >>> better example: > >>> Mon 4 jan> Wed 6 Jan > >>> I am using the standard calendar, meaning, Mon-Fri, 8.00> 12.00, 13.00> > >>> 17.00 > >>> The rest of my situation stays the same.. so I hope this is more clear.. > >>> > >>> sorry bout the misunderstanding. > >>> Danny > >>> > >>> "Danny_dH" wrote: > >>> > >>>> Hello, > >>>> > >>>> I'm a total Project Noob. I'm using Project 2007 and I want to do a > >>>> 'simple'? task. > >>>> > >>>> I have a main project (MAIN). Then I have a sub project (indent 1)(SUB). > >>>> This sub has 2 subprojects (indent 2) (SUB1 - SUB2). > >>>> So it looks like this: > >>>> MAIN start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 > >>>> dur: 3 days > >>>> SUB start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 > >>>> dur: 3 days > >>>> SUB1 start: 01/01 - end: 01/01 > >>>> dur: 1day > >>>> SUB2 start: 03/01 - end: 03/01 > >>>> dur: 1day > >>>> > >>>> Now, that Projects says that the duration is 3 days.. ok.. I can live with > >>>> that, but then I add a column named actual duration.. and that one does the > >>>> same. > >>>> When I now add a column 'Actual Work', it tells me SUB1: 8h, SUB2: 8h, SUB: > >>>> 16h, MAIN: 16h.... so this column does a correct calculation. > >>>> > >>>> Now how can I add a column, which gives me the correct REAL sum of workdays, > >>>> so one that says 2 days... I just want to have this overview to calculate my > >>>> total number of spent workdays. > >>>> > >>>> Sorry if this is a stupidly simple question, but.. I don't seem to be able > >>>> to find it. > >>>> > >>>> Any help should be appreciated. > >> . > >> > . >
From: Rob Schneider on 12 May 2010 09:40 [Actual Work] will be stored in Project in Minutes. You could make a new Number custom field called [Actual Work Hours] and make it equal to the formula [Actual Work]/60 where the 60 converts minutes into hours. this work for your needs? --rms www.rmschneider.com On 12/05/10 14:26, Danny_dH wrote: > Hey both, > > just a general reply then: since the actual calculation I want is not > something project does by default: > > is it possible to have both actual work in hours and days? > > I know have set the following > > Day1: 8hours > Day2: - nothing > Day3: 8hours > > And the column Actual Work gives me 16 hours, which is fine, but I now want > an additional column that converts this hours> days.. > > possible? > > thanks a lot. > bR > Danny > > "JulieS" wrote: > >> You're welcome, Danny. You can enter work or duration in >> whatever time unit you want, ranging from minutes to months. >> Just include the unit measurement as you key enter data. >> >> Use: >> m for minutes >> h for hours >> d for days >> w for weeks >> mo for months >> >> Julie >> Project MVP >> >> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional >> information about Microsoft Project >> >> On 5/7/2010 4:15 PM, Danny_dH wrote: >>> Hey Julie, >>> >>> well.. it is as you say: my idea of worked days/hours is different then what >>> project does with it.. >>> >>> My idea was that, when choosing the column 'actual duration', project should >>> calculate everything in days. >>> >>> I now changed the "Work is entered in" to days.. and now calculation is >>> fine in days.. but I cannot enter hours anymore.. >>> >>> maybe I want to much of it ;) >>> Is there a way to have both? >>> >>> Thanks for helping me out Julie :) >>> >>> >>> >>> "JulieS" wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks for the clarification, Danny. That helps. >>>> >>>> The summary (Main in your example) calculation is correct. If >>>> one of the subproject's total duration is 3 days, then the >>>> summary duration is 3 days. I don't understand how you expect it >>>> to show 2 workdays if it starts on Monday and ends at the end of >>>> the day on Wednesday. Is that not 3 days? >>>> >>>> I think the issue is in your interpretation of duration. It is >>>> *not* "man hours". If you'd like to see man hours, the correct >>>> field is Work. You may display work in days if that helps. See >>>> Tools> Options, Schedule tab -- "Work is entered in" setting. >>>> >>>> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along. >>>> >>>> Julie >>>> Project MVP >>>> >>>> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional >>>> information about Microsoft Project >>>> >>>> On 5/7/2010 3:52 AM, Danny_dH wrote: >>>>> Hello Julie, >>>>> >>>>> sorry bout the bad choice of date: I acutally ment 3 following days: >>>>> >>>>> better example: >>>>> Mon 4 jan> Wed 6 Jan >>>>> I am using the standard calendar, meaning, Mon-Fri, 8.00> 12.00, 13.00> >>>>> 17.00 >>>>> The rest of my situation stays the same.. so I hope this is more clear.. >>>>> >>>>> sorry bout the misunderstanding. >>>>> Danny >>>>> >>>>> "Danny_dH" wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hello, >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm a total Project Noob. I'm using Project 2007 and I want to do a >>>>>> 'simple'? task. >>>>>> >>>>>> I have a main project (MAIN). Then I have a sub project (indent 1)(SUB). >>>>>> This sub has 2 subprojects (indent 2) (SUB1 - SUB2). >>>>>> So it looks like this: >>>>>> MAIN start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 >>>>>> dur: 3 days >>>>>> SUB start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 >>>>>> dur: 3 days >>>>>> SUB1 start: 01/01 - end: 01/01 >>>>>> dur: 1day >>>>>> SUB2 start: 03/01 - end: 03/01 >>>>>> dur: 1day >>>>>> >>>>>> Now, that Projects says that the duration is 3 days.. ok.. I can live with >>>>>> that, but then I add a column named actual duration.. and that one does the >>>>>> same. >>>>>> When I now add a column 'Actual Work', it tells me SUB1: 8h, SUB2: 8h, SUB: >>>>>> 16h, MAIN: 16h.... so this column does a correct calculation. >>>>>> >>>>>> Now how can I add a column, which gives me the correct REAL sum of workdays, >>>>>> so one that says 2 days... I just want to have this overview to calculate my >>>>>> total number of spent workdays. >>>>>> >>>>>> Sorry if this is a stupidly simple question, but.. I don't seem to be able >>>>>> to find it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Any help should be appreciated. >>>> . >>>> >> . >>
From: Danny_dH on 13 May 2010 10:46
Hey Rob, this more or less does what it needs to.. I know have the column Actual Work, which states x hours/task and x hours/total job, I added a custom column (days worked), which weirdly enough contains just [Actual Work] and displays the real amount of days worked (so 8hours in the column Actual work displays 1 day in the days worked column. Which is fine and as it should be.. But then it show the sum (in this case, all the tasks add up to 51 hours in the Actual work column) but it doesn't show the sum for the days worked column.. it just states 0 days. Sorry if I'm being obsessive about this, but I want to get it straightforward and easy to use :) "Rob Schneider" wrote: > [Actual Work] will be stored in Project in Minutes. You could make a > new Number custom field called [Actual Work Hours] and make it equal to > the formula [Actual Work]/60 where the 60 converts minutes into hours. > this work for your needs? > > --rms > > www.rmschneider.com > > > > > On 12/05/10 14:26, Danny_dH wrote: > > Hey both, > > > > just a general reply then: since the actual calculation I want is not > > something project does by default: > > > > is it possible to have both actual work in hours and days? > > > > I know have set the following > > > > Day1: 8hours > > Day2: - nothing > > Day3: 8hours > > > > And the column Actual Work gives me 16 hours, which is fine, but I now want > > an additional column that converts this hours> days.. > > > > possible? > > > > thanks a lot. > > bR > > Danny > > > > "JulieS" wrote: > > > >> You're welcome, Danny. You can enter work or duration in > >> whatever time unit you want, ranging from minutes to months. > >> Just include the unit measurement as you key enter data. > >> > >> Use: > >> m for minutes > >> h for hours > >> d for days > >> w for weeks > >> mo for months > >> > >> Julie > >> Project MVP > >> > >> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional > >> information about Microsoft Project > >> > >> On 5/7/2010 4:15 PM, Danny_dH wrote: > >>> Hey Julie, > >>> > >>> well.. it is as you say: my idea of worked days/hours is different then what > >>> project does with it.. > >>> > >>> My idea was that, when choosing the column 'actual duration', project should > >>> calculate everything in days. > >>> > >>> I now changed the "Work is entered in" to days.. and now calculation is > >>> fine in days.. but I cannot enter hours anymore.. > >>> > >>> maybe I want to much of it ;) > >>> Is there a way to have both? > >>> > >>> Thanks for helping me out Julie :) > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> "JulieS" wrote: > >>> > >>>> Thanks for the clarification, Danny. That helps. > >>>> > >>>> The summary (Main in your example) calculation is correct. If > >>>> one of the subproject's total duration is 3 days, then the > >>>> summary duration is 3 days. I don't understand how you expect it > >>>> to show 2 workdays if it starts on Monday and ends at the end of > >>>> the day on Wednesday. Is that not 3 days? > >>>> > >>>> I think the issue is in your interpretation of duration. It is > >>>> *not* "man hours". If you'd like to see man hours, the correct > >>>> field is Work. You may display work in days if that helps. See > >>>> Tools> Options, Schedule tab -- "Work is entered in" setting. > >>>> > >>>> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along. > >>>> > >>>> Julie > >>>> Project MVP > >>>> > >>>> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional > >>>> information about Microsoft Project > >>>> > >>>> On 5/7/2010 3:52 AM, Danny_dH wrote: > >>>>> Hello Julie, > >>>>> > >>>>> sorry bout the bad choice of date: I acutally ment 3 following days: > >>>>> > >>>>> better example: > >>>>> Mon 4 jan> Wed 6 Jan > >>>>> I am using the standard calendar, meaning, Mon-Fri, 8.00> 12.00, 13.00> > >>>>> 17.00 > >>>>> The rest of my situation stays the same.. so I hope this is more clear.. > >>>>> > >>>>> sorry bout the misunderstanding. > >>>>> Danny > >>>>> > >>>>> "Danny_dH" wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> Hello, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I'm a total Project Noob. I'm using Project 2007 and I want to do a > >>>>>> 'simple'? task. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I have a main project (MAIN). Then I have a sub project (indent 1)(SUB). > >>>>>> This sub has 2 subprojects (indent 2) (SUB1 - SUB2). > >>>>>> So it looks like this: > >>>>>> MAIN start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 > >>>>>> dur: 3 days > >>>>>> SUB start: 01/01 - end: 03/01 > >>>>>> dur: 3 days > >>>>>> SUB1 start: 01/01 - end: 01/01 > >>>>>> dur: 1day > >>>>>> SUB2 start: 03/01 - end: 03/01 > >>>>>> dur: 1day > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Now, that Projects says that the duration is 3 days.. ok.. I can live with > >>>>>> that, but then I add a column named actual duration.. and that one does the > >>>>>> same. > >>>>>> When I now add a column 'Actual Work', it tells me SUB1: 8h, SUB2: 8h, SUB: > >>>>>> 16h, MAIN: 16h.... so this column does a correct calculation. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Now how can I add a column, which gives me the correct REAL sum of workdays, > >>>>>> so one that says 2 days... I just want to have this overview to calculate my > >>>>>> total number of spent workdays. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Sorry if this is a stupidly simple question, but.. I don't seem to be able > >>>>>> to find it. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Any help should be appreciated. > >>>> . > >>>> > >> . > >> > . > |