I am somewhat new @ project and am just learning so bare with me, team. I am using Project 2010.



So I base-lined a set of deliverable's, set the start, current and status date, updated the % comp to 10% on the first task within the deliverable group, and then hit F9 to update the project. When I did that the days on this particular task went from 12 to 14.8 days. I am still learning but was curious why project would push the duration out from 12 to 14.8 days?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Were you supposed to be more than 10% complete as of the status date? If you look at the Gantt chart - does the bar appear to be split - separated by dots?

If so, your option settings (Advanced) are likely moving the remaining parts of the work after the status date, creating the split in work. Do you have resources assigned to the tasks?

Also, it should not be necessary to press F9 to calculate the project. Ensure your calculate after each project (Options) is set to yes.

10% was to total I entered, and yes, 10% complete. It also does how the bar as being split sep by dots. The other thing is as soon as the project is updated it changes from 10% to 8%.

Resources as assigned to the task. What advanced option needs changed?

Step 1 is to ensure that you have SP-2 installed to Project 2010. Check File > Help and click the link "Additional Version and Copyright Information". It should clearly say SP-2 in the resulting dialog. If it does not say SP-2, get it installed and consider installing the June cumulative update as well.

Check what options you have selected in File > Options, Advanced, Calculation options. I generally leave all unchecked.

% complete is a duration measurement - so if you have split the task and hit a period of time where a resource is not working - project will reschedule the remaining work and duration around the resource's calendar.

I currently have SP1 installed. Updates are managed by our IT dept so I will be unable to install SP2. Think that is the issue?

Without seeing your project it is difficult to understand what is going on. However, software updates are critical to problem solving. I have no way of know whether your particular issue is related to a fix that was implemented in a service pack or it there are settings that need to be altered.

Looks as though what project is doing is accounting for 1.2 days completed and a remainder of 10.8 days to complete. So instead of assuming we can cram the 10.8 days in the remaining 8 days, it adds the remaining 10.8 days to the calendar. Hence moving the duration to 14.8 days and pushing the schedule out. Make sense?

Project always assumes your original estimates (duration and work) were accurate. If you under report progress, it assume you still have the original amount of work to do. So, it may split the task, and reschedule the remaining work to occur as was planned. If you want to get more detailed than simply % complete, I suggest using the Tracking table to supply Actual Start, Actual and Remaining Duration, or Actual and Remaining Work.

Slinkster - kindly do not post the same question to more than one forum - you are wasting the time of the volunteers who answer questions.

Also posted to:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...=projectonline

@JulieS - I posted on another forum on this site?

No, you posted the exact same question to the TechNet forum on microsoft in the link I provided.

Ok. So getting multiple viewpoints is bad? How is that wasting anyone's time?

All of the people who reply to the various forums are volunteers. As such answering your duplicate posts may take time away from others who also have questions.

You certainly can ask for second opinions, but it is common courtesy to note in your posts that you have posted the same question to other forums and note which forums. Keeping the conversation in one forum helps everyone - not only you - but others who may have the same question.

If I post to multiple, I will add the other forum to the post.

Have fun policing the Internet!

I'm not policing, slinkster - just asking for courtesy. Foreign concept to you?