How to assign 0$ costs for some Task with the same Resource in MS PROJECT 2013?

 

Hi,

one of my Blog readers has a problem:

“Good morning, Sir.

I have a slight problem with my project. For some tasks the cost of one resource for tasks is 0$. We have the resource standard rate is 75$/hr for that resource in Resource Center section.
When I tried to create new sample task such as “paint the wall “with the same resource, we assign 1 day of work, and the cost is show up for 600$.

So what is the reason for the missing cost-tasks? and How can we fix it?”

There is a easy way to do it!

First I will make two Tasks for my Project:

I will create one Resource:

Now I will assign Resource to Task 1, and Task 2.

Let’s look at the Cost Table:

and:

But for the Task 2, I want $0 of costs. Piece of cake!

First I will apply Resource Usage View:

and I will get:

Now I will apply Table B (with $0 rate) for the Task 2:

and, back to the Cost Table:

As you can see, Task 2 has Total Cost=$0.

Regards,

How to show separate costs for people and material in MS PROJECT 2013

 

Hi,

another question form my Blog Reader: “For a particular task, Can we get the material cost and labor cost separately for that particular day?, and can we display the material resources and work resources separately in the task field?”

In the Task field, NO! Now, how to get Material and Labor cost Separately in MS PROJECT 2013. You can do this by creating custom fields, but this is harder way. I’ll show you the easiest way.

First Let me create two Tasks:

and then two work, and one Material resources:

Now, I am going to assign John, and 10 Bricks to the Task 1:

I will assign Mary, and 20 Bricks to the Task 2, and I will get:

Now I will use the Resource Usage View:

and I will apply Cost Table:

and I will get:

Now I am going to group data:

and finally I’ll get:

Piece of cake, isn’t it?

Regards

Resource over-allocation and Gantt chart in MS PROJECT 2013!

 

Hi,

one of my Blog readers ask me this: “Hello, could you please advice…you all seem to be very experienced with MS. ‘m interested in resource management. I tried to apply MSP and found that I’m not able to see an impact on resources if I make changes in some project tasks. Some tasks are dependent and are shifted with modification of others. But, I need to go to another page to see who becomes overloaded and I would prefer to have the view on resource occupation on the page of Gantt. Is it possible? Thank you so much !! “

In MS PROJECT 2010, MS PROJECT 2013 Gant Chart is Task Related. I’ll make over allocation by purpose to show you what you can do.

First let me put some Tasks:

and some Resources:

Finally I will assign Resources to the Tasks:

On the First column you can see a “burning man”, which means that some of the resources are over allocated.

But here you CAN NOT see which resource is over allocated if you do not use The Task Inspector.

To do so, right click on the Burning man, and you will get:

and you will get:

But there is one place with much better View of over allocation – the Team Planner (available only in MS PROJECT PROFESSIONAL 2013, not in Standard version):

Here you can see who is over allocated, when, and on which Tasks!

You can use Resource Usage View as well:

Here you can see who is over allocated, on which tasks and how much!

The same thing is with Task Usage View:

This View shows Task, and Recourses assigned to each Task, and over allocation as well.

But if you still want to see Gant, and Over allocated Recourses, you can do this:

 

then:

and:

and finally:

Easy, isn’t it!

 

Bye!

Splitting Tasks again in MS PROJECT 2013

 

Hi,

I’ve got a question from one of my Blog Readers: “’I’m looking for a more precise method (non-graphical?) to set up the splits. For example I want to split a 10-work-day task halfway through, and have work resume after 12 work days. When I do this graphically, the bars look as though they are very different durations rather than the same length. This happens even when I try to use the pop-up information box to click at the right point in the bar. Additionally, I can’t seem to drop the split segment where I want it, the program only allows drops in one-week increments. I have poked around a lot but can’t find anyplace to review and edit the split details.”

It is a little bit strange problem, at least from my point of View, because I can not reproduce it!

First, I will create a brand new Task with 10 days duration in MS PROJECT 2013!

Now, I will split that Task, and the Second part of it will started 12 working days later, e.g. at April, the 3th, 2013:

and then:

 

 

and move it here:

And YES, it seems that the second part is longer than first one. But, in face it is not! Why?

Because this part will start on Wednesday, April the 3th, and will ended after five working days, so graphically it only seems that it will take longer (since there is a weekend, e.g., Saturday and Sunday)!

I will now show you a trick. If you do not want to see “blue bar” on non working days, you can do this:

and you will get:

You can see that there is no “blue bar”, nor “dotted lines” during the weekend!

And what if you want to split Task in hours instead of days?

Easy! Like in previous picture you should change the Bottom Tier from days to hours, and then you can split the Task!

Hope this helps!

 

Regards!

Task Calendars and Lag in MS PROJECT 2013

Hi,

today I will answer to this question: “You have 2 tasks which own different task calendars (Standard 5day and 7day calendar). They are connected FS and have a lag, lets say 5 days. Which calendar does the lag use?”

OK! I will show you that in MS PROJECT 2013. First let me create 7-days calendar with MY CALENDAR name:

Now, I am going to modify MY CALENDAR:

OK! Now I will add four Tasks to My Project with 10 days duration each:

Now I will tell that TASK 1, and TASK 4 have MY CALENDAR, as default Calendar, and TASK 2 and TASK 3 have Standard Calendar as default Calendar. I will show that settings only on TASK 1, and you can do the same thing with other Tasks:

Finally I get:

As you can see Task 1, and Task 4 will start on Monday, 25.02.2013, and will finish at Wednesday 06.03.2013, because the work will be performed during a weekend. On the other hand, Task 2, and Task 3 will start on Monday 25.02.2013, but will finish at Friday 08.03.2013, because the work will not be performed at weekend.

Now I am going to connect Task 1, and Task 2, and Task 3, and Task 4as well, and I will get:

Everything looks fine! Notice that Task 2 will start at Thursday 07.03.2013, and Task 4will start at Saturday 09.03.2013.

Now to the point! I will put a 5 days lag for Task 2, and Task 4:

and I will get:

Now, the explanation:

• Task 1 will finish at Wednesday, 06.03.2013
• Task 2 will start after 5 days lag, at Thursday 14.03.2013. That is because Task 2 has Standard Calendar, so this 5 days of Lag is only working days (means: Thursday 07.03.2013, Friday 08.03.2013, Monday 11.03.2013, Tuesday 12.03.2013, and Wednesday 13.03.2013)
• Task 3 will finish at Friday, 08.03.2013
• Task 4 will start after 5 days lag, at Thursday 14.03.2013. That is because Task 4 has MY CALENDAR, so this 5 days of Lag is working days + weekend (means: Saturday 09.03.2013,  Sunday 10.03.2013, Monday 11.03.2013, Tuesday 12.03.2013, and Wednesday 13.03.2013)

To conclude, MS Project 2013 uses for the lag, the calendar of the successor.

Regards,

Departments and Projects in MS PROJECT 2010 – Part 2

 

Hi,

as you know from my last Post, I created Departments, and I have assigned to the Project Manager Projman2 two departments (SIR and SIC), and no department to Project Manager named Projman1.

Now let’s suppose that Project Manager Projman1is logged on the Project Server 2010 and he wants to Create new Project  with no Department field!

and then:

and I will get:

I am going to Save Publish that Project:

and:

OK!

I am going to log in as a Project Manager 2and I will create new Project for SIR Sector like this:

I am going to save this Project too:

and I will publish it (I won’t show you that Picture Again, why should I? )

Now I am going to log in to PWA as Projman1, and I am going to Project Center:

As you can see, Projman1 can see both Projects!

Now I am going to log in to PWA as Projman2, and I am going to Project Center, too:

As you can see, Projman2 can only those Project that belongs to his Department!

If you have custom fields which are going to be used for some department, and you do not want that other departments use those specific custom field you, department fields are to filter which custom field can you access!

Suppose that I have Custom field for SPIG department like this one:

and one for SIR Department:

I will now open FIRST SPIG PROJECT in MS PROJECT PRO 2010 (logged as Projman1, and Projman1 has no Department), and I am going to the Project Information:

as you can notice, since this Project is for SPIG department I can see SPIG DEPARTMENT CUSTOM FIELD, but not the SIR DEPARTMENT CUSTOM FIELD! The same will be if I connect as a Projman2!

If  I open FIRST SIR PROJECT, and if I look at Project Information I will see:

To conclude,  Custom fields are not for security, but for filtering which custom and/or Projects can be seen by whom and where!

I will not be able to answer your questions, nor will I write an new post for next 10 days, because I’m going to attend MVP summit in Seattle for February 16 to February 24 2013.

Stay tuned!

Regards

Departments and Projects in MS PROJECT 2010 – Part 1

 

Hi,

today I am gong to show how are Departments connected with Projects in MS PROJECT SERVER 2010!

First let me show you Departments in my Company:

and than:

and I will get:

Now I am going to show my Resources:

and I will get:

I have:

1. One Administrator
2. Two Executive Managers
3. Two Portfolio Managers
4. Two Project Managers
5. Two Resource Managers
6. Two Team Leads
7. Five Team Members

I gave them descriptive names for easier Tracking my future Posts!

I will now say that Project Manager 1 can access to all projects, and Project Manager 2 can access only to Projects which belongs to SIR (Infrastructure), and SEC (E-commerce) Departments:

and:

As you can see, I didn’t choose any Department, so Project Manager 1 will see Projects from all Departments!

For Project Manager 2, I will fill Department field with:

OK!

Now I will say (on the Same way), that:

1. Team Member 1 is member of SPIG Department
2. Team Member 2 is member of SPIG Department
3. Team Member 3 is member of SIR Department
4. Team Member 4 is member of SIR Department
5. Team Member 5 is member of SEC Department

I am going to use MS PROJECT PROFESSIONAL 2010 for that!

and I will get (notice that I am adding Enterprise field in a View)added:

and I will now fill it:

After I fill them all, I will have:

I’m going to save this to the Enterprise (PROJECT SERVER 2010)!

OK!

What is next? I’ll show you that Project Manager 1 can Access all Projects, and all Resources, but Project Manager 2 can not, or he can?

For that, read my next Post

Regards