Microsoft Project 2019: Incorrect Task Duration

Question

Hi,

This question is more to Microsoft than the community.

As per attached Microsoft Project 2019 file 'Project1' attached, on entering the duration of 10 months from the Start Date of the 9th Jan 2021, the Finish Date is reflected as the 27th Jul 2021. Note that the calendar in this instance has been set to consider all days as working days.

If I then set the calendar to 'standard' (file 'Project1_1'), the Finish Date is reflected as the 15th Oct 2021. And should it not have been the 8th Oct 2021?

How is it that the programme (file 'Project1'), in taking into account non-working days to be working days, ends up bringing the Finish Date forward?

Answer 1

SisonkeFm,

October 15, 2021 is the correct finish date. Why do you think it should be October 8, 2021?

Remember, by switching to the Standard calendar, the start date can no longer be Saturday, January 9th, it will automatically revert to the next working day which is Monday, January 11, 2021. Then adding 10 months of 20 working days each, the end date is October 15.

The answer to your last question is, a "month" is by default 20 working days. By switching to a 7=day workweek, 2 extra work days are added to each week, thus it takes fewer 20-day periods (i.e. "month") to calculate the end date, which is July 27, 2021.

Hope this helps.

John

Answer 2

Sisonke FM Teams,

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. If I answered your question, please consider marking my response as the answer.

In my view the use of "months" for duration is pretty useless. I'm not sure why it is even offered as an option but at least it's been consistent over the several years of Project versions.

John

Answer 3

Hi John,

Much appreciated.

The 20 days in a month that Project uses when the unit is months, answers my conundrum. I thought once I chose the duration unit to be 'months' it would base the scheduling on calendar months.

Just goes to show how important it is to fully understand how any programme works, before using it.

Answer 4

Sergio,

For reference, there are no holidays in the Standard calendar, those are added by the user based on their country/region.

John

Answer 5

Hi, I'm Sergio, it's a pleasure to help you.

You keep in mind that if all days are working days, and you use the same resourses, the finish date will be more soon.

also in standar calendar, there are holidays for your location like july 4th, that is the reason for this delay.

However, if you want to send a feedback to Microsoft, you can use this

link information:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sen...

Greetings.