I am using a project plan from an artifact folder set up by my work group. This project plan "master" is set as it should be for a brand new project. All durations are set up as though nothing is complete and % complete is at "0" also as it should be.



My problem is the project we are starting already has many of the tasks 100% complete so I prefer to set these tasks to "0" days duration and 100% complete to get an early estimate of how long the project will take. However once I set any % complete it locks the start and end date in place and I have to then go back, set the % complete to "0%" change the duration time and then go back again and change the % complete to 100%.

Is there a way to change a setting so I can change durations and % complete separately so it doesn't lock in start and end dates?

When you add progress to a task, Project enters an Actual Start date. If you wish to control when a task started, show the Tracking Table and specify Actual Start and % complete.

If you want to set the tasks as milestones, first enter the zero duration then enter Actual Start and 100% complete.