Lesson6.1.Delaying Resource Start Time

Lesson 6.1. Delaying Resource Start Time

Figure 6-1. The General tab of the Assignment Information dialog box.

Figure 6-2. The revised rescheduled schedule for the delayed start time.

In tasks where more than one resource is assigned, you can stagger start dates of resources so they aren't all working on the task at the same time. This is useful if one resource's work has to wait until the other resources have started their work. However, spreading out work this way also extends the duration of the task. This lesson will show you how to do this.

1. Navigate to your Practice folder and open Lesson 6. Save the file as Resources.

   Two resources are assigned to the "Edit and proof text" task. But one of them, the Melissa Peterson resource, doesn't have to start working on the task until later in the assignment, because she will enter the edits found by Kitty Rogers.

2. Select the Edit and proof text task.

   To delay a resource start date, we'll use the Task Usage view.

3. Select View The two resources assigned to the task appear beneath the task name.

4. Select the Melissa Peterson resource under the "Edit and proof text" task. Click the Assignment Information button on the Standard toolbar.

   The General tab of the Assignment Information dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 6-1.

   Let's delay this resource so that Melissa starts working on the task two working days after the scheduled start date of the task.

5. Click the Start list arrow and select 4/18/06 from the calendar menu. Click OK.

   The dialog box closes, and the resource start date has been rescheduled.

   Let's take a look at how Project distributed the hours for the resource assignment.

6. Click the Go To Selected Task button on the Standard toolbar.

   You can see the work hours scheduled for each day, as shown in Figure 6-2.

   The resource works no hours on Friday and Monday, but resumes work on Tuesday. The other resource, Kitty Rogers, was not affected, but the duration of the task was. The task will now last two days longer.

QUICK REFERENCE

TO DELAY A RESOURCE START DATE:

1. SELECT THE TASK WITH THE RESOURCE YOU WANT TO DELAY.

2. SELECT VIEW

   SELECT THE RESOURCE YOU WANT TO DELAY.

3. CLICK THE ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION BUTTON ON THE STANDARD TOOLBAR.

4. ENTER THE NEW START DATE IN THE START BOX.

5. CLICK OK.