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Master Schedule Still Calculates even though Calculation is set to off

Respuesta propuesta Master Schedule Still Calculates even though Calculation is set to off

  • Wednesday, 2 May 2012 10:28 PM
     
     
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    We have a dozen sub schedules under a single Master Schedule with dependencies between schedules.  We have set each schedules Calculation Mode to Off, including the master schedule.  When we go to open the Master Schedule it will auto calculate (something we don't want it to do, we run manual calc so we can do a comparison of before and after the master schedule is calculated to see which dependencies are impacted etc.).  Has anyone else run into this, and is there a fix?  I've tried going to each schedule and unchecking the box to show dependencies between plans to see if that my impact the calculation mode, but it still auto calcs.  Any help would be appreciated.  
     

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  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 8:23 AM
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    Hi Jedmo,

    Just wanted to check if the calculations have to be manual and you don't want updates to flow between Master and Sub Projects then you could have easily inserted them as embedded copy rather then a linked copy.

    When you are inserting a project into Master just un-check the box - "Link to Project" this will make sub-project as a part of Master Project rather then the linked entity.

    Sapna S

     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 4:00 PM
     
     
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    We do want the updates to flow between master and sub projects, we just prefer to "Control" the updates, in case something erroneously pushes out some key dates.  
     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 4:38 PM
     
     
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    Jedmo,

    The calculation option in Project isn't "pure". That is, even with calculation set to manual, changes for individual tasks will still cause Project to "calculate" parameters for that task. For example, if you change the duration of a task, the finish date will change. What manual calculation does however is to maintain the inter-task relationships. For example, in manual mode, changing the duration of a predecessor task will not cause the successor task(s) to move. The "schedule" will be preserved.

    If you want to be able to track changes in your master before and after, one method you could employ is to copy the Start and Finish fields to extra date fields before edits are made. A customized field with a formula (e.g. Start-Start1) can quickly highlight changes to date fields.

    Project 2007 and up also added the feature of change highlighting although this may or may not be of use in your situation.

    Hope this helps.

    John

     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 4:46 PM
     
     
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    Thanks John, we are noticing that the dependencies we have created between schedules are being updated, i.e. your example of a task change at the task level is updated, but does not impact successor tasks, unfortunately in our case, it is impacting all downstream tasks, even between sub schedules.  We are currently using the copy start finish to finish 1 at the individual schedule level as a work around for the past few weeks.  Was just wondering if anyone else has come across this, and if there was a solution.  
     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 6:53 PM
     
     
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    jedmo,

    Before I responded I did a test on a simple dynamic master with multiple subprojects. Among those subprojects, there are links between tasks (i.e. cross-project links). With calculation off, changing the duration of a predecessor task does not change the start date of the successor task in the other subproject. When calculation is set to automatic, the change is reflected through the link. Obviously something is different between what I'm doing and what you are doing.

    In order to help some question are in order;

    1. What version of Project are you using?

    2. Are all subproject of the same Project version?

    3. Do you have the latest service pack installed (see, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ee748587)?

    4. Are all subproject and the master located in a single folder and on a local hard drive?

    This is a seemingly obvious response to your initial issue of "controlling" changes but it's worth mentioning. If your schedules are calculating and you don't like the result, you can always elect to not save the changes.

    John

     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 8:12 PM
     
     
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    1.  We are using MS Project 2010 SP1 with Project Server.  

    2.  Yes, all the subprojects are the same version, and we even have it so that you can not connect to project server unless you have the correct local version on your desktop.

    3.  We have SP1 installed, but have not done the April CU

    4.  They are all located on Project server.  


     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 8:59 PM
     
     
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    jedmo,

    Okay let's try this. On your local hard drive, not connected to Project Server, create a couple simple subprojects with cross-project links. Build a master and run a test with calculation set to manual and automatic. What happens?

    I suspect it will work as I explained earlier (i.e. in manual calculation mode cross-project links will not update). If that is the case, then the issue is with the Server environment.

    Let us know.

    John

     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 9:53 PM
     
     
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    I did one better to be sure it was not the Project Schedules.  I saved them locally, opened one of the sub schedules and moved a date around that I know would push through the other schedules, and when I opened the master, it did not auto calc, so it is definitely something with the server.  Thank you for the quick responses John.  

    Jason

     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 10:03 PM
     
     
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    Jason,

    First of all, saving a linked structure to a different location duplicates links, and that can lead to file corruption. Good luck.

    The bottom line appears to be that even though Sapna moved this post from the Project Server forum, it appears it should go back to that forum since what you are seeing is related to being in the Project Server environment. I'm not a moderator so I can't move it back. You can either do it yourself or hope this catches the attention of a moderator so they can move it.

    Meanwhile, you're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

    John

     
  • Thursday, 3 May 2012 11:29 PM
     
     
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    I opened the Master Schedule in read only, then I saved the schedules locally. I've done this many time before without issue.  Thanks again for your help.  I will contact the mod.  


    Jason

     
  • Friday, 4 May 2012 2:34 AM
     
     
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    Jason,

    Just for reference, it doesn't matter what mode you open the master in, or if you open it at all. If you copy or move files in a linked structure, those links are duplicated. I'd say you are lucky so far.

    John