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Allocation of work from certain date (midway of the task)

Anonymous
2018-01-03T10:13:54+00:00

I have been asked to create new schedule in MS Project 2010. Some tasks started last year (some in September), but Work Package Managers don’t have any historical data regarding allocated hours.

What I have is outstanding hours to be allocated to each task, but obviously MS Project assume that this is our budget for each task and spreads load from the start date.

So if a task starts on 01.12.2017, finishes on 31.01.2017 and I have 100h to complete it, those 100h will be spread between those dates.

What I’m trying to achieve is spread all hours from 02.01 to the end date of each task.

Status date was already set to 02.01.2018, but this does not change the outstanding work.

Change of % of completion will only use the allocated resources, assuming that work started in the past.

I thought of changing the actual start date, but this will obviously change the start date, which is not correct, as the task started in the past.

The only way I could think of to get around it is to manually assign hours in the Task Usage, but I want Project to allocate hours automatically.

Could you please advise if there is a way to set a “Data Date” in the MS Project to create a cut off date where work is only allocated after this date?

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-03T20:30:08+00:00

    John

    Historical data is available as actuals (value) stored in a different planning system, but a decision has been made to prepare a revised plan in MS Project. I don't want to discuss reasons behind is as I didn't make that decision. 

    Just to be clear. We have already ignored and removed most completed historical tasks, and closed (100% completion) all finished tasks, but multiple tasks have already started, are running and will be running for some time.

    All I want to do is to set resources to be planned from 02.01.2018 within tasks that started in 2017. I don't want Ms Project to "plan" past, just to ignore time period when assigning resources. 

    Logically this is where resource planning date can be used. In task usage, each assigned resource has a start and finish date, which I thought is to adjust when each resource works on the task, but no, once I change resource start date it moves the task finish date and extends duration. I have even tried to decrease resource allocation to 1h, but any delay in start date of the resource moves the end date.

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  2. John Project 49,705 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-01-04T14:58:53+00:00

    mkaminski100,

    Then I suggest the following. Break all tasks that started in 2017 and continue into 2018 into two parts, a 2017 part and a 2018 part linked together with a finish-to-start relationship. Allocate whatever time and resources you want to the 2017 part and set it as 100% complete. Then assign resources and hours to each 2018 part.

    That will give you a revised plan that should meet your requirements.

    John

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  3. John Project 49,705 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-01-03T16:17:28+00:00

    mkaminski100,

    First of all I find it difficult to believe your financial organization doesn't have some type of historical data for the project. But it you only have an aggregate of historical data, not identifiable to individual tasks, then why do you need to "plan" individual tasks in the past? I would simply create a plan that shows a single "historical task" on one line and then have all current tasking starting from your current status date of 2 Jan, 2018.

    I can see no way to get Project to "plan" history automatically. If you really need it set up that way, bite the bullet and do the manual entry.

    Hope this helps.

    John

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