Microsoft Project bar connected to customized start-finish

Question

I am using MS Project to plan and track manufacturing schedules.

For this I have created 3 custom fields:

"Units" (Numbers1), which are the number of parts to be manufactured. "Duration per Unit" (Duration1), These are typed in manually "Total Duration" (Duration2), which is calculated by using Formula: [Numbers1]*[Duration1] I managed to create two new columns (Start1 and Finish1) and I can even create an corresponding bar. BUT: the project looks at the standard "Start" and "Finish" and calculates around my manually created Start1 and Finish1. How can I let Project look at my new Start1 and Finish1 only? Thanks for helping!!! Matthias from DK

Answer 1

The Start1 and Finish1 fields are for information only. If the tasks are in auto-schedule mode and are linked together, then the task Duration field is driving the Start and Finish dates. In that case you can select and copy the calculated Duration1 field and paste in on top of the Duration field.

Notes:

• Remove all filters and hide Summary tasks before you do the copy/paste (Format menu, uncheck Summary Tasks)
• If the Number1 or Duration1 field change, manually update the Duration field again (do the copy/paste steps again)

Update: To change how the Gantt bars are shown, right-click in the Gantt chart area and select Bar Styles. This brings up the dialog box where you can change the format of the Gantt. For example, you could change or add a bar to be drawn from the Start1 to Finish1 dates instead of the Start and Finish dates.