I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a specific
task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do this?
Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how to
create one?

On Nov 5, 7:02 am, Scrufnut <Scruf...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a specific
> task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
> How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do this?
> Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how to
> create one?

Lemme see now, I think I did this once before. Oh yes, the "Help"
function in Project will tell you! Glad I remembered that.

Your sarcastic response is NOT appreciated! FYI, I've been using the HELP
feature along with MS Project 2003's 1000 page manual to find a resolution.
If it was that easy to find, I wouldn't be addressing this community!

"davegb" wrote:

> On Nov 5, 7:02 am, Scrufnut <Scruf...@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
> > I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a specific
> > task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
> > How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do this?
> > Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how to
> > create one?
>
> Lemme see now, I think I did this once before. Oh yes, the "Help"
> function in Project will tell you! Glad I remembered that.
>
>

Hi,

I'm not going to republish the how to do a formula either but maybe we can
get a little closer to a solution.
If you want to see the difference between the start of a task and another
date which exists in an other task, and which may move whenever there is a
plan change, the reply is simple: can't be done with a formula. You need a
VBA procedure to do that.
Formulas only handle data of the task itself, and data on Project level.
For instance, you might set the contract signing date manually as the
project start date - then a formula would be feasible. But should the date
of your signing task move, then you would have to adjust that start date of
the project: manually again.

If either of those solutions may interest you, tell me, I'll give a hand.
Hope this helps,

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project MVP
http://users.online.be/prom-ade
"Scrufnut" <Scrufnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news2C15463-1D5A-4839-AF71-CBD4335B5121@microsoft.com...
>I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a
>specific
> task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
> How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do
> this?
> Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how
> to
> create one?

Jim,

We are on the right track, thanks so much!

Yes, I was wanting to create a formula to be shown in a column.

I inserted your forumla in a custom duration field named "Duration1". I
received a syntax error and when I looked at the formula, it highlighted
where the software automatically inserted "TASK" prior to "calendar". I tried
pulling "TASK" and it erred again.

So I did as you recommended and dropped "calendar". The formula works
however the result is in # of work days.

Is there a way to achieve the result in "# of calendar days"?

Ed


"Jim Aksel" wrote:

> I am not quite sure what you want ...
> Do you want the result to be in days, such that "Contract Signed" is Day1
> and "Contract Complete" is day 193?
>
> You can format the time scale to give you a scale like Day1, Day2, Day3...
> For something like that, the Help would be the best solution.
>
> If you need to see that "Design Review" start on contract day "23" you can
> do that with the formatted time scale as well.
>
> It seems like you wish a formula so this can be shown in a column. If that
> is the case, try inserting a custom duration field like Duration1. Assign a
> forumula to Duration1 like this:
>
> ProjDateDiff([Project Start],[Start], calendar)
>
> This will calculate the number of work days between the Project Start Date
> and the start date of the task on that line. You can hard key dates if
> needed, but that is not recommended.
>
> "Calendar" is an optional parameter of the forumula. It needs to be deleted
> here if you are using the default. If you have a named calandar for this
> project, you should assign it here.
>
> See if that helps, I am sorry you were not treated professionally online.
>
> --
> If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.
>
> Jim
>
> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information
> about Microsoft Project
>
>
>
> "Scrufnut" wrote:
>
> > I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a specific
> > task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
> > How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do this?
> > Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how to
> > create one?

In article <82D63E4C-0E8E-4E78-85E7-F040E4C8E8B7@microsoft.com>,
Scrufnut <Scrufnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Your sarcastic response is NOT appreciated! FYI, I've been using the HELP
> feature along with MS Project 2003's 1000 page manual to find a resolution.
> If it was that easy to find, I wouldn't be addressing this community!

Scrufnut,
Obviously you are pretty frustrated. Project can do that to you. Let's
see if I can help.

What you want could be done by customizing a spare field with a formula
that calculates a date difference, or it could done a little more
efficiently using VBA. For simplicity, let's use the custom field
approach. You didn't mention if you want the difference in working days
or elapsed days - I'll assume working days.

1. Designate two spare fields - one spare date field (e.g. Date1) and
one spare duration field (e.g. Duration1)
2. Enter the date of "contact signing" in the Date1 field and do a fill
down so it is entered in all tasks. This is necessary since formulas
only calculate on task by task basis
3. Go to Tools/Customize/Field
4. Select the field type as "Duration" and then select Duration1
5. Hit the Formula button
6. Insert the following
ProjDateDiff([Date1],[Start])
7. Hit "OK" and "OK"

Hope this helps.

John
Project MVP
>
> "davegb" wrote:
>
> > On Nov 5, 7:02 am, Scrufnut <Scruf...@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > wrote:
> > > I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a
> > > specific
> > > task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other
> > > task.
> > > How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do
> > > this?
> > > Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how
> > > to
> > > create one?
> >
> > Lemme see now, I think I did this once before. Oh yes, the "Help"
> > function in Project will tell you! Glad I remembered that.
> >
> >

I am not quite sure what you want ...
Do you want the result to be in days, such that "Contract Signed" is Day1
and "Contract Complete" is day 193?

You can format the time scale to give you a scale like Day1, Day2, Day3...
For something like that, the Help would be the best solution.

If you need to see that "Design Review" start on contract day "23" you can
do that with the formatted time scale as well.

It seems like you wish a formula so this can be shown in a column. If that
is the case, try inserting a custom duration field like Duration1. Assign a
forumula to Duration1 like this:

ProjDateDiff([Project Start],[Start], calendar)

This will calculate the number of work days between the Project Start Date
and the start date of the task on that line. You can hard key dates if
needed, but that is not recommended.

"Calendar" is an optional parameter of the forumula. It needs to be deleted
here if you are using the default. If you have a named calandar for this
project, you should assign it here.

See if that helps, I am sorry you were not treated professionally online.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

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



"Scrufnut" wrote:

> I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a specific
> task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
> How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do this?
> Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how to
> create one?

Thanks for your response Jan. I understand what you are saying. It so
happens that my contract signing date coincides with my Project start date so
I can see why Jim's formula based on the "Project Start" is working for me.
If I had wanted to use a date that did not coincide with the Project Start
Date it would not have.

Thanks for your response!

Ed

"Jan De Messemaeker" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm not going to republish the how to do a formula either but maybe we can
> get a little closer to a solution.
> If you want to see the difference between the start of a task and another
> date which exists in an other task, and which may move whenever there is a
> plan change, the reply is simple: can't be done with a formula. You need a
> VBA procedure to do that.
> Formulas only handle data of the task itself, and data on Project level.
> For instance, you might set the contract signing date manually as the
> project start date - then a formula would be feasible. But should the date
> of your signing task move, then you would have to adjust that start date of
> the project: manually again.
>
> If either of those solutions may interest you, tell me, I'll give a hand.
> Hope this helps,
>
> --
> Jan De Messemaeker
> Microsoft Project MVP
> http://users.online.be/prom-ade
> "Scrufnut" <Scrufnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news2C15463-1D5A-4839-AF71-CBD4335B5121@microsoft.com...
> >I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a
> >specific
> > task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other task.
> > How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do
> > this?
> > Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how
> > to
> > create one?
>
>
>

Thanks John! Actually Jim Aksel's response was almost identical although he
based his formula off the Project Start Date which is OK because all of our
schedules that I can think of have a Project Start Date that coincides with a
"Contyract Signing Date". I will retain your info in case we ever have a
situation that it does not.

I would like to know how to modify the formula to get the result in "elapsed
days".

Ed

"John" wrote:

> In article <82D63E4C-0E8E-4E78-85E7-F040E4C8E8B7@microsoft.com>,
> Scrufnut <Scrufnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Your sarcastic response is NOT appreciated! FYI, I've been using the HELP
> > feature along with MS Project 2003's 1000 page manual to find a resolution.
> > If it was that easy to find, I wouldn't be addressing this community!
>
> Scrufnut,
> Obviously you are pretty frustrated. Project can do that to you. Let's
> see if I can help.
>
> What you want could be done by customizing a spare field with a formula
> that calculates a date difference, or it could done a little more
> efficiently using VBA. For simplicity, let's use the custom field
> approach. You didn't mention if you want the difference in working days
> or elapsed days - I'll assume working days.
>
> 1. Designate two spare fields - one spare date field (e.g. Date1) and
> one spare duration field (e.g. Duration1)
> 2. Enter the date of "contact signing" in the Date1 field and do a fill
> down so it is entered in all tasks. This is necessary since formulas
> only calculate on task by task basis
> 3. Go to Tools/Customize/Field
> 4. Select the field type as "Duration" and then select Duration1
> 5. Hit the Formula button
> 6. Insert the following
> ProjDateDiff([Date1],[Start])
> 7. Hit "OK" and "OK"
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> John
> Project MVP
> >
> > "davegb" wrote:
> >
> > > On Nov 5, 7:02 am, Scrufnut <Scruf...@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a
> > > > specific
> > > > task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other
> > > > task.
> > > > How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do
> > > > this?
> > > > Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on how
> > > > to
> > > > create one?
> > >
> > > Lemme see now, I think I did this once before. Oh yes, the "Help"
> > > function in Project will tell you! Glad I remembered that.
> > >
> > >
>

Hi,

Either use the 24 hours calendar in the formula (or a calendar of your own
making that does not have weekends nor holidays) OR use the Datediff
function instead of the ProjDateDiff function.
Attention: it has a totally different syntax!

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project MVP
http://users.online.be/prom-ade
"Scrufnut" <Scrufnut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:90CB3BCA-3BDF-422F-A4BF-3132803E32AD@microsoft.com...
> Jim,
>
> We are on the right track, thanks so much!
>
> Yes, I was wanting to create a formula to be shown in a column.
>
> I inserted your forumla in a custom duration field named "Duration1". I
> received a syntax error and when I looked at the formula, it highlighted
> where the software automatically inserted "TASK" prior to "calendar". I
> tried
> pulling "TASK" and it erred again.
>
> So I did as you recommended and dropped "calendar". The formula works
> however the result is in # of work days.
>
> Is there a way to achieve the result in "# of calendar days"?
>
> Ed
>
>
> "Jim Aksel" wrote:
>
>> I am not quite sure what you want ...
>> Do you want the result to be in days, such that "Contract Signed" is Day1
>> and "Contract Complete" is day 193?
>>
>> You can format the time scale to give you a scale like Day1, Day2,
>> Day3...
>> For something like that, the Help would be the best solution.
>>
>> If you need to see that "Design Review" start on contract day "23" you
>> can
>> do that with the formatted time scale as well.
>>
>> It seems like you wish a formula so this can be shown in a column. If
>> that
>> is the case, try inserting a custom duration field like Duration1.
>> Assign a
>> forumula to Duration1 like this:
>>
>> ProjDateDiff([Project Start],[Start], calendar)
>>
>> This will calculate the number of work days between the Project Start
>> Date
>> and the start date of the task on that line. You can hard key dates if
>> needed, but that is not recommended.
>>
>> "Calendar" is an optional parameter of the forumula. It needs to be
>> deleted
>> here if you are using the default. If you have a named calandar for this
>> project, you should assign it here.
>>
>> See if that helps, I am sorry you were not treated professionally online.
>>
>> --
>> If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information
>> about Microsoft Project
>>
>>
>>
>> "Scrufnut" wrote:
>>
>> > I would like to add a column that shows the number of days between a
>> > specific
>> > task (in this case -"contract signing") and the start of every other
>> > task.
>> > How do I do this? Is there an existing field type that would let me do
>> > this?
>> > Do I use a formula, and if so, where can I find basic instructions on
>> > how to
>> > create one?