Start Date vs. Actual Start Date

[Glenn]

I have a schedule and I have listed Start Dates for each task. The schedule
has changed and therefore my Actual Start Dates have moved. When I place the
new date for the Actual Start field into my schedule, it automatically
changes my Start Date to be the same as the Actual Start.

Why does Project set these dates to be the same?

thanks for any thoughts on this

[John]

Post by Glenn
I have a schedule and I have listed Start Dates for each task. The schedule
has changed and therefore my Actual Start Dates have moved. When I place the
new date for the Actual Start field into my schedule, it automatically
changes my Start Date to be the same as the Actual Start.
Why does Project set these dates to be the same?
thanks for any thoughts on this

Glenn,
This exact same question was asked a few days ago in this newsgroup but
I don't remember the date. Try doing a search a couple days back.

Basically the reason lies in Start versus Actual Start versus Baseline
Start. The Start field is the original plan (an estimate). Once a plan
is laid out, a baseline is set to "lock in" the original plan. Then when
the task actually starts, the Start field is updated to reflect reality
(i.e. Actual Start). The Baseline Start field is used to measure
schedule variance.

One thing that caught my eye about your post. The first sentence implies
that you manually entered Start dates for each task. This is a common
mistake for new users. Directly entering Start (or Finish) dates for
tasks will set a constraint on that task and not allow Project to
dynamically calculate the schedule. The Start date of the first task in
the plan is determined by the Project Start Date (Project/Project
Information). Normally, except in a few cases where truly independent
tasks occur, the Start date of all other tasks should be calculated by
Project based on the task Duration and linkages between tasks.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Glenn,

In short because that MUST be done.
If Project wouldn't update task dates accoording to REALITY the remainder of
the plan (with tasks all linked to each other) would be nonsense.
The original plan may have its virtues as a comparison yardstick (hence the
possibility to save a baseline) but as a model for the future it's
worthless.

If you were to set up a policy plan would you base it on Bill Clinton's
original plan from 93 or would you take into account recent data?

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/index.htm
32-495-300 620

Post by Glenn
I have a schedule and I have listed Start Dates for each task. The schedule
has changed and therefore my Actual Start Dates have moved. When I place the
new date for the Actual Start field into my schedule, it automatically
changes my Start Date to be the same as the Actual Start.
Why does Project set these dates to be the same?
thanks for any thoughts on this

[Steve House]

How could your actual start dates change after the fact? Actuals are
history, a description of what really took place. If work began on November
15th, it began on November 15th - period. There is nothing you can do NOW
that would make the work that transpired on the 15th suddenly jump to the
18th, short of inventing a time machine to go back in time and alter
history.

Steve House [MVP]

Post by Glenn
I have a schedule and I have listed Start Dates for each task. The schedule
has changed and therefore my Actual Start Dates have moved. When I place the
new date for the Actual Start field into my schedule, it automatically
changes my Start Date to be the same as the Actual Start.
Why does Project set these dates to be the same?
thanks for any thoughts on this

[John]

Post by Steve House
How could your actual start dates change after the fact? Actuals are
history, a description of what really took place. If work began on November
15th, it began on November 15th - period. There is nothing you can do NOW
that would make the work that transpired on the 15th suddenly jump to the
18th, short of inventing a time machine to go back in time and alter
history.
Steve House [MVP]

Steve,
Hey now, don't knock that time machine idea. You know there have been
several factual documented accounts of time travel. I just saw one of
them on TV a few weeks ago. I think it was called "Back to the future".

John

[Steve House [MVP]]

I know, I've seen some of the articles! But anyone capable of building a
practical model now is totally wasting their talents on something as mundane
as Project Management! LOL
--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer/Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Post by John

Post by Steve House
How could your actual start dates change after the fact? Actuals are
history, a description of what really took place. If work began on November
15th, it began on November 15th - period. There is nothing you can do NOW
that would make the work that transpired on the 15th suddenly jump to the
18th, short of inventing a time machine to go back in time and alter
history.
Steve House [MVP]

Steve,
Hey now, don't knock that time machine idea. You know there have been
several factual documented accounts of time travel. I just saw one of
them on TV a few weeks ago. I think it was called "Back to the future".
John