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Free float as duration automatically

5 replies [Last post]
Martin M
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Hi,

I am new to Microsoft Project, but has much experience with Safran Project. Is it possible to get MS Project automatically set free float of a activity as the activity's duration? 

Ex. on follow-on activities.

I also miss the "planned progress" coloumn, but according to google that is impossible without using formulas which hardly works. Or is it a solution without using formulas?

Thank you in advance.

Regards

Replies

Evgeny Z.
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Joined: 13 Jan 2008
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Sub ExtendTasksDurationToEliminateFreeSlack()
 
Dim tsk As Task
Dim amntTasksExtended As Integer
 
amntTasksExtended = 0
 
 
For Each tsk In ActiveProject.Tasks
 
If tsk.FreeSlack > 0 Then
 
tsk.Duration = tsk.Duration + tsk.FreeSlack
 
amntTasksExtended = amntTasksExtended + 1
 
End If
 
 
Next tsk
 
MsgBox (amntTasksExtended & " tasks have been extended to eliminate free slack")
 
 
End Sub
Evgeny Z.
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Martin, this is how VBA could look like (see next post)

Martin M
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Thank you for the answers,

No I only want to use it on follow on activities, which will run from and to dates given by other parameters. This means that I have to change duration on the follow on activities when the other parameters changes, for example an installation date. I want it to have free float zero and not on critical path.

Rafael Davila
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Joined: 1 Mar 2004
Posts: 5229

If you give them more time they will use it pretending to be busy as there is no hurry, it is the opposite of targeting a tight schedule in the hope you will make it, it is contrary to common sense.  

It can be done using formulas, a user defined field to store remaining duration before the tweaking, then add current free float to remaining durations using formulas, recalculate and present the schedule with no free float, before updating restore schedule remaining durations to value before the tweaking, make the update, get new free float values and continue the cycle of deception. 

Does Safran Project recommends such a deception strategy?

Evgeny Z.
User offline. Last seen 38 weeks 5 days ago. Offline
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
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Martin,

I assume, that under " set free float of a activity as the activity's duration" you mean to extend activitie's duration in such a way, that its free float would be 0.

There is no standard way to do it, you would have to write Visual Basic script for it.

But I wonder, why would you need it?

Regards.

Evgeny