PRJ: % Complete Not Updated for Inserted Projects

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Project uses the following formula to calculate the Percent Complete for a Summary task: Because inserted projects are not updated automatically when you update the summary (or project summary), the Percent Complete may not calculate correctly.

The following steps show this in more detail:

1. Create a new file with one task with a 1-day (1d) duration.
2. Save the file as Insert.mpp.
3. Create a new file. Insert eight tasks and set the duration to 1d.
4. Link all eight tasks together with a Finish-Start relationship.
5. Select the fifth task.
6. On the Insert menu, click Project.
7. Select the Insert.mpp file and click OK.
8. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the View tab.
9. Click to select Project Summary Task and then click OK.
10. On the Insert menu, click Column.
11. In the Field Name list, click % Complete.

All nine tasks should be visible along with the project summary task. In the % Complete field for the project summary task, enter 100% and press ENTER. Notice that instead of the project being 100% complete, it is only 89 percent complete. Here is the calculation for the % Complete value: The Actual duration is 8 days, since the inserted project is still at 0% Complete. Microsoft Project will not update the % Complete for inserted projects. If you set the % Complete for the inserted project to 100%, the project summary task will then show 100% Complete.