Fixed duration tasks and time budget

I am fighting with MS Project 2013 and cant figure out how to do this task:
I am creating a schedule for a project. It is to be used as an estimate for planning purposes.   
What I want to do is list a number of Fixed Duration tasks and assign the task a budget in hours (For example the task may span 2 weeks duration but the amount of budgeted work days may only be 4 days the work can be done anytime during the 2 week period). 
I am guessing I can choose one of the 'built in' columns to capture the work budget for the task, but which one????
Then I want to  assign some people with a percentage of their time/week to each task.  (I know how to do this...)
Finally I want to add a column that will display, for each task, if the people I have assigned (with their respective % work) will  be less than, equal to, or greater than the budgeted hours for that task.  I don't know how to do this...any pointers???
Any help is really appreciated.
thanks
J

J --
On a Fixed Duration task, when you change the Duration, Microsoft Project ALWAYS recalculates the Work.  This is the default behavior of the software, and you cannot change this behavior. 
Oh, I thought it could be changed.....oh well....
My intention with the Work Difference column is: Given I have a task that is planned to span a number of weeks and the actual amount of work hrs is specified and less than the number of days in the task duration, I want to be able to show in the work difference
column the difference between the estimated work days for the task compared to the number and allocated percentage of time of resources assigned to that task.
For example: task duration is 2 weeks.  actual work is 4 days.  Two ppl are assigned to the task, each at 20% of their time.  So, 2 ppl *(40 hrs*0.2) = 16 hrs of work, would be less than the actual work of 4days*8hr/day = 32 hrs.  
In the duration column I'd see 4 days and looking at the work difference column I'd see 2.0 days, and I would know that I need to increases resources or add more time availability to the existing resources.
Why is this useful to me?  In my world, (for project estimating purposes), people are assigned multiple projects so they split their time accordingly.  When we are estimating another project, and consider resources for that project, we generally
get a percentage of their time.  Often the smaller sub-tasks can be worked in parallel so people can work efficiently.  If person X can only spend 20% of their time on a task, and the task requires more work, then we can bring another person on the
task to make up the difference for the budgeted work.  I can look down the Work Difference column and immediately tell if we have enough effort on the project to accomplish the tasks and the entire project.
Thanks for your help!
John

Similar Messages

  • Fixed Duration Tasks work hours not updating properly

     I have a task of 2 days duration which is fixed duration; with 1 resource assigned when it is 30%, I add 2 more resources to it as even though duration is same work hours need to be increased. But I don't see any impact on work even when 2 resources
    are added. M I missing something

    Just check if the check box - Effort Driven is checked for that task, as in this case whatever are the hours in Work field that gets equally distributed between all resouces (in your case the newly added and existing resource). Uncheck that box
    and then assign resources; this should fix your calculations for the expected hrs. adding to Work field.
    Sapna Shukla

  • Comparisons of Duration, Date and Time Values

    Hello,
    Is there way to simulate support for XPath 2.0 date/time comparison functions?
    (can I create a module to replace currently available XPath functions with my
    own?)
    Are there plans to fully support those functions?
    For example: func-date-less-than
    http://www.w3.org/TR/xquery-operators/#func-date-less-than
    ... snip ...
    ( time-less-than( time("12:00:00"), time("23:00:00+06:00") ) )
    ... snip ...
    Regards,
    Benjamin Shrom.

    Just use lt on the dates, dateTime and time elements
    <db>
         for $PB_BB.CUSTOMER_1 in document("PB-BB")/db/CUSTOMER
         where ($PB_BB.CUSTOMER_1/CUSTOMER_SINCE lt $#customer_since_cutoff of type
    xs:date)
         return
         <CUSTOMER>
              <CUSTOMER_ID>{ xf:data($PB_BB.CUSTOMER_1/CUSTOMER_ID) }</CUSTOMER_ID>
         </CUSTOMER>
    </db>
    - Mike
    "Benjamin Shrom" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    Hello,
    Is there way to simulate support for XPath 2.0 date/time comparison functions?
    (can I create a module to replace currently available XPath functions
    with my
    own?)
    Are there plans to fully support those functions?
    For example: func-date-less-than
    http://www.w3.org/TR/xquery-operators/#func-date-less-than
    ... snip ...
    ( time-less-than( time("12:00:00"), time("23:00:00+06:00") ) )
    ... snip ...
    Regards,
    Benjamin Shrom.

  • How do I fix my date and time on my iPod touch3g

    I been using my ipod atleast a year i shut it off for a month and after a month i've turned it back on and all of the sudden my ipod date has changed to 2512 BE. I've been trying to fix it for exactly 2 days. I have tried going to settings>General>Date&Time>Set date&time . When i would try to reset my date, as in scroll all the way to 2011, it would scroll the screen all the way back to the date it was perviously on. I've went to Settings>General>Date&Time>TimeZone and set the time zone correctly but that still has not done any effect to my year, 2512 BE. My last two final questions are, Is there anything else i can do to fix my ipod? If there isn't anything I can do would it be better to just Restore it to manufacturing settings?

    Try going to Settings>General>International ensure that the Gregorian calender is specified.

  • Need help with my alarm clock, with Timer task and Timer classes

    k everything is almost complete to get this alarm to work. It goes off and everything. But the thing is that it has a start button and when you click it to start the alarm the text changes to "Stop". This way if the user wants he can turn it off. Yet it works fine, the only problem is when the alarm actually goes off, the button text doesnt change back to "Start". Im not sure how to control private data members in classes from other classes. This is very fustrating, help would be apprieciated. here is the code that i have so far:
    import java.awt.*;
    import java.util.*;
    import java.awt.event.*;
    import javax.swing.*;
    import java.util.Timer;
    public class Alarm extends JFrame implements ActionListener
         private AlarmSetup as;
         private DigitalClock dc = new DigitalClock();
         private JComboBox amPmBox = new JComboBox();
         private JTextField hourField = new JTextField(2),
                             minuteField = new JTextField(2);
         private JPanel panel = new JPanel();
         private JLabel colon = new JLabel(":");
         private JButton start = new JButton("Start");
         private JMenuBar jmb = new JMenuBar();
         private JMenu file = new JMenu("File"), timeSetting = new JMenu("Time Setting");
         private JMenuItem startItem = new JMenuItem("Start");
         private JRadioButtonMenuItem standard = new JRadioButtonMenuItem("Standard", true),
                                            military = new JRadioButtonMenuItem("Military");
         private boolean standardToMilitary = false;
         private int hour, minute;
         private int[] arr;
         public Alarm()
              setTitle("Alarm");
              Container c = getContentPane();
              panel.add(hourField);
              panel.add(colon);
              panel.add(minuteField);
              panel.add(amPmBox);
              amPmBox.addItem("AM");
              amPmBox.addItem("PM");
              c.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
              c.add(dc, BorderLayout.NORTH);
              c.add(panel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
              c.add(start, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
              setJMenuBar(jmb);
              jmb.add(file);
              file.add(timeSetting);
              timeSetting.add(standard);
              timeSetting.add(military);
              file.add(startItem);
              ButtonGroup bg = new ButtonGroup();
              bg.add(standard);
              bg.add(military);
              military.addActionListener(this);
              standard.addActionListener(this);
              //the start things need to be implemented still in the action
              //performed
              start.addActionListener(this);
              startItem.addActionListener(this);
         public static void main(String[] args)
              Alarm frame = new Alarm();
              frame.pack();
              frame.setVisible(true);
         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
              String actionCommand = e.getActionCommand();
              if(e.getSource() instanceof JButton)
                   if(actionCommand.equals("Start")){
                   //long seconds;
                   arr = dc.getTimeMilitary();
                   hour = Integer.parseInt(hourField.getText().trim());
              minute = Integer.parseInt(minuteField.getText().trim());
              String comboSelection = (String)amPmBox.getSelectedItem();
              as = new AlarmSetup(this, arr, hour, minute);
              as.setupAlarm(comboSelection, standardToMilitary);
              start.setText("Stop");}
              else if(actionCommand.equals("Stop")){
                   as.stopTimer();
                   start.setText("Start");}
              else if(e.getSource() instanceof JRadioButtonMenuItem)
                   if(actionCommand.equals("Military"))
                        dc.setTimeFormat(DigitalClock.MILITARY_TIME);
                        standardToMilitary = true;
                        panel.remove(amPmBox);
                   else if(actionCommand.equals("Standard"))
                        dc.setTimeFormat(DigitalClock.STANDARD_TIME);
                        standardToMilitary = false;
                        panel.add(amPmBox);
    import javax.swing.*;
    import java.util.Timer;
    import java.util.*;
    public class AlarmSetup
         private Timer alarmTimer = new Timer(true);
         private long seconds;
         private int[] timeArray;
         private int textHour, textMinute;
         public AlarmSetup()
         public AlarmSetup( int[] aarr, int ahour, int aminute)
              timeArray = aarr;
              textHour = ahour;
              textMinute = aminute;
         public void setTimeArray(int[] array)
              timeArray = array;
         public void setHour(int xhour)
              textHour = xhour;
         public void setMinute(int xminute)
              textMinute = xminute;
         public void stopTimer()
              alarmTimer.cancel();
         public void setupAlarm(String combo, boolean tester)
              if(!tester)
                   if(combo.equals("AM"))
                        seconds = (textHour - timeArray[0])*3600 + (textMinute - timeArray[1]) *60 - timeArray[2];
                        try
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(alarm), seconds*1000);
                        catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
                             seconds = (24*3600) + seconds;
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(alarm), seconds*1000);
                   else
                        seconds = (textHour + 12 - timeArray[0])*3600 + (textMinute - timeArray[1]) *60 - timeArray[2];
                        try
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(alarm), seconds*1000);
                        catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
                             seconds = (24*3600) + seconds;
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(alarm), seconds*1000);
              else if(tester)
                   seconds = (textHour - timeArray[0])*3600 + (textMinute - timeArray[1]) *60 - timeArray[2];
                   try
                        alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(alarm), seconds*1000);
                   catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
                        seconds = (24*3600) + seconds;
                        alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(alarm), seconds*1000);
    import java.util.*;
    public class AlarmTask extends TimerTask
         public void run()
              System.out.println("Billy the goat");
              //dont know what to put to change the Alarm button text

    well im trying to get this down. So i made a private class inside the alarmsetup class. But now when i try to use the schedule method on the timer object it says that it doesnt know it? whats the deal? here is my code for that class
    import javax.swing.*;
    import java.util.Timer;
    import java.util.*;
    public class AlarmSetup
         private Alarm alarm;
         private Timer alarmTimer = new Timer();
         private long seconds;
         private int[] timeArray;
         private int textHour, textMinute;
         private class AlarmTask
              public void run()
                   alarm.changeButtonText();
                   System.out.println("Billy the Goat");
         public AlarmSetup(Alarm a)
              alarm = a;
         public AlarmSetup(Alarm al, int[] aarr, int ahour, int aminute)
              alarm = al;
              timeArray = aarr;
              textHour = ahour;
              textMinute = aminute;
         public void setTimeArray(int[] array)
              timeArray = array;
         public void setHour(int xhour)
              textHour = xhour;
         public void setMinute(int xminute)
              textMinute = xminute;
         public void stopTimer()
              alarmTimer.cancel();
         public void setupAlarm(String combo, boolean tester)
              if(!tester)
                   if(combo.equals("AM"))
                        seconds = (textHour - timeArray[0])*3600 + (textMinute - timeArray[1]) *60 - timeArray[2];
                        try
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(), seconds*1000);
                        catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
                             seconds = (24*3600) + seconds;
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(), seconds*1000);
                   else
                        seconds = (textHour + 12 - timeArray[0])*3600 + (textMinute - timeArray[1]) *60 - timeArray[2];
                        try
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(), seconds*1000);
                        catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
                             seconds = (24*3600) + seconds;
                             alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(), seconds*1000);
              else if(tester)
                   seconds = (textHour - timeArray[0])*3600 + (textMinute - timeArray[1]) *60 - timeArray[2];
                   try
                        alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(), seconds*1000);
                   catch(IllegalArgumentException iae)
                        seconds = (24*3600) + seconds;
                        alarmTimer.schedule(new AlarmTask(), seconds*1000);

  • Date and Time wrong after battery went flat, messing up whole system

    Hi all.
    I had my iBook running free, no ac adapter connected.
    This normally isn't a problem at all, if my iBook runs out of juice, it'll happilly sleep for hours. So I came back to use it again after an hour or so, expecting it to be asleep to find that it had totally powere down. The battery was out. I connected the ac adapter and booted.
    Once OSX loaded, it told me the date was set to before march 2001, and would cause problems. Whaich was very accurate, I got BIG problems. The date has set to 1970, which would indicate the PMU was wiped/reset.
    Normally I'd open system prefs and fix the date and time, but it won't load. OSX is running VERY slowly. Nothing works. No dock, finder is totally unresponsive, everything takes an age to load (if it even loads). I tried changing the date and time from terminal, but it wouldn't allow me, even though I'm logged in as the admin. Something odd I noticed in terminal was that the computer name seems to have changed. The iBook was Liam's-computer, my new core duo iMac became Liam's-computer-2, but terminal is now reporting the iBook as Liam's-computer-3.
    Basically the whole thing is messed up, seemingly because of the stupid date time thing. Can I change the date and time in the Open Firmware?

    Sounds like you may need your CMOS battery replaced.  It should not be a problem after you replace it.
    Also, if you want to prolong your battery life, just detach it during computer use (use AC only).  Then while it is turned off I would actually plug it back in so your computer is never without a power source for an extended period of time.  
    There are many studies suggested that battery life will start decaying after 2-3 years regardless what method you use.  I actually recommend making the most use out of it.  Hope it helps.

  • Setting: Date and Time question

    Don't ask but I really just noticed this now since the last clock change in March...
    I changed the time to the correct time but every day it defaults back an hour or really every time I turn it on to use, it defaults back to the wrong time.
    How do you make it display the correct time each time you turn it on? Does it have to do with the option "24 hour clock" being on or off? If the "24 hour clock" is ON, wouldn't that mean that the battery will be running 24/7 even though the switch is turned off to show the red/orange thing? Thanks.

    I see, now I understand. My computer crashed a few years ago and the clock was messed up after I brought it back to life. Maybe that's what it is. And even so, it's the same story with my computer, I fix the clock and Time Zone and it is good for one day only until I turn it off. The clock is wrong the next day.
    Thanks again. Sometimes when I go for a long walk I like to know what time it is - but then again I could always wear my watch.... but with me wearing the sunblcok and sweating, the watch could get dirty.......

  • Adding time phased actual work to fixed work task with finish no later than constraint

    I am using MS Project Pro 2010, no service packs are installed. I have a 40 hour fixed work task, auto scheduling is on, and I've set a finish no later than constraint 4 weeks into the future. I have assigned a single resource with assignment units of 1.0
    and Project correctly determines a 5 day duration and schedules the task from the start of the project with the task start date the same as project start date and 8 hrs per day.
    I switch to task usage view with the time phased time scale set to weeks (middle) and days (bottom) and add the actual work field. Calculate on edit is selected in project options. When I add 8 hours to day one (which matches the planned work), the planned
    work on the last day of the duration changes to 2 hours and the remaining 30 hours is spread at 10 hrs each to the three days in the middle and the duration changes to 4.2 days. Work stays the same as expected.
    The behavior I expected is that after I add the 8 hours of actual work nothing would change since remaining work is 32 hours and there are 4 days left in the schedule and the work is already scheduled for 8 hrs/day. When I continue to add actual work of
    8 hours to each day, the duration continues to go down until I’m adding 8 hours past the duration. What am I doing wrong? This behavior persists whether or not I select the "move unfinished parts…” options in the project options or not. The only way to
    achieve the expected result is to remove the constraint, add the actual work and then reapply the constraint. I assume I have missed an option that needs to be correctly set to achieve the expected (and desired) result. Thanks.

    Thanks, Julie.  I thought it was just me.  The reason for the FNLT constraint is that I'm not really scheduling projects but scheduling a single multi-unit resource in a shop environment where many projects are running through at the
    same time.  I've set up a single resource with units equal to the number of shop personnel and I'm intentionally forcing overallocations (should there be any) by levelling and by not allowing Project to move my tasks any further than externally mandated
    delivery dates.  From that, I can then see where I will need to alter shop release dates, allocate overtime, hire new workers or subcontract the work.  By entering actual work weekly, I can also see where I might have extra hours to use elsewhere
    or vice versa.  Unfortunately, a deadline will not prevent Project from moving the tasks beyond the customer provided date when leveling.  This method worked fairly well in Project 2007 even though it's not really what the software was intended for. 
    I obviously only use a fraction of Project's capabilities.  There's probably better-suited tools out there but this is the one I have and it actually does a great job at it.  I'm sure I can still make it work in 2010 but it looks like I'll have to
    modify my approach.  I'll leave the question open a while longer and see if I get any additional feedback.  If not, I'll mark it answered and move on.  Thanks, again.

  • Difference between Due Date for All Tasks and Duration per task in an approval workflow

    Hello,
    I'm starting to read up and learn about approval workflows in Designer 2010.  I am confused by the fields "Due Date for all Tasks" and the "Duration per task".  I understand that the Due date for all Tasks is the date that all
    of the tasks in the workflow must be completed by.  And I understand that the duration means each task has x number of days to complete.
    But I dont know whey we need them both.  If I have the task duration set to two days and there are 3 tasks involved, then wouldn't the due date be 6 days from the start?  Why would I have a due date for all tasks that is completely different than
    the sum of the duration of days for each task? 
    Please help shed some light!

    Hi Michelle,
    Due date for all tasks, this setting specifies the date by which all tasks are due. It’s used for serial and parallel
    task.
    Duration per tasks, this setting specifies the date by which an individual
     task is due, it’s used for serial workflow participants.
    Note, when you create an approval workflow, select task process participants(approvers oob approval workflow), we can also
    select once at a time(serial) or all at once(parallel).
    For more information, see
    http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-server-help/use-an-approval-workflow-HA101793831.aspx
    Best Regards.
    Kelly Chen
    TechNet Community Support

  • I am having troubles, when I open LR I get a message that there is an error and it will try to fix the error next time it opens, but I get the error next time it opens, and this is going on and on where I can not use LR, any suggestions?

    I am having troubles, when I open LR I get a message that there is an error and it will try to fix the error next time it opens. LR closes on it's own, I reopen it and get that same message next time it opens, and this is going on and on where I can not use LR, any suggestions? If I click on a different set of photos in the libary before I get that message I might or might not get the message next time it oipens, but I still can not get to those photos, and it is not just one or two but most of my photos. HELP!!!!
    Thanks
    Carol

    The first thing I would suggest is for you to go to the folder containing your catalog, using your system browser. There will be a folder that has the extension .lrdata. Delete that folder, and then try to start Lightroom. If that doesn't work, replace your catalog with your most recent backup.

  • When I attempt to open lightroom I recive this message: [ Lightroom encountered an error whenreading from itspreviw cache and needs to quit.Lightroom will atempt to fix this problem next time it launches.] I did this a few times but no resoulve

    When I attempt to open lightroom I recive this message: [ Lightroom encountered an error whenreading from itspreviw cache and needs to quit.Lightroom will atempt to fix this problem next time it launches.] I did this a few times but no resoulve

    It isn't a file, it's a folder. It will have the same name as your catalog, but will have the extension data. It will be in the same folder along with your catalog. If you need to use the search feature to search for *.lrdata.

  • I keep receiving this error every time I open LR, "Lightroom encountered and error when reading from its preview cache and needs to quit" and the app won't open. It said LR would try and fix this error next time I opened it but the error remains. I tried

    I keep receiving this error every time I open LR, "Lightroom encountered and error when reading from its preview cache and needs to quit" and the app won't open. It said LR would try and fix this error next time I opened it but the error remains. I tried uninstalled and installing the app and the error remains. I have windows 8. Can anyone please help???

    Use Windows Explorer to open the folder containing your catalog. The normal location is Pictures\Lightroom. Locate a folder with the extension .lrdata and delete that folder. Then you should be able to start Lightroom again, and Lightroom will begin building and new previews folder. Do not delete anything else.

  • Lightroom encountered an error when reading from its preview cache and needs to quit.   Lightroom will attempt to fix this problem next time it launches. " But it doesn't fix it!

    I get the following window on loading Lightroom 5.7 -
    Lightroom encountered an error when reading from its preview cache and needs to quit.
    Lightroom will attempt to fix this problem next time it launches.
    I have tried several restarts, without success. Also reinstalled Lightroom; no joy
    Any suggestions?

    Using your system browser (Windows Explorer or Finder), open the folder that contains your catalog. In Windows it is in your pictures folder and then in a Lightroom folder. Inside of the Lightroom folder you will find another folder that has the extension .lrdata. It will have the same name as your catalog except for the extension. You need to delete that folder, and then start Lightroom again. Lightroom will generate a new previews folder, and you should be back in business.

  • How do you fix the date (day number only) in menu bar to match correct Date and Time Preferences?

    My date and time preferences all show up as correct and I get "Sun 10:54 AM" in the menu bar (correct), but when I click that to quickly get the day's date, I get "Sunday, August 5, 2011".  The '5' is the only thing that is wrong, and it has remained '5' for the last 3 days, even thought the Date & Time Preferences are correct.  Is there any easy fix for this?  I don't know if August will change to September, but the day of the week has kept up with time!

    I know how to get the full date and time, etc. to show up on the menu bar (and it shows up correctly), so it's just a little 'glitchy' thing that when you click on the date/time in the menu bar, the greyed date remains on the '5th' of August - sort of like that Groundhog Day movie!

  • Date and Time Submitted in Task Notes to show in Project Pro 2013

    I wonder if anybody could assist.
    I am running PWA 2013 and Project Pro 2013
    When a resource updates a task on PWA and creates/updates the notes on the task, it pulls to the notes section for the task in Project Professional.  This is great but…
    Is there a way to pull the Date and Time Submitted next to the resources’ name in the note too?
    I would appreciate any assistance.
    Many Thanks :)

    Hi,
    I don't think this is feasible out-of-the-box. Note that the information is available in the task details when you click on the task (either in the task update page or in the approval center).
    A workaround would be to train the users to start their comments by typing their initials and the date-time.
    Another way more complex would be to do some custom code.
    Hope this helps,
    Guillaume Rouyre, MBA, MCP, MCTS |

Maybe you are looking for

  • Copy files from mounted server

    I am new to ARD. I am used to using Timbuktu. In Timbuktu I can choose exchange files, and get a list that I can browse, including any attached drives and mounted volumes. I can navigate right to the file I want, and then copy it. I cant seem to find

  • Two select query in sender JDBC adaptor

    Hi We are doing JDFC-RFC scenario, in which i need to fetch the data from two tables (header  and item table) whch correspondes to the 2 table parameter of RFC . Any clues how to configure sender jdbc CC having  2 select query ?????? Regards Vijay

  • What are the new sony phones which support flashlite 1.1?

    Hi friends, Can you please tell me that what are the new sony phones which support flashlite 1.1? and which have wallpaper etc. in flashlite. regards vivek

  • Need help, my itunes 11.0.1 crash if using search song

    if i run itunes and search for songs, its crash..need help

  • Query cost is changing when used in a VO

    Hi All I have created the view with the below query SELECT component_item_name segment1,component_item_id inventory_item_id,organization_id,assembly_item_id FROM BOMFG_BOM_COMPONENTS WHERE organization_id = :1 AND NVL(END_EFFECTIVE_DATE,SYSDATE ) >=