MS Project Group Completion Status

Question

I can't find a way to show progress when using groups in MS Project 2013.  Clearly the % complete is computed, but I'd like to show the status in the bars in the same manner as the standard GANTT view.

Answer 1

Adding to Julie's excellent response, I believe Project doesn't compute the "complete-through" date for group summaries because, unlike summary tasks, they do not have an assigned or inherited calendar.  You can add a custom finish field to approximate the complete-through date using a specific named calendar, then use that field as the endpoint of your group summary progress bar.  Here's a simple formula for the new field using the "Standard" calendar (i.e. the typical project default calendar):

ProjDateAdd([Start],[Actual Duration],"Standard")

You'll have to modify the formula if your project calendar is other than "Standard."  I've assigned this formula to the [Finish2] field.  When specifying the custom field, be sure to check the "Use formula" radio button for "Calculation for task and group summary rows."

Answer 2

That helped to create GANTT Bar, but what I'm really interested in is showing the partial bar showing completion as part of the whole.  I don't feel like I'm explaining this well ..... in the standard GANTT shows as From : Task Start to : % Complete.  Thus showing % complete within the total task bar.

Thank you to both Julie and Tom

Answer 3

Thanks for the clarification, Don.  I'm afraid this is an "it's not you" moment.  While you can add the % complete next to the bar, the "Complete through" value that is used to show the progress bar does not appear to be calculated for group bars.  The field is not available except in the bar styles dialog box.

Answer 4

Sorry if I wasn't clear.  I have grouped tasks to show an alternate view to the GANTT chart.  For each group the GANTT chart shows the start and finish date from that group.  It also computes the % complete for the group as each of the tasks received a % complete.  However I can not find a way to show the progress in the appropriate bar of the GANTT chart.  I tried to mimic the "From" and "To" for a standard task in the normal GANTT chart with no luck.  It would seem that since the % is computed and available there would be a way to show it in the bar as well.  I hope this clarifies my question.

Answer 5

Hi DonEklov,

I don't understand your question completely.  Are you grouping tasks?  Are you referring to Resource Groups?  Give us more details and we'll try to help.

Julie