What is the best way to update actuals against MS Project Tasks?

[SPQR1965]

We are currently working with PWA and Microsoft Project Professional. We conduct all of our estimates in hours and task contributors advise of progress by providing hours progress against each task. The PM then inputs this information against the task.

Our question is, which is the most efficient method to enter these 'progress' hours against a task:

• Gantt View?
• Task Usage?
• Resource Usage?
• Task Sheet?

Thanks in anticipation of your support 

[#2 · Accepted solution]

SPQR1965,
It depends on whether you want to track the total actual hours or timebased actuals. Total actual hours can be entered via the Actual Work field of the Gantt Chart, Task Usage, or Task Sheet views. Make sure you also review and change, if appropriate, the Remain Work field.

However, if you need/want to enter assignment actual work for each reporting period (i.e. day, week, month), then that data should be entered directly into the timescale grid Actual Work for each assignment (task or resource). However note that Remaining Work is not available in the timescale grid, that value would be entered under the Remaining Work field static data (left side of view). Project will automatically spread it across the remaining period in the timescale data as Cumulative Actual Work.

Hope this helps.
John

[#3]

SPQR1965 --

Since you are using either Project Online or Project Server, the best way for team members to update their progress would be by using the Timesheet page or Tasks page in PWA. Why is your organization not using this feature of PWA? Let us know and we will try to help you.

[#4]

Dale, a rather long explanation for that 🙂 Team members will not update but report hours spent in say a week on a task. I hope that makes where we are clear? Thanks for the speedy response

[#5]

Thank you for your quick response

[#6]

SPQR1965,
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. I don't use enterprise versions of Project so my response was desktop based only whereas Dale does have extensive expertise in enterprise versions so his response trumps mine.
John