Duration Column with Dependencies Enabled

Leslye Jackson

Hi All,

So with the duration column, we have decided to enable the dependencies however the calculation seems a bit off

To test it we but in 2 days for duration

Dependency is Start Date and Due Date

We thought that if the Duration is two days. We put in a Start Date of 9/1/2020, then the Due Date should be 9/3/2020. Instead it is as if Smartsheet counts the date entered as a whole day when the day should begin the next full day.

Any tips or feedback is greatly appreciated!!!

Paul Newcome

Your start date is considered one of those days, so the 1st 8 hours (1 day) is the actual start date.

So 16 hours = 2 days.

Day 1 = 09/07/20

Day 2 = 09/08/20

24 hours is 3 working days.

Day 1 = 09/07/20

Day 2 = 09/08/20

Day 3 = 09/09/20

Based on your screenshots, the dates are accurate, but based on your explanations you are actually wanting to start the day after the date in your start date column.

Stefan

Hi @Leslye Jackson,

why don't you enter the actual start date?

Start date is a full 8 (or whatever) hour working day. So if you say the task takes 2 d, that's 16h in your settings and this results very correct in the two days 1. + 2. of September being used.

Hope this helps

Stefan

Leslye Jackson

@Stefan Thank you for your feedback so I tried that but it literally didn't change the results. I put in 24 hrs and it counted two days.

Paul Newcome

Your start date is considered one of those days, so the 1st 8 hours (1 day) is the actual start date.

So 16 hours = 2 days.

Day 1 = 09/07/20

Day 2 = 09/08/20

24 hours is 3 working days.

Day 1 = 09/07/20

Day 2 = 09/08/20

Day 3 = 09/09/20

Based on your screenshots, the dates are accurate, but based on your explanations you are actually wanting to start the day after the date in your start date column.

Leslye Jackson

@Paul Newcome

Thank you so much for your feedback on this!! All of you guys rock!!!

Paul Newcome

Happy to help. 👍️

Stefan

Hi @Leslye Jackson ,

also happy to help!

As @Paul Newcome already pointed out, the dates your sheet shows are correct.

The connection between the figures in DURATION and the start/end date is determined by the section "Working days" in your project settings. Everything you change there influences the calculation of the end date.

For a deeper understanding you may check these articles:

https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/765737-project-sheet-columns-start-date-end-date-duration-complete-and-predecessors

https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/765727-enabling-dependencies-using-predecessors

Greetings

Stefan