MS Project Status Guidance

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Hi Expert,&nbsp;Wonder if someone could assist ,me with something or perhaps point us in the right direction please?I'm currently working on a Milestone Plan for reporting project work. I’ve built a project plan using MS project but I'm struggling with the logic to align the % complete to the status of the task.&nbsp;Using an example below:&nbsp;Start Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st April 2021Target Finish Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 31st July 2021Actual Finish Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; not yet completeProgress&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 80%Task Status&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On Schedule&nbsp;Start Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st April 2021Target Finish Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 31st July 2021Actual Finish Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12th August 2021Progress&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 100%Task Status&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Late&nbsp;Start Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st April 2021Target Finish Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 31st July 2021Actual Finish Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;15th July 2021Progress&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 100%Task Status&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Early Complete&nbsp;Start Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st April 2021Target Finish Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 31st October&nbsp; 2021Actual Finish Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; not yet completeProgress&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 60%Task Status&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Future Task&nbsp;Start Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st April 2021Target Finish Date&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 31st October&nbsp; 2021Actual Finish Date&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 31st July 2021Progress&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 100%Task Status&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;CompleteTask Status: On Schedule, Early Complete,Late, Future Task, Complete&nbsp;Whilst we’ve completed 80% of the task it’s still late but our plan isn’t reflecting this. Similarly, if we reduce the progress to say 25% it shows as&nbsp; late but doesn’t give an accurate reflection of the progress made. I’d also like to report on completed tasks in terms of what was delivered early/on time/late but we’re struggling to get this in place.&nbsp;Is there anyone who could help me?Many ThanksDhan

dale_howardmvp · Answer

Dhan --The value in the Task Status field is calculated by Microsoft Project based on the Status date of your project.  The Status date is a value you must manually enter, and it is not generated for your automatically.  The Status date should be the last day of the previous reporting period.  So, if today is Tuesday, your Status date should be last Friday.  To set the Status date, click the Project tab to display the Project ribbon and then click the Status Date button.  In the Status Date dialog, enter the date of the last day of the previous reporting period and then click the OK button.  You will need to do this every week to get accurate values in the Task Status field.If you do not set the Status date for your project, then Microsoft Project uses the Current Date value instead.  I suspect that is probably why you are seeing unpredictable results in the Task Status field in your project.  Hope this helps.

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MS Project Status Guidance

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