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.
Member for
19 years 2 months
Member for19 years2 months
Submitted by vinod raturi on Tue, 2007-01-23 09:32
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
Member for
19 years 5 months
Member for19 years5 months
Submitted by James Griffiths on Tue, 2007-01-23 05:18
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.
Member for
19 years 11 months
Member for19 years11 months
Submitted by Trevor Rabey on Tue, 2007-01-23 04:47
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.
Member for
19 years 5 monthsRE: Should splitting tasks increase duration ?
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.
Member for
19 years 2 monthsRE: Should splitting tasks increase duration ?
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
Member for
19 years 5 monthsRE: Should splitting tasks increase duration ?
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.
Member for
19 years 11 monthsRE: Should splitting tasks increase duration ?
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.