Working with Activities 209
Defining Schedule Information
For more information on updating the schedule, see Part 4, “Updating and Managing the Schedule” on page 269.
Use the Activity Details Status tab to view and edit detailed schedule information for the selected activity, including actual start and finish dates, free float, total float, constraints, and duration. You can also view and edit the activity’s labor and nonlabor unit/cost values and material cost values.
The module automatically recalculates the time value and period you enter according to the project's calendar and the standard timeperiod defined by your network/database administrator. To view the available timeperiod abbreviations, choose Admin, Admin Preferences, then click the Time Periods tab. You must have appropriate access rights to edit Admin Preferences.
In the Activities window, select the activity whose schedule information you want to define. Click the Layout Options bar, then choose Show on Bottom, Activity Details; click the Status tab.
Duration Update the Duration fields when you are setting the duration or updating the activity as a whole. (Most likely, the activity type will be Task Dependent.)
■To enter the original duration for the activity, in the Original field enter the expected number of workperiods required to complete the selected activity.
■To enter the remaining duration for the activity, in the Remaining field enter the remaining number of workperiods needed to complete the selected activity. If the selected activity is in progress, type a new number immediately followed by the timeperiod abbreviation.
Use the General tab of the Admin Preferences dialog box to specify the default duration for activities in all projects. Choose Admin, Admin Preferences, then click the General tab.
Primavera - Project Management
210Part 3: Implementing the Schedule
■To enter a new at completion estimate, in the At Complete field enter an estimate of the duration at completion time for the selected activity. If the selected activity is in progress, type a new at completion estimate (At Complete Duration = Actual Duration + Remaining Duration).
The % field name changes depending on the percent complete type set on the Activity Details General tab.
If the Link Budget to EAC checkbox is cleared in the Projects Details, Calculations tab in the Project Window, the original budgeted /remaining units and costs, and the durations, will remain constant when you update the At Complete value for activities that have not started.
Status Once an activity is underway, update its start and finish dates and other status information.
■To enter the activity’s planned start date, click the Browse button in the Started field, then select a date. If the activity has actually started, mark the Started checkbox, then specify the actual start date in the Started field.
■To enter the activity’s planned finish date, click the Browse button in the Finished field, then select a date. If the activity is complete, mark the Finished checkbox, then specify the actual finish date in the Finished field.
If the planned date you enter differs from its scheduled date, you are prompted to apply a constraint to hold the activity in place. If you do not constrain the activity, your dates are overwritten when the schedule is calculated.
■If the selected activity has started, the Exp Finish field displays the date the activity is expected to end. (Only the primary resource can edit this date in the Timesheets module.) Anyone who has access to the project can edit this date.
■If the selected activity’s percent complete type is set to Duration, the Duration % is calculated from the original and remaining durations. If the selected activity’s percent complete type is set to Units, the Units % is calculated from the actual and remaining units. If the selected activity’s percent complete type is set to Physical, you can enter its physical percent complete in the Physical % field.
To edit the Physical % field, the activity must have started.
Primavera - Project Management
Working with Activities 211
■Total float is the amount of time the selected activity can be delayed, without delaying the project’s finish date.
■Free float is the amount of time the selected activity can be delayed, without delaying the immediate successor activities.
Constraints Use constraints when activities must start or finish on a specific date. Network logic alone cannot reflect all project situations. Sometimes activity must be accomplished according to specific dates rather than on dates determined by other activities in the project. To model dependence on specific dates, assign primary and secondary constraints to activities.
The module uses the date constraints only when they create a tighter schedule. For example, an imposed Start On date of December 1 will not affect a schedule-determined early start date of December 15. Conversely, if an imposed Start On or After date is set to December 30, the module schedules an activity whose early start is December 15 to the imposed start date.
■Choose the primary constraint for the activity, then click the Browse button in the Date field to select the date to which the primary constraint applies.
■Choose a secondary constraint if necessary. This list is filtered based on the value you select in the Primary field. Click the Browse button in the Date field to select the date to which the secondary constraint applies.
You can enter a constraint date only after you select a constraint type.
Labor/Nonlabor Units/Cost or Material Cost Click the Options bar and select Labor or Nonlabor units or cost, or Material cost. The amounts in the Status tab total the amounts for all resources assigned in the Resources tab.
■The budgeted amount is the expected number of labor/nonlabor units or cost, or material cost the selected activity’s resources will use.
■The actual amount is the actual number of labor/nonlabor units or cost, or material cost the selected activity’s resources have used. If the selected activity has started, type a new actual value.
■The remaining amount is the remaining number of labor/nonlabor units or cost, or material cost the selected activity’s resources will use. If the selected activity is in progress, type a new remaining value.
Primavera - Project Management
212Part 3: Implementing the Schedule
■The at complete amount is an estimate of the labor/ nonlabor units or cost, or material cost at completion time for the selected activity’s resources, (At Complete Units/Cost = Actual Units/Cost + Remaining Units/Cost). If the selected activity is in progress, type a new at complete estimate.
If the Link Budget and At Completion for Not Started Activities checkbox is cleared in the Projects Details, Calculations tab on the Project Window, the original budgeted /remaining units and costs and the durations will remain constant when you update the At Complete value for activities that have not started.
Primavera - Project Management