Is there a way to use graphical indicators when activities are missing their baseline work hours? Yes, there is.
Schedulers want a quick way to analyze the schedule and to focus in on those activities that are in trouble. It is possible to define a custom field in Microsoft Project with graphical indicators to help highlight problems in the schedule. These graphical indicators can then warn the scheduler when an activity is missing its baseline work assignments.
This article demonstrates a quick tip to assign graphical indicators to custom fields to support schedule review analysis.
We begin by selecting project | custom fields, Figure 1.
Figure 1
In the custom fields dialog toggle the field task and select number for type, Figure 2.
Figure 2
Select the rename button and type in the name work indicator, again, Figure 2. Continuing in the custom fields dialog toggle formula in custom attributes, Figure 3.
Figure 3
Type in the work indicator formula and select OK, Figure 3. Further down in the custom fields dialog toggle graphical indicators in values to display, Figure 4.
Figure 4
Input indicators similar to the below:
- Green – Actual work to baseline work equal to or less than 1.
- Yellow – Actual work to baseline work between 1 and 1.20.
- Red – Actual work to baseline work greater than 1.20
Set the indicator work values as appropriate for your schedule. Now when we display our graphical indicators along with our progressing schedule we should get something similar to Figure 5.
Figure 5
Note the columns baseline work, actual work, and work indicator (custom field). Also, observe when we hoover the mouse over a work indicator icon the cell displays the computed formula value, Figure 6.
Figure 6
This is because when we defined the graphical indicators we toggled “show data values in ToolTips, Figure 7”.
Figure 7
Summary
It is possible in Microsoft Project to define a custom field number that has a unique name and formula. Definition of many types of formula custom attributes are possible. One useful formula is the actual work divided by baseline work.
Further graphical indicators can be assigned to this number custom field to support quick schedule review analysis. Be sure to set the graphical indicators to show data values in ToolTips to promptly review each custom field indicator value.