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I am planning my Master thesis through Microsoft Project. Since some tasks can be exhausting (e.g. writing), I would like to distribute some selected tasks over many days. For example, I am estimating that working on a section of the thesis would take 9 hours, but I would like to distribute the 9 hours over 3 days (3 hours/day).

One example of my setup for a given task is the following:

  • Unit type: Fixed Duration
  • Duration: 3 days
  • Hours: 9 hours.

However, my issue is with the following task. Here is a screen capture:

Example of the bug

As you may see, the task number 6, which has a work duration of 1h, is automatically setup the next working day. However, it is weird since I obviously have the time to do this task right after its predecessors, the same day its finish (my working hours is 9 to 1h30PM, then having 4.5 hours per day available). enter image description here

All allocation is done automatically using leveling. I tried to reset the start and finish date (since Project consider task 5 to finish at the "end" of the day), but I still have the issue. Both working time and Option-->Schedule-->Hours per day are set up at 4.5 hours per day.

Any idea why Project refuse to behave nicely!? Is there another way to better set up my task for a better hours distribution over days?

Thank you for your help!

Maxime

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    I have reproduced this but cannot find a solution. MS-Project is not good where a resource has fractional availability and fractional max units. I'd be keen to know how to fix this myself...
    – Marv Mills
    Commented Jun 17, 2016 at 9:21
  • Thank you Marv for the feedback. I am still struggling as well. For the moment, I decided to simply go forward with a simple and linear schedule. More simple. I will manage each weeks the more subtle tasks allocation. In addition, for the tasks I would like to allocate in "parallel" with others, I will try to "duplicate" myself as a resource, such as Maxime - Reading, Maxime - Stats. This way, Project should allocate a certain number of hours to each cognitive resources. Thank you for the feedback!
    – Max H.
    Commented Jun 18, 2016 at 16:43

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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I think if you add the peak units field to the time scaled portion of the Resource Usage view - you will have your answer.

Maxine is assigned at 67% Assignment Units to task 3 (3 hours of work each day for 3 days) Maxine is assigned at 33% Assignment Units to task 5 (1.5 hours of work each day for two days) Maxine is assigned at 100% assignment units to task 6 (1 hour of work in 1 hour duration)

Both tasks 3 and 5 can be schedules at the same time because her max units is 100% and the assignment units add up to 100%. However, task 5 & 6 add to 167% so she is overallocated on an hour by hour basis. Set your "Look for overallocations on a" to day by day - she is not overallocated and task 6 can happen concurrently with task 3.

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