Forum Discussion
Problem with recalculation of resource units
Using Microsoft® Project® Online Desktop Client MSO (Version 2310 Build 16.0.16924.20054) 64-bit
We have project plans with a schedule, consisting of automatically planned, linked tasks with a duration. Now we created an enterprice resource pool and need to update resources and work, without changing the schedule. To archive this, I found this instruction and change the task type to "fixed duration" before entering the new data.
If I add a value to work and then add one or several resources, I would expect the units of the resource to be calculated to match their workload regarding this tasks work during its duration. But by entering work and one or several resources, neither of those values, nor the schedule is being recalculated.
Example: A task is auto scheduled with fixed duration, starting on 10/09/23, duration of 30d, ending on 11/20/23, has no work and ressources assigned. I add 24h of work and no recalculation is applied, becuase no resource is assigned. I add a resource, whose units are set to 60% (its default). As I see it, at this point the data is not even plausible anymore, because the resource now appears to be fully booked as if they would work 30d * 60% = 143,4h on it, but work is still 24h. I would expect the recalculation of its units to 10%.
If I set the task type to "fixed units", add a resource, change the automaticaly calculated work to 24h and manually switch to "decrease the hours resources work per day (units) but keep the same duration", the units are being recalcualted correctly.
Am I not understanding how this is supposed to work or could this be a bug?
Our enterprice resources are set to 60%. Could this be an issue and if so, does anyone have a suggestion how to solve this?
Thanks!
- One addition: If I try to reproduce the issue in a fresh new project plan, it seems the issue only occurs when changing the task type to "fixed duration" after creating the task as "fixed units". If the task is created with the task type "fixed duration", the recalculation works as expected.
bo_gu You may find it helpful to the review this link Scheduling modes in Microsoft Project for the web - Microsoft Support
Thank you RodFromm,
I did not know that the scheduling mode can be configured on the organization level. But it seems this only regards "Project for the web". I found the similar instruction for Project Online Desktop Client, which I linked in my question.
We use Project Online and its Desktop Client and I can't find this configuration on the organisational level (at the PWA settings), but only in the desktop client: I can change the default task type for the project and the task type of any single task and I can even add the column [task] "type" and see my changes being applied (as described above). But after I make changes to the values (units/duration/work), the recalculation seems not work as described in the table that provides information about the impacts of selecting a specific mode to the currently selected mode/task type, but to the mode/task type in which the task was created.
Since changing the task type / mode and the effects are described in the documentation, but this does not seem to take effect on the recalculation, I would consider this a bug. But maybe I don't understand how it is supposed to work or I am missing some settings (maybe there are also some configurations on the organization level for Project Online as well).
Regardless of this being a bug or a feature, it would be helpful for me to know if it is possible in Project Online Desktop Client to recalculate the resources units when changing the work/effort without changing the duration / schedule of tasks, that were created with the task type / mode "fixed units". My current workaround would be to recreate all our project plans, which would not be desirable due to the amount of work...
