MS/Project: Calculated fields are causing an error on inserted project schedules........

Question

Calculated fields are causing an error on inserted project schedules.

Scenario:

1.       Create a new project schedule “Schedule1” and insert a column for “Duration1” field.

2.       Customize the Duration1 field: for option “Calculation for task and summary rows”, select “Rollup” and “Sum”

3.       Create a task in the schedule “task1” and set “Duration1” to 1d.

4.       Save “Schedule1”

5.       Create a new project schedule “Master Project Schedule” and insert a column for “Duration1” field.

6.       As above, customize the Duration1 field: for option “Calculation for task and summary rows”, select “Rollup” and “Sum”

7.       Insert Project “Schedule1” into “Master Project Schedule”

8.       Save and close “Master Project Schedule”

9.       Open “Master Project Schedule”

10.   Expand “Project1”  in the Master Project Schedule

11.   Note “ERROR” in the Duration1 column for Schedule1

12.   Use F9 function key to re-calculate and it clears the error.

So, it appears as if the duration 1 field is not being properly calculated upon initial open of the inserted project file.

Answer 1

Hello Ron,

As John noted, I believe it is not a bug.

IMHO, Project just needs to recalculate on open. We can reproduce the same situation as follows (tested with Project 2007):

• Open a new blank file,
• Set Calculation mode to Manual,
• Insert [Duration] in formula for Duration1 field and display Duration1 column,
• Create a new task simply by entering a task name,
• Duration1 field will display #ERROR, but it will recalculate if we hit F9.

In any Duration custom field with no formula, it will display 0days.

The above part is just my opinion. You may not agree.

Regards,

Ismet

Answer 2

ronduross,

I get the same result that you do in Project 2010. I also get it for Project 2007 so I will conclude that it has probably always been that way.

Apparently for custom fields the subproject data is not immediately available even though the subproject is open in the background, which happens when you expand the subproject in the master. If the subproject is already open, the custom field calculates immediately upon expansion of the subpproject.

You will get the same "calculation delay" if you expand, collapse and then re-expand the subproject.

It seems like a minor issue to me. I don't know if it works any different if you have the latest updates for Project 2010 installed. If you don't you should install SP1 and cumulative updates, I believe the latest is August 2011.

Hope this helps.

John

Answer 3

Thanks Ismet.

I see what you're saying but in my case, I would expect that any inserted project would be re-calculated automatically upon open as that's the setting I have set for "calculation".

Maybe it's not a "bug" but, IMHO, it's unexpected behaviour. I'll simply tell my client to ensure that they hit F9 to avoid this type of thing. 

Thanks John as well for responding.

Cheers,

Ron

Answer 4

Ron,

As I indicated, I wouldn't consider this a "bug". It may or may not be an annoyance and there are multiple easy ways to deal with it (i.e. expand, collapse, re-expand, or have the subproject open, or recalculate).

I believe there is a website for reporting "things I'd like to see" and/or problems but I don't know the web addresses. Sorry. Someone else might step in and provide that information.

John

Answer 5

Hi John, thanks fo the quick response.

I've checked and I have the latest updates for Project 2010 so I assume it's a bug. How do I go about reporting this to Microsoft?

Thanks,

Ron