What does the Start field show?

The Start field shows the date when an assigned resource is scheduled to begin working on a task.

How a Start date for a task is calculated?

A Start date can be calculated or entered. If you do not type a start date, application calculates a start date based on such things as relationships, calendars, and the scheduling method. If you type a start date, will be set automatically a Start No Earlier Than constraint and uses the date you type as the constraint date.

What does the Finish field show?

The Finish field shows the date when a task is scheduled to be completed.

How a Finish date for a task is calculated?

A Finish date can be calculated or entered. If you do not type a finish date, application calculates it based on such things as relationships, calendars, and the scheduling method.

If resources are assigned, Project Plan 365 also considers the resource calendar and assignment units. If you type a finish date, will be set automatically a Finish No Earlier Than constraint and uses the date you type as the constraint date.

Example: You need to filter for all finish dates scheduled after March. You filter on the Finish field to see only those tasks scheduled with a finish date beyond March 31.

What does the Duration field show?

The Duration field is the total span of active working time for a task. This is generally the amount of working time from the start to the finish of a task.

How the Duration of a task is calculated?

Duration for tasks can be calculated or entered. Application calculates the duration of a task by counting the amount of active working time between the scheduled start and end of the task. This is generally the time from task start to finish, not counting nonworking time.

Tip: Enter the duration for tasks when you create the tasks. The Duration field is one of the major elements for scheduling calculations. It is the span of time shown by the Gantt bars on the Gantt Chart.

Does the question mark in the Duration box have any meaning?

The default for new tasks is estimated as 1 day (1d?). The question mark indicates that the duration is an estimate. Add a question mark to any duration estimate. Remove the question mark to indicate a committed duration. You can filter or sort by estimated durations.​

How to remove question mark from duration?

In order to remove the question mark from duration, please enter in edit mode in the cell and then edit the duration and press on the Enter button from your keyboard or press on the up and down arrow keys.

I need a Gantt chart to show 70 years [by year] to track an historical project.

We are sorry, but we don’t support dates out of the range. Dates must be between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 2149.

Tip: ​​​​For optimal scheduling flexibility, it's recommended that you allow application to calculate the start and finish dates for tasks based on the durations and task dependencies you enter. If you have unavoidable constraints, such as an event date, you can set a specific start or finish date for a task.

How can I set a specific start/finish time for a task?

In order to set a specific time for a task, click on the duration cell to open the date picker and click on the "Time" button. Select the time and then exit edit mode for the changes to take effect.

Can I have a resource assigned to the task and the resource availability would drive the calculation of the finish date?

You need to make the changes on the resource calendar. Then, you need to set the task type to Fixed Units or Fixed Work depending on your needs. The app will automatically calculate the duration of your task based on the resource calendar.

Can the finish date be changed for the tasks with progress?

Yes, the finish date for the tasks with progress can be changed and the % complete will change automatically:

1. When editing the finish date of a task in the future when it has % complete, the % complete will decrease and the "Finish no earlier than" constraint will automatically apply to the task.
   
   2. When editing the finish date of a task in the past when it has % complete, the % complete will increase and the "Finish no earlier than" constraint will automatically apply to the task.