MS Project 2007, sub task duration isn't adding up correct on the task. 4 hour+4 hour = (its giving me) 0.5 days.

Question

Im using MS Project 2007, and when apply a task, then subtask two subs for a duration of 4 hours each, it only says the main task for these is 0.5 days. With my understanding and the way my schedule is on default(8 hour work day) it should add up to 1 day. Why is is telling me 4+4 = 0.5 days? I havent set my predecesors yet, could this be my problem?

EDIT: I added predecessors, and it changed it from 0.5 days to 1 day. So I basically figured it out and answered it myself...But thanks for being here!! :)

Answer 1

Hi,

Just to clarify if necessary.

DURATION of a summary task is not cumulative. It is the time between the start of the first task and the finish of the latest. When there are say two 4 hour meetings this morning 8-12 which you have under a summary task, duration of that summary task will be 4 hours as you have sen, because there is no activity below that summary task before 8 this morning and none after 12 noon.

But suppose the second meeting is rescheduled to next week Tuesday morning (which in Project you can plan through a constraint) then duration of the summary task will be 5,5 days  (although sum of duration is 1 day).

Hope this helps,

Answer 2

They only "look busy" if you look at the summary task line's duration.  Add the work field and you should see the true work going on during those 38 days.

Julie

Answer 3

Hi,

Just to clarify if necessary.

DURATION of a summary task is not cumulative. It is the time between the start of the first task and the finish of the latest. When there are say two 4 hour meetings this morning 8-12 which you have under a summary task, duration of that summary task will be 4 hours as you have sen, because there is no activity below that summary task before 8 this morning and none after 12 noon.

 

But suppose the second meeting is rescheduled to next week Tuesday morning (which in Project you can plan through a constraint) then duration of the summary task will be 5,5 days  (although sum of duration is 1 day).

Hope this helps,

I just came across this answer looking for "summary task duration" clarifications.

So if I have i.e 3 tasks - of 5, 8 and 10 days respectively - the total work should be equivalent to 23 business days. However if there are gaps between the tasks - i.e 6 days between the first two and 15 days between the 2nd and 3rd - then the duration of the summary shows me 38....which could be misleading if someone only looks at the sumary task...(practically - the team/responsible for the tasks, look busy for about 50% more time than they're actually working). Thanks

Answer 4

Hi SunshineFolk,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project forum:)

I thoroughly recommend you take and Introductory course on Project to get you up and running quickly, as Project is far from intuitive!  Meanwhile, you might like to have a look at my free series for beginners on Microsoft Project in the TechTrax ezine, at this site: http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc  or this: http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23

(Perhaps you'd care to rate the article before leaving the site, :)  Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)

Mike Glen

MS Project MVP