Should splitting tasks increase duration ?
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Hi Vinod,
Glad you "fixed" the problem he he he.
The term "Fixed Duration" should be more accurately interpreted as "elapsed duration" - as it spans the entire length of the activity, from start to finish - regardless of any idle-time or task splits. In general, however, he task-types are important when you are applying resources to the activities. A so-called fixed duration task will retain its end-date, even if you work fewer or more hours than planned. It will adjust the remaining hours to spread equally across the remaining duration. In essence, you are correct in that a fixed-duration task assumes no idle time unless you specifically input a split. Once you input a split, you might as well allocate it a fixed-work or fixed- unit attribute.
The fixed-unit and fixed-work task types have different behavioural characteristics when applying resources and re-scheduling uncompleted work - and knowledge is best gained by doing a few experiments. SO Ill let you get on with it, as it is virtually impossible to explain it in words.
Cheers.
James.
Hi James ,
Your presumption about task set at "fixed duration" was correct.
But what does this behaviour implies , does it mean if i have task whose duration is fixed , i cannot have idle time for that task . Since splitting will negate the definition of task " Duration " ?
Or is there some other angle to it ?
thanks,
regards,
vinod
Hi Vinod,
Your task-type is probably set at "Fixed Duration". Double-click on the task, click "Advanced" tab, change the task-type to either "Fixed Work" or "Fixed Units". This will then display the duration in accordance with how many "activity days". Note, however, that all summary-task durations are set at Fixed Duration, so you cannot change those.
HTH
James.
When I try what you are doing, my original duration is preserved, regardless of how many times I split the Task, down to 5 x 1 day splits with one day spaces.
Your definition, using "active" days is pretty close.
Splits are pretty much the only exception to the definition of duration as:
the number of working days, according to the calendar for that task, from the start of the task to the finish of the task.
Check your calendar for the task.