Date fields

For each field listed below, the following information is given:

  • Description - the information displayed by the field when added to the spreadsheet or to a text annotation.
  • Parameters - any additional, optional parameters that you can use to modify the information that the field displays or the way in which the information is displayed.
  • Editable? - whether the field is editable when displayed in a spreadsheet column. If a field is editable in the spreadsheet, you can change the data displayed in the column to edit the properties of the corresponding bar, task or allocation.

Actual finish

Description The date on which a bar, task or allocation was finally completed. The bar, task or allocation must be 100% complete for an actual finish date to appear. If you enter an actual finish date for a bar, all but the last task on the bar are marked as complete, then the actual finish date of the last task is changed to fit the actual finish date entered. If you enter an actual finish date for a task or allocation, it is marked as complete and if necessary the duration is changed to show that it was completed on the actual finish date entered (the actual start date is unchanged).
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Progress period - specify a progress period if you want to be able to display the actual finish dates of progress that was marked in a specific progress period. If you specify a progress period when displaying the Actual finish field, you cannot use the spreadsheet column to mark new progress, but you can amend the actual finish date of tasks against which progress has already been marked in the progress period in question.
Editable? Yes

Actual start

Description The date on which a bar, task or allocation is actually started. The bar, task or allocation must be at least partially complete for an actual start date to appear. If you enter an actual start date for a task or allocation that is currently 0% complete, the start date is moved to the actual start date entered (if necessary the duration is changed) and it is progressed up to the progress period date; if the actual start date is later than the progress period date, the task is marked as 50% complete. If you enter an actual start date for a task or allocation that is partially or 100% complete, the start date of the first completed section is moved to the actual start date entered and the duration is changed if necessary.
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Progress period - specify a progress period if you want to be able to display the actual start dates of progress that was marked in a specific progress period. If you specify a progress period when displaying the Actual start field, you cannot use the spreadsheet column to mark new progress, but you can amend the actual start date of tasks against which progress has already been marked in the progress period in question.
Editable? Yes

Calendar

Description The calendar assigned to a task or resource allocation.
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
Editable? Yes

Cumulative duration

Description The combined durations of the tasks within a summary or expanded task; only works when applied to summary or expanded tasks.
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Override time unit - the time unit in which to display the information.
Editable? No

Duration

Description The duration of a bar, task or allocation.
Parameters
  • Apply view filter - select this check box if you want values in the table to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria. This check box does not affect rolled-up values - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks.
  • Filter rolled-up values - select this check box if you want rolled-up values in the table - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks - to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in rolled-up values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria.
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Dates - specify a date range if required.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Rolled up values - select this check box to display rolled-up values for parent tasks in terms of working days, or clear the check box to display rolled-up values for parent tasks in terms of elapsed days.
  • Override time unit - the time unit in which to display the information.
Editable? Yes

Duration variance

Description The difference between the duration of a bar, task or allocation in the live data and its duration in the specified baseline. You can display the duration variance in a time unit of your choice.
Parameters
  • Apply view filter - select this check box if you want values in the table to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria. This check box does not affect rolled-up values - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks.
  • Filter rolled-up values - select this check box if you want rolled-up values in the table - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks - to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in rolled-up values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria.
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Override time unit - the time unit in which to display the information.
Editable? No

Elapsed duration

Description The difference between the start and finish of a bar, task or allocation, without reference to any calendar.
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Override time unit - the time unit in which to display the information.
Editable? No

Finish

Description The finish date of a bar, task or allocation.
Parameters
  • Apply view filter - select this check box if you want values in the table to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria. This check box does not affect rolled-up values - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks.
  • Filter rolled-up values - select this check box if you want rolled-up values in the table - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks - to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in rolled-up values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria.
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
Editable? Yes

Finish variance

Description

The difference between the finish date of a bar, task or allocation in the live data and its finish date in the specified baseline.

 

This field can display both positive and negative values. What is signified by a positive and a negative value is determined by whether or not you have selected the Version 5 variance signing check box on the General tab of the Options dialog.

 

Displaying baseline information in the spreadsheet

Parameters
  • Apply view filter - select this check box if you want values in the table to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria. This check box does not affect rolled-up values - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks.
  • Filter rolled-up values - select this check box if you want rolled-up values in the table - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks - to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in rolled-up values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria.
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Override time unit - the time unit in which to display the information.
Editable? No

Resume

Description For a task with partial progress, the start date of the uncompleted task section.
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
Editable? Yes

Start

Description The start date of a bar, task or allocation.
Parameters
  • Apply view filter - select this check box if you want values in the table to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria. This check box does not affect rolled-up values - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks.
  • Filter rolled-up values - select this check box if you want rolled-up values in the table - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks - to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in rolled-up values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria.
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
Editable? Yes

Start variance

Description

The difference between the start date of a bar, task or allocation in the live data and its start date in the specified baseline.

 

This field can display both positive and negative values. What is signified by a positive and a negative value is determined by whether or not you have selected the Version 5 variance signing check box on the General tab of the Options dialog.

 

Displaying baseline information in the spreadsheet

Parameters
  • Apply view filter - select this check box if you want values in the table to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria. This check box does not affect rolled-up values - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks.
  • Filter rolled-up values - select this check box if you want rolled-up values in the table - ie values that relate to summary tasks, expanded tasks and hammocks - to include only those tasks and allocations that are included in whichever filter is currently applied, or clear the check box to include all tasks and allocations in rolled-up values, regardless of whether they match the filter criteria.
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
  • Override time unit - the time unit in which to display the information.
Editable? No

Suspend

Description For a task with partial progress, the finish date of the most recently-completed task section.
Parameters
  • Data - whether you want to display information relating to the live data or to a specific baseline.
  • Specific task - specify specific task(s) on a multi-task bar to which you want the field to refer if required.
Editable? No