PRJ98: Incorrect Task Duration When Opening MPX File in Project (187489)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Project 4.0, 4.1, and 4.1a, when you open an MPX 4.0 file that was saved in Microsoft Project 98, the Duration field may contain an incorrect duration. The duration is not the expected value given the start and finish dates for that task.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when all of the following conditions are true:

The MPX file was created in Microsoft Project 98.
You are opening the MPX file in Microsoft Project 4.0 or 4.1.
You have assigned a resource to a task.
In the Task Usage view, you do any of the following:

Select a work contour other than Flat for a resource assignment.
-or-
Create a custom contour by changing the work assignment hours in the timescale.
-or-
Enter actual work in the timescale that created a custom contour.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, follow these steps when you open the project in Microsoft Project 4.0, 4.1, or 4.1a:

On the Tools menu, click Options and then click the Schedule tab.
Click to clear the Updating Task Status Updates Resource Status check box. Click OK.
Select all tasks in the project.
On the Insert menu, click Task Information and then click the Resource tab.
In the Duration Type list, click Fixed Duration. Click OK.
On the Insert menu, click Task Information, then the Resource tab.
In the Duration Type list, click Resource Driven.
On the Tools menu, click Options and then click the Schedule tab.
Click to select the Updating Task Status Updates Resource Status check box. Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: