Hi,

I've just started using Project 2003 and I've found an irritation. If I
have a task which I've set to 4 hours, I then allocate my resources to
the task of 4 people, and Project changes the duration to 1 hour. What
I want is for the task to take 16 man-hours (4 men for 4 hours). How do
I stop Project re-calculating the duration when I assign resources?

TIA

--
Spence

Hello Spence,

If you wish to be able to modify (add or remove) resources without
having project change the duration, set the task as non-effort driven.
Double click on the task to show the Task Information dialog and make
the change on the Advanced tab. You may wish to change the default in
Tools > Options, Schedule tab.

You may also want to split your screen from the Gantt chart to show the
Task Form in the lower pane. You can change effort driven options on
the Task Form as well as also be able to modify work for each resource
assigned.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

"Spence" <spencelayhathotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:VA.00000017.1bf542cc@a100-049-vista...
> Hi,
>
> I've just started using Project 2003 and I've found an irritation. If
> I
> have a task which I've set to 4 hours, I then allocate my resources to
> the task of 4 people, and Project changes the duration to 1 hour. What
> I want is for the task to take 16 man-hours (4 men for 4 hours). How
> do
> I stop Project re-calculating the duration when I assign resources?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Spence
>

Hi Spence,

First, as an introduction: the way Project handles duration as function of
resources allocated could be the subject of a 100 pages book: I shall not
explain all possibilities but stick to your question.

Option 1. Instead of allocation the resources 1 by 1, when the taslk is
still "virgin", no resoruces assigned and Work=0, show the Assign Resoruces
Window and ASSIGN ALL RESOURCES IN 1 GO, not doing enter in between.

Option 2. In Task Information, Advanced, set effort driven for the task off.

Hope this helps,


--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf
"Spence" <spencelayhathotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:VA.00000017.1bf542cc@a100-049-vista...
> Hi,
>
> I've just started using Project 2003 and I've found an irritation. If I
> have a task which I've set to 4 hours, I then allocate my resources to
> the task of 4 people, and Project changes the duration to 1 hour. What
> I want is for the task to take 16 man-hours (4 men for 4 hours). How do
> I stop Project re-calculating the duration when I assign resources?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Spence
>

Hi Spence,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project in the
TechTrax ezine, particularly #10 on multiple resources, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the article before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP


"Spence" <spencelayhathotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:VA.00000017.1bf542cc@a100-049-vista...
> Hi,
>
> I've just started using Project 2003 and I've found an irritation. If I
> have a task which I've set to 4 hours, I then allocate my resources to
> the task of 4 people, and Project changes the duration to 1 hour. What
> I want is for the task to take 16 man-hours (4 men for 4 hours). How do
> I stop Project re-calculating the duration when I assign resources?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Spence
>

Thank you all for your comments. Very helpful.

Mike, nice set of tutorials, I'm working my way through them. I'll
leave feedback on them once I've had time to assimilate them.

I'm beginning to realise that Project is very picky about the order
that things are done in.

--
Spence

You're welcome, Spence, and thanks for your kind words. :-)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials


"Spence" <spencelayhathotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:VA.00000018.1f29b213@a100-049-vista...
> Thank you all for your comments. Very helpful.
>
> Mike, nice set of tutorials, I'm working my way through them. I'll
> leave feedback on them once I've had time to assimilate them.
>
> I'm beginning to realise that Project is very picky about the order
> that things are done in.
>
> --
> Spence
>