Re: request

On Søndag 31 oktober 2004 20:02, Mark Tombs wrote:
(snip)>
> Some more observations on this. Having looked at the Task
> Properties dialog, I personally found it confusing, and I think
> this is because I am not used to MS Project. All of the settings
Yes, but I don't think we can blame MS, though ;)
> and options there seem to assume that as soon as I change any
> values, all my tasks will be shifted about.
That's how it is now, yes.
>
> I think the basic, fundamental thing that I don't agree with is
> that task duration is linked to estimated effort. I also don't
> think that changing one task should automagically change other
> tasks too.
Well, you can enter an 'effort' estimation as 'Fixed duration', that 
means whatever amount of resources you put on it the duration will 
not change.
>
> It seems to me that if you break the link between duration and
> estimates then a lot of the options in the task dialog go away, and
> even more go away if you don't auto-schedule. Lets say, for
> instance, that it works this way:
>
> 1. I enter my tasks with durations on them (no estimates yet
> though) 2. I set up the task dependencies.
> 3. I click the 'auto-schedule' button, tell it which date to start
> from (default from today) and bingo, all my tasks have start and
> end dates, and I have a project plan.
Can you explain the difference between duration and estimate, just to 
make things clearer for me?
>
> Now all I need in a task dialog are task name, duration, start
> date, end date, and a check-box for start and end date saying if
> they are fixed or not. That way I can pin a task if I don't want it
> moved by the auto-schedule process. I've taken the liberty of
> knocking up a dialog.
Good, will have a look.
>
> Of course, I can enter assignments with estimates on them, and the
> auto-schedule process will take those into account.
Hmm, ok you estimate amount of work needed, right?
>
> I don't want to stir up a whole hornets nest here, it just seems a
> lot simpler this way...
I like simplicity, too, if it covers my needs. It should be possible 
to offer a simple way to create a simple plan and then expand on it, 
though.
>
> mark

-- 
Mvh,
Dag Andersen