Start vs. Actual Start???
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From: Earl on 15 May 2008 17:31 I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice Gantt Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've inserted Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but whenever I try to updated the Actual Start date for a task, it changes the Start date. For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the Actual Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: The Start date is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it seems like tracking my progress would be difficult if the Start and Actual Start dates match up. What am I missing? Thanks. Earl
From: Roland on 15 May 2008 17:39 You need to use the baseline features to track what you've planned against where you are. Anytime you change the Actual Start date project understands this to mean you're start date should be the same. Hope this helps. "Earl" wrote: > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice Gantt > Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've inserted > Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but whenever I try to > updated the Actual Start date for a task, it changes the Start date. > > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the Actual > Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: The Start date > is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it seems like tracking my > progress would be difficult if the Start and Actual Start dates match up. > > What am I missing? > > Thanks. > Earl
From: Mike Glen on 15 May 2008 17:37 Hi Earl, Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :) The Start field is the planned date and Project assumes the Actual Sart you enter is the truth and thus overwrites the Start date, thus giving a true record of what is going on. If you want to preserve the original plan, you must save a baseline and then you can use the Tracking Gantt view to compare Actual with Plan. You might like to see my tutorials on tracking. FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :) Mike Glen MS Project MVP See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials Earl wrote: > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice > Gantt Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've > inserted Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but > whenever I try to updated the Actual Start date for a task, it > changes the Start date. > > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the > Actual Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: > The Start date is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it > seems like tracking my progress would be difficult if the Start and > Actual Start dates match up. > > What am I missing? > > Thanks. > Earl
From: Earl on 16 May 2008 10:46 Thanks Mike, your response (and Roland's) was very helpful. I've added Baseline Start and Baseline Finish columns to my chart and can now see my progress. Thank you both again! Earl "Mike Glen" wrote: > Hi Earl, > > Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :) > > The Start field is the planned date and Project assumes the Actual Sart you > enter is the truth and thus overwrites the Start date, thus giving a true > record of what is going on. If you want to preserve the original plan, you > must save a baseline and then you can use the Tracking Gantt view to compare > Actual with Plan. You might like to see my tutorials on tracking. > > FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at > this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm > > Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :) > > Mike Glen > MS Project MVP > See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials > > > Earl wrote: > > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice > > Gantt Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've > > inserted Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but > > whenever I try to updated the Actual Start date for a task, it > > changes the Start date. > > > > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the > > Actual Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: > > The Start date is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it > > seems like tracking my progress would be difficult if the Start and > > Actual Start dates match up. > > > > What am I missing? > > > > Thanks. > > Earl > > >
From: Earl on 16 May 2008 10:46
Thanks Roland, your response (and Mike's) was very helpful. I've added Baseline Start and Baseline Finish columns to my chart and can now see my progress. Thank you both again! Earl "Roland" wrote: > You need to use the baseline features to track what you've planned against > where you are. > > Anytime you change the Actual Start date project understands this to mean > you're start date should be the same. > > Hope this helps. > > > "Earl" wrote: > > > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice Gantt > > Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've inserted > > Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but whenever I try to > > updated the Actual Start date for a task, it changes the Start date. > > > > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the Actual > > Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: The Start date > > is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it seems like tracking my > > progress would be difficult if the Start and Actual Start dates match up. > > > > What am I missing? > > > > Thanks. > > Earl |