PRJ: Subproject Task Appears To Be Calculated Incorrectly (112783)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project for Windows 95 4.1
  • Microsoft Project for Windows 95 4.1a
  • Microsoft Project for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Project for Windows 3.0a
  • Microsoft Project for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Project for the Macintosh 3.0
  • Microsoft Project for the Macintosh 4.0
This article was previously published under Q112783

SYMPTOMS

When you link projects in a master-subproject relationship and the master and subproject use different calendars, the start date and the duration are calculated from the master file's calendar, but the finish date is rolled up from the subproject file's calendar.

CAUSE

These different calendars are used to ensure that the master project and the subproject have the same start and finish dates.

MORE INFORMATION

When you create a subproject link with the Subproject field, the master project controls the start date and the subproject controls the finish date. When you use this method, the master project is not static.

When you create a master file by copying information from one project and using the Paste Link command to paste it to another project, and the master file and a subproject file use different calendars, the duration in the master file is calculated from the master file's calendar and the start date is controlled by the master project.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. On the File menu, click New.
  2. On the Options menu, click Project Info, and change the Start date to 7/18/94.
  3. On the Options menu, click Base Calendars, select the New option, select Standard, and then click Copy.
  4. Change the Calendar name to Calendar 1, and change the dates July 21-July 22, 1994, from working to nonworking days. Click OK, Set, and then Close.
  5. On the Options menu, click Project Info, and then change the Calendar to Calendar 1. Click OK.
  6. On the File menu, click Save As, name the file MASTER.MPP, and click OK.
  7. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
  8. Enter a task with a duration of 4d.
  9. On the File menu, click Save As, name the file SUB.MPP, and click OK.
  10. On the Window menu, click MASTER.MPP.
  11. Double-click Task ID 1 to bring up the Task Edit form.
  12. In the Name box, type Task with subproj. In the Subproject box, type SUB.MPP and choose OK.
The duration of the task is 3d, but the bar is 4d long. This is by design.

The subproject start and finish dates (in the master project) are rolled up from the subproject file and the duration is calculated based on the master project's base calendar, Calendar 1. The subproject, Sub.mpp, is using the Standard calendar, which has July 21 and July 22, 1994, as working days. This ensures the start and finish dates of the subproject are the same for the master project.

REFERENCES

"User's Reference," version 3.0, pages 488-498
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/25/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB112783
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