…But I’m really hoping to get an answer I can use, so I’m posting it here in GQ.
I need to write a project schedule, but I want to control the calculation of the tasks and prerequisites myself. So I set up a database table of task definitions, and another table that defines the dependencies between tasks. I wrote a program to read these tables and generate a spreadsheet showing each task with its projected start time, duration, end time, and the person or group responsible.
Then, I want to paste this spreadsheet into MS-Project just for presentation purposes. I want to show when each task starts and stops, the estimated duration, and who it will be assigned to.
The trouble is, however, I want to keep my own calculations of project events and not have MS-Project “help” me. MS-Project seems to have trouble understanding that most projects are not like painting a room, where if you double the number of painters you can halve the duration. So I’m having a great deal of trouble bending MS-Project to my will.
So, has anyone ever successfully done this type of thing in MS-Project?