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Duration Types

4 replies [Last post]
Mon, 2007-04-02 03:33
Nitin Naik
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Hi,

Currently there are four Duration types which you can assign to an activity.

Apparently it works around the following equation -

Duration X Resource Units/Time = Units

I am looking for some real life examples to easily demonstrate different duration types and its use.

Please share your thoughts and examples on this topic.

Cheers

Nitin
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Replies

Mon, 2007-04-16 22:45
#1
John Murray
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Some example uses for the Duration Types…

"Fixed Units/Time" – Use against a Level of Effort eg Project Manager over the duration of the Project.


"Fixed Duration & Units/Time" – Typical Construction activity, remaining duration is forecast then this activity type gives the required units/resources per remaining time period (Projecting remaining required project resources to meet schedule), productivity may also need to be considered.


"Fixed Units" – Use for High Level Schedule (perhaps Owners schedule or EPC study phase, Level 1, 2) to assist in determining the overall duration of a program by manually leveling (shrinking and stretching) activities to meet a perceived / achievable resource limit (base resource data is a high level estimate of resources).


"fixed duration and units" - Typical Shutdown / Turnaround activity, when you want to know what it will take to make sure the work is completed on time, this good for re-assessing resource requirement (resource leveling) when a shutdown is in progress.

Many arguments can be put for and against the above; however they are legitimate uses and would be best discussed with Primavera for your particular industry, also I have not looked, but I am sure many example exist on the Primavera Knowledge Base http://www.primavera.com/customer/index.asp

Best Regards
John
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Wed, 2007-04-11 03:47
#2
Anoon Iimos
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it’s all linear! use only fixed units!
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Wed, 2007-04-11 01:35
#3
Peter Nicol
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This might help explain things...

The duration type affects the following 3 items:

"Duration"
"Units/Time"
"Units"

Whichever duration type you select will select which one of these 3 items change first. Each duration means the following:

"Fixed Units/Time" - duration changes first and the "units" change 2nd. ie. if you change the duration of an activity, the units will change accordingly (based upon the units/time already set).

"Fixed Duration & Units/Time" - "units" changes first and then duration changes 2nd.

"Fixed Units" - duration changes first and units/time changes 2nd.

"fixed duration and units" - units/time changes first and units changes 2nd.

hope this makes sense

-Pete
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Tue, 2007-04-03 07:39
#4
Aydin Valiyev
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Hi Nitin,

You can compare with P3 autocost rules. If you in P3
1. Link RD to % complete it will give you in P5 duration type
2. Unlink RD to % complete it will give you in P5 physical type

I didn’t reach to Units yet.:)

Cheers,
Aydin
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