When you create a project you select a Project Start date and a Planned Project Close Date (this may also be called Project Planned Realization date). Based on the settings chosen during configuration, the system sets up a financial tracking plan for the project using these dates. Phase Due dates are also set up based on the appropriate roadmap.
All the dates associated with a project can be managed from the Project Dates page. Within the context of a particular project, click the Dates link in the Left Navigation bar, or from the Project Module # select Go To > Dates.
Project Timeline
This section displays the time frame over which each phase has to be executed. You can view the initial/current planned timeline as well as the actual timeline. Place your cursor over each phase to see the start and end dates for that phase.
Planned vs. Actual Dates
This section shows you the Start and Close Dates for each of the projects. You can also view the Start and Close dates and the cycle time for each phase of the project.
Depending on where you are in the project cycle you will see some or all of the initial planned date (set up when the proposal was created), the current planned date and an actual date for the starting and closing of the project.
To change the Project and Phase related dates, click on Edit Project Dates button.
Finance Dates
Finance dates cannot be edited from this page. The lock month is managed by the administrator. If your system has been configured to have a 12-month finance window, the financial start date is managed by your project’s finance administrator through the Finance tab. The validation dates are updated when a finance representative or finance administrator with appropriate permissions validates finance dates.
On Hold Dates
This section will display all the dates on which this project was placed on hold. On hold dates are significant from a reporting perspective since these days are not included in the cycle time calculations for projects. The dashboards also reflect data that takes on hold dates into account.
Shifting planned dates
The Shift planned dates button can be used to easily shift all your current planned dates based on whether you project is ahead of, or behind schedule. For example, if you project is one month ahead of schedule, all current plan dates, including the planned project close date can be pulled in by a month by clicking the Shift Planned Dates button. If your projects are behind schedule, the dates will be pushed out when you click this button.
Note: For more information on using fractional duration/efforts, see topic Using Fractional Duration.