Recent Discussions
Link Procurement Tasks to deliver Just-In-Time without using up slack?
In MS Project, what is the recommended way to link procurement tasks such that the duration is the lead time of the material, the task "finishes" (material delivers) when needed by the subsequent task, and we know when to "start" the task (order material)? If we link the procurement task to the subsequent task with Finish-Start and As Late As Possible, and the subsequent task has total slack (float), this will push the subsequent task back in the schedule and use up its float. If we use Start-Finish, the dates line up but the procurement task doesn't drive the subsequent task as it should (if procurement gets behind schedule, it won't push the subsequent task). If we use the "deadline" feature, we are still tying ourselves to a date rather than letting the schedule dynamically determine when we need to order materials. What is the correct way in MS Project to schedule the ordering of materials so that delivery occurs just-in-time as determined by the scheduled start of the subsequent task?
Project Online Updates & AI Integration
Hi all, Fairly new to this discussion board but I wanted to ask if anyone is aware of any upcoming project desktop updates and potential integration of AI? From what I understand, project has never really evolved significantly and its competitors have started to take some market share. Would love to know if there is something in the works or where I could even find any information on this? It always seems to be challenging finding information. Thanks,Visual report don’t work
Hi I am using msproject 2016 stand alone together with office365. And I get an "unknown error" when I try to use Visual Report. anyone knows how to solve this? I have read somewhere that I need to rollback MS Project to a specific build no. I don’t know if this is the solution. If so. How do I do this and to what build version? Br Rune
How to visualize data desktop projects after PWA retirement?
This questions is a follow-up to the discussion "Data access after Project Online (PWA) retirement". From the "Data access after Project Online (PWA) retirement" discussion it is clear that data will not be moved somewhere else. We are mainly using the PWA site to enable that the data from the desktop projects can be visualized in Power BI, so that we can create project and portfolio dashboards that summarize information from both desktop projects and planner projects. Any thoughts on how this could be achieved in the future?Project Server Power BI Content Pack - Connect to Billed Work Hours?
Is there a way to use the templates in the Project Server Power BI Content Pack and connect to an excel spreadsheet containing the hours billed/charged to a project? Since MS Project simply calculates Actual Work based on % complete status update, we want to compare the "Actual" hours billed to a project to the Remaining Work to get a better picture of whether labor hours are on track to be over/under budgeted hours. ("Actual" hours from an export from our accounting system + "Remaining Work" from the MS Project schedule = Estimated Work at Completion; compare this to Baseline Work). Has anyone done something like this in your organization, and if so, how did you connect these 2 sets of data and create a visual for people in your organization?
Planner and Projects 3 online - getting this onto desktop app
Hi, We have been using Planner and Projects 3 online for the last few months and we needed a bit more functionality, so we downloaded the Project Professional desktop app as per the instructions. Now I want to get all my plans/projects that is in my planner and Projects 3 online accessible or available in Project Professional on my desktop and I have no idea how to do this; please can you assist. I cannot find a way to download paths or files from online to a local drive to be able to open them in the desktop app.
Filter Creation
Hello, I'm hoping this community can help me. I want to create a filter that will dynamically show all in progress tasks as of today's date. I've built the filter as follows: Start is less than or equal to [Value] -AND- Finish is greater than or equal to [Value]. My issue is what to enter as the Value. Copilot said to use "Current Date," "Now()" and "Today," but none of them are dynamic. It even told me to create a new field titled "Today" using the following formula for the Custom Attribute: Today=Date(). Then, it said to reference the "Today" field as the filter Value (e.g. Start is > or = to Today). But that returns the following error: "The entry is not valid. The test value cannot be used with the field for the data you want to find or filter for." At this point I'm at a loss. This seems like it should be a very easy filter to set up; I'm surprised there isn't a built-in system filter for this already. There 's a built in filter titled "In Progress Tasks," but that only filters tasks with an Actual Start that is not blank, and an Actual Finish that is blank. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
%Complete didnt change the Finish Duration
I have an issue on my Microsoft Project work, when I update the %Complete on a single task (tracking mode) the Finish duration didnt change (the task type is Fixed Units). For example: My task was Start 20 Nov 2025 and Finish 5 Dec 2025 The actual task Start 20 Nov 2025 (on schedule) The status date is 28 Nov 2025 The %complete until the status date is 10% From the example, the task should be delayed because I cant increase the works time and the manpower but the Finish Date still locked in 5 Dec 2025. any advice or solution how to solved it? Thanks for the time
Start to Finish Relationship - earliest start when connecting to two predecessors
Hi I have a scenario. Three tasks Task A - Technical documentation (preparation of it) Taks B - Project Stage Finish For Technical documetation so A have to finish before B Task B have Constraint Type - Must Finish On Task B - can change its Start/Finish date Task C - Physical Works Start - Start of works for which Technical Doc. from task A is needed so A have to finish before C Task C - will move as in reality, it will also depend upon other "tings" in project which can and will change Task A is most "submissive" task It always have to be finished before Start of B and C (sorry to all Documentation designers out there) How to create proper connection between a/m taks that always will move finish of Task A before start of B and C independent of where B and C will be moved ? I've tried to use Start to Finish, but it works only if I connect one task Below a screen shoot form my MSP I'm sorry for Polish ... but can't switch it to English (entire Office suite will .. but not MSP.. ) RZ = SF Typ Ograniczenia -> Constraint Type Jak najwcześniej -> As Soon As Possible Musi zakończyć się -> Must Finish On Rozpocznij nie wcześniej niż -> Start No Earlier Than Rozpoczęcie -> START Zakończenie -> Finish Poprzedniki -> Predecessors Następniki -> Successors Example 1 and 1A - works.... but it A is connected to only one task (A or B) Example 2 - I've connected A to B and C, but A is moved beyond B Example - same problem as above but in this scenario I've moved C before B but A... stick itself for task furthrer in future I know that I can create connection like belowe Using "Standard" connection between A and B and in the moment when situation as above will happen (A will move past B), MPS will "Scream" at me with a message that he can't finish task A but that is not a solution for me.
People Picker in Project Detail Pages - Not Working for Already Created Projects
Hi, I have a non-mandatory field (say, "Expert") in PDP. When I create a new project, I can select the "Expert" using People Picker. When I try to open an existing project (to assign/reassign an "Expert") the People Picker feature does not work. Custom scripting is already activated. Any insight from users, as to what configuration changes should be made, would be much appreciated. ThanksProject Server - Print Project Center Gantt Chart?
In on-premises Project Server, how do you print or export a view of the Gantt chart for all projects in Project Center? There is a way to print the Gantt chart view for each individual project, but we are looking for a way to print or export the Gantt Chart view which shows the summary bar for each project in Project Server (as shown in the Project Center). Is this possible with Project Server, and if so, how do we accomplish this?Cashflow Visual report export
Hi, When I export from Visual reports using the cash flow template, my data uses Years, Quarters, and Weeks. This is fine; however, I want to edit this data. I want to show actual sequential dates, not week numbers, and I want to modify the start date of a Quarter as our business does not follow calendar quarters. There are no fields in the Pivot table selection boxes with dates, and I don't seem to be able to edit the edit section to show the date prior to export. Does anyone know how to change this? Thanks.
Change Print Page Order
Hello, I'm looking to see if someone can help me find how to change the order that pages are printed in Project. Personally, I know this doesn't matter because you can just line them up as you like, but my job has me make PDFs of them as well and my boss would prefer the order to be different, so if possible I'd rather find a way to make it do it the way he'd like automatically than me re-arranging the PDF pages and editing the page numbers. Essentially, they want it to show the entire date line of the gantt chart first before showing the next set of rows. I've attached 2 screenshots of the print preview, one is the order it currently is (focusing on the rows first) and the 2nd is the order my boss would like (focusing on the gantt chart dates first). Is this possible and if so, how do I go about setting it up?
LOE Tasks in Project Server
What is the proper way to reflect LOE (Level Of Effort) tasks in MS Project? For example, adding a task showing the PM working 10% of his time on the project, for the duration of the project. If we simply give that task a duration equal to the project, then Project cannot determine the correct Critical Path of the project. In addition, if the project duration changes, the PM will have to manually change the duration of the PM task. If we try linking this task with SS and FF relationships, the duration remains 1 day unless we input the duration, in which case we still have to update the duration as the project progresses. I have tried creating a hammock LOE task by copying and pasting links to the first and last tasks, as described in TenSix Consulting articles https://tensix.com/creating-loe-tasks-in-microsoft-project/ and https://tensix.com/more-about-level-of-effort-tasks-in-microsoft-project/ . However, this does not work in my version of Project Professional. I am only able to link either the starting date or finish date, but not both. Does anyone here have experience with scheduling this type of LOE task in MS Project? We are using on premises Project Server. We want to schedule this type of PM oversight task to plan for the estimated hours of PM time over the span of the project, have the task duration update dynamically if the project duration changes, and be able to status this PM task during the project to reflect the "actual" and "remaining" hours for the task as the project progresses.
Recent Blogs
- Project 2016 and Project 2019 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025.Oct 14, 2024
- One of my favourite features in Project Online, and Project Server, has been the portfolio features that allow you do match your plan portfolio against your business drivers to ensure you are gaining...Sep 25, 2024
