correct way to enter tasks

[ketanco]

which one is correct way to enter tasks?

1-entering a tasks duration, even if you know the total amount (say sf) of the task and how many people you will assign to it,



or

2-just entering the square feet of quantity, and the units (labor) that will perform the task, and let project calculate the duration.


lets say I have 500 sf of wall to paint. I know this for a fact. I have 2 painters who can do 100 sf everyday. I know this for a fact too.

based on this, do i build my schedule like in 1 or 2? which is correct way?

also is there a way to enter 400sf for the total quantity of work? can work be sf i mean?

[JulieS]

Either method is fine. It all depends on which value (duration or work) you are the most confident in. I personally find that people are usually more accurate regarding work than duration, so I am inclined to enter the task, enter the work upon resource assignment and let Project calculate duration.

[ketanco]

so i will not (and can not) tell MS project that labor is doing 100sf/day, or I have 500 sf of wall, and there is no way to tell this right? i mean i can not enter sf quantities there correct?

all i can do is, i tell ms project either a 2.5 day duration, and assign 2 full time labor as in 1

OR

i tell ms project that i have a total of 40 hours of work, and i assigned 2 labor to it, after which it calculates 2.5 day

am i correct?

[JulieS]

Sorry, no. Project does not understand concepts of X amount of square footage per day. I understands Work, Duration, and Assignment units. By you telling Project Work, it will calculate Duration based upon the Work and the resource assignment units. 1 resource working 8 hours per day can accomplish 40 hours of work in 5 days. 1 resource working 6 hours per day can accomplish 40 hours of work in 6.67 days.

[ketanco]

ok and, work is always entered in hours right?

we do not and can not enter sf or sf / day etc correct?

so in other words, i enter 40 hours because i calculate it outside of ms project myself... correct?

[JulieS]

Work may be entered in minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months. Work cannot be entered in square feet or square feet/day. You can enter variable consumption (sf/day) for material resources - not work.

[ketanco]

ok so i enter 40 hours because i calculate it myself outside ms project correct?

[JulieS]

Yes. Project cannot perform calculations based upon square footage.