Start vs. Actual Start???

I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice Gantt
Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've inserted
Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but whenever I try to
updated the Actual Start date for a task, it changes the Start date.

For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the Actual
Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: The Start date
is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it seems like tracking my
progress would be difficult if the Start and Actual Start dates match up.

What am I missing?

Thanks.
Earl

Roland
Thu May 15 16:39:02 CDT 2008

You need to use the baseline features to track what you've planned against
where you are.

Anytime you change the Actual Start date project understands this to mean
you're start date should be the same.

Hope this helps.


"Earl" wrote:

> I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice Gantt
> Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've inserted
> Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but whenever I try to
> updated the Actual Start date for a task, it changes the Start date.
>
> For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the Actual
> Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: The Start date
> is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it seems like tracking my
> progress would be difficult if the Start and Actual Start dates match up.
>
> What am I missing?
>
> Thanks.
> Earl

Mike
Thu May 15 16:37:28 CDT 2008

Hi Earl,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :)

The Start field is the planned date and Project assumes the Actual Sart you
enter is the truth and thus overwrites the Start date, thus giving a true
record of what is going on. If you want to preserve the original plan, you
must save a baseline and then you can use the Tracking Gantt view to compare
Actual with Plan. You might like to see my tutorials on tracking.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials


Earl wrote:
> I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice
> Gantt Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've
> inserted Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but
> whenever I try to updated the Actual Start date for a task, it
> changes the Start date.
>
> For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the
> Actual Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note:
> The Start date is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it
> seems like tracking my progress would be difficult if the Start and
> Actual Start dates match up.
>
> What am I missing?
>
> Thanks.
> Earl

ejjohnson
Fri May 16 09:46:00 CDT 2008

Thanks Mike, your response (and Roland's) was very helpful. I've added
Baseline Start and Baseline Finish columns to my chart and can now see my
progress. Thank you both again!

Earl

"Mike Glen" wrote:

> Hi Earl,
>
> Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :)
>
> The Start field is the planned date and Project assumes the Actual Sart you
> enter is the truth and thus overwrites the Start date, thus giving a true
> record of what is going on. If you want to preserve the original plan, you
> must save a baseline and then you can use the Tracking Gantt view to compare
> Actual with Plan. You might like to see my tutorials on tracking.
>
> FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
> this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm
>
> Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)
>
> Mike Glen
> MS Project MVP
> See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials
>
>
> Earl wrote:
> > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice
> > Gantt Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've
> > inserted Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but
> > whenever I try to updated the Actual Start date for a task, it
> > changes the Start date.
> >
> > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the
> > Actual Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note:
> > The Start date is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it
> > seems like tracking my progress would be difficult if the Start and
> > Actual Start dates match up.
> >
> > What am I missing?
> >
> > Thanks.
> > Earl
>
>
>

ejjohnson
Fri May 16 09:46:01 CDT 2008

Thanks Roland, your response (and Mike's) was very helpful. I've added
Baseline Start and Baseline Finish columns to my chart and can now see my
progress. Thank you both again!

Earl

"Roland" wrote:

> You need to use the baseline features to track what you've planned against
> where you are.
>
> Anytime you change the Actual Start date project understands this to mean
> you're start date should be the same.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
> "Earl" wrote:
>
> > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice Gantt
> > Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've inserted
> > Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but whenever I try to
> > updated the Actual Start date for a task, it changes the Start date.
> >
> > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the Actual
> > Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note: The Start date
> > is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it seems like tracking my
> > progress would be difficult if the Start and Actual Start dates match up.
> >
> > What am I missing?
> >
> > Thanks.
> > Earl

Mike
Fri May 16 10:21:23 CDT 2008

You're welcome, Earl :-)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials


"Earl" <ejjohnson@colpipe.com> wrote in message
news:3E6A6625-75DE-4B43-8C39-DF5A6A0959B1@microsoft.com...
> Thanks Mike, your response (and Roland's) was very helpful. I've added
> Baseline Start and Baseline Finish columns to my chart and can now see my
> progress. Thank you both again!
>
> Earl
>
> "Mike Glen" wrote:
>
>> Hi Earl,
>>
>> Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :)
>>
>> The Start field is the planned date and Project assumes the Actual Sart
>> you
>> enter is the truth and thus overwrites the Start date, thus giving a true
>> record of what is going on. If you want to preserve the original plan,
>> you
>> must save a baseline and then you can use the Tracking Gantt view to
>> compare
>> Actual with Plan. You might like to see my tutorials on tracking.
>>
>> FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen
>> at
>> this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm
>>
>> Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)
>>
>> Mike Glen
>> MS Project MVP
>> See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials
>>
>>
>> Earl wrote:
>> > I'm a relatively new user to MS Project 2007, but have created a nice
>> > Gantt Chart for my project complete with Start and Finish dates. I've
>> > inserted Actual Start and Actual Finish columns into my chart, but
>> > whenever I try to updated the Actual Start date for a task, it
>> > changes the Start date.
>> >
>> > For example, if my Start date for a task was April 1, but I enter the
>> > Actual Start date as April 2, my Start date changes to April 2. Note:
>> > The Start date is actually more like a scheduled start date, and it
>> > seems like tracking my progress would be difficult if the Start and
>> > Actual Start dates match up.
>> >
>> > What am I missing?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> > Earl
>>
>>
>>