Duration SmartColumns

This article refers to version 2006. Click for Version 2008

A Duration SmartColumn can be used to show the amount of time worked. The time can be shown in minutes, hours, days or weeks.

How to: Set up a Duration SmartColumn

Duration can easily be added to any schedule. Here are the steps to go through to add a Duration SmartColumn:

1	Insert a new column by choosing the Column option on the Insert menu.
2	Double-click the new column's heading.
3	Click the SmartColumn Settings tab and set the SmartColumn Definition to Duration

Milestones Professional takes into account a number of factors when computing the duration, including:

	The workday start and end times. (The workday start and end times are set by clicking and then clicking the Hourly/Minute tab).
	Whether or not you have hourly detail turned on.
	Whether or not Saturdays and Sundays are worked.
	Holidays that you might have indicated.

Hourly detail

A schedule can have daily, hourly and even minute detail. Which level of detail is used will affect the duration and other calculations.

To turn hourly detail on or off:

1	Click the toolbar icon.
2	Choose the Hourly/Minute tab.
3	Click on or off the Allow Hourly Detail option.

Duration and the single milestone

When hourly detail is turned off, a single milestone will display a duration of 1 day:

When hourly detail is turned on, a single milestone will display a duration of 0 days:

Duration and multiple milestones

In the example below, hourly detail is off. With hourly detail off, the time span includes all 4 days in the schedule:

When hourly detail is turned on, and the "Show Decimal Point on Duration and Percent Complete" option is turned off, the durations on both tasks of this schedule are 3 days.

When hourly detail is turned on, and the "Show Decimal Point on Duration and Percent Complete" option is turned on, the duration on the second task is more accurate:

Duration and Summary Bars

If your schedule is outlined, summary bars can be used to display the overall duration. You can choose to display the sum of the individual durations, or the overall duration. The example below has the "Show Summary Duration in Calendar Time" option turned on.

The example below has the "Show Summary Duration in Calendar Time" option turned on. This option is set by choosing Options on the Tools menu and then choosing the Proj. Man. tab.