I understand how Project Task Types work in MS Project (e.g. Fixed Work, Fixed Unit, Fixed Duration). In the past when I updated the schedule I typically made sure the Type was "Fixed Unit" so the % allocation wouldn't change. However, I am currently on a project where we wanted to see based on actual work and actual duration, what % Percent resources were actually working on the particular task. Unfortunately, when I update the Actual Work, Actual Duration, and even the remaining duration, the % resource allocation will not update. Does anybody know what I am missing. Is the Resource allocation % locked once you baseline a task? Please help. Saving Changes...
Project uses the formula Work = Resource Units x Duration. The enclosed file summarize how Work, Duration and Units are changed for task types Fixed Units, Fixed Work or Fixed Duration. It also contains a screen shot of the following example.
Create a 5 day task that uses 0.5 units of a resource to complete 20 hours of work. View the Task Usage pane in the top pane and the Task Details Form in the bottom page. In the top pane each of the five days will show 4 hours planned. The bottom pane shows units as 0.5 (50%). Add the actual hours field to the display in the upper right-hand pane. Now enter 6 hours in each of the first and second day as the actual hours worked. The bottom pane will show that resource units has changed to 0.75 and that the task duration is now 4 days. Notice that the 0.75 usage is NOT applied to subsequent days. Your choice of fixed units at 0.5 usage is maintained. You can check this by entering 2 hours of actual work in each of the first two days. The duration will now extend to 6 days, but the usage (in the bottom pane) remains at 0.5.
Following the rules, the only way Project will change the units for an entire task is under one of the two conditions shown in the attachment. Project will display the peak usage for your case if you look in the right place, but it will not assume that the peak usage continues into the next day. For fixed units, if you change the work the duration is changed.
