Lesson5.6.Understanding Task Type

Lesson 5.6. Understanding Task Type

Figure 5-8. The Advanced tab of the Task Information dialog box.

Defining task types changes how tasks are scheduled. For any task, setting the task type determines which part of the scheduling equation Microsoft Project uses to schedule a task. Once a resource assignment is created, tasks are scheduled using this formula:

Duration = Work/Units

The task type changes how this formula is calculated. This lesson will show you more about how task type affects tasks' schedules.

1. Double-click the Record narration task.

   The Task Information dialog box appears.

2. Click the Advanced tab in the dialog box.

   The Advanced tab appears.

3. Click the Task type list arrow.

   A list of the three task type options appears, as shown in Figure 5-8.

4. Select Fixed Work.

   Now that the task is defined by the amount of work that is performed on it, Project will adjust the task's duration and units based on this information.

   Notice the "Effort driven" checkbox to the right of the "Task type" box. This option tells Microsoft Project to keep the total task work at its current value. The duration of a task shortens or lengthens as resources are added or removed from a task, while the amount of effort necessary to complete a task remains unchanged.

   Since there isn't any work yet assigned to the task, don't check this box.

5. Click OK.

   Table 5-2 describes how each task type works differently.

Table 5-2. Task Types

Type	Description
Fixed Duration	If a task has a fixed duration, the duration will not change. If you revise units, Project recalculates work. If you revise duration in a fixed-duration task, Project recalculates work. If you revise the amount of work, Project recalculates the units.
Fixed Units	This is the default task type. If a task has fixed units, the number of assignment units will not change. If you revise units in a fixed-unit task, Project recalculates duration. If you revise duration, Project recalculates work. If you revise the amount of work, Project recalculates duration.
Fixed Work	If a task has fixed work, the amount of work will remain constant. Because fixed-work tasks are effort-driven, the "Effort driven" checkbox is automatically selected for fixed-work tasks. If you revise units, Project recalculates duration. If you revise duration, Project recalculates units. If you revise the amount of work in a fixed-work task, Project recalculates duration.

QUICK REFERENCE

TO DEFINE TASK TYPE:

1. SELECT THE TASK.

2. CLICK THE TASK INFORMATION BUTTON ON THE STANDARD TOOLBAR.

1. CLICK THE ADVANCED TAB.

2. CLICK THE TASK TYPE LIST ARROW AND SELECT THE TASK TYPE YOU WANT TO ASSIGN TO THE TASK.

3. CLICK OK.