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Summary not whole number
Resolved · Low Priority · Version 2007
Reply Tue 3 Jun 2008, 14:28Delegate anthony said...
anthony has attended:
Project Introduction course
Summary not whole number
I have set up a series of taks and summaries.
I am now going through updating my progress using the 'Actual Duration' column.
I am inputting whole days into this column (i.e. task=project setup; actual duration=3d) but the some summaries are registering this in part days (i.e. 1.47 days).
Why is this? I am not using resourcing and all the tasks are non-effort-driven.
Thanks
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RE: Summary not whole number
Hi Anthony
Thank you for your question
This is very hard to answer without actually having sight of you plan. There are a number of possible causes, and we have to consider several variables
Can I suggest that you email me a copy of the plan. this would allow me to quickly see the nature of the problem and come up with a solution.
My email is stephenATmicrosofttraining.net.
Regards
Stephen
RE: Summary not whole number
Hi Anthony
Thank you for your question, and subsequent supply of example file.
The issue here is how project calculates the actual duration of a group of tasks, when the group contains a series of complex relationships.
If the group contains a series of tasks linked concurrently start to start, then the calculation will be fairly straightforward and is usually just the sum of the individual tasks.
However, as is the case here, when you have tasks with other types of dependency; i.e start to start, the calculation is much more complex; and project has to calculate a form of average for the group total. This is the case as some tasks will run concurrently, some sequentially and some will overlap
In your case, while project is calculating the total "correctly" it is a pretty meaningless figure, and my advice would be to ignore it. If you need to see actual durations, then just focus on the actual durations of individual tasks. You could even create a view of your Gantt chart that filters out the outline tasks. If you wish to have some idea as to the progress on your outline tasks, then I would suggest "% Complete" is a better indicator.
Hope this is useful
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to get in touch
Regards
Stephen
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