Scheduling (projects) › Estimate to Complete (ETC) (Tasks) › How to Set Up Tasks for Top-Down Estimating › Apply Top-Down Estimating Using the Estimating Rules Mode (Tasks)

Apply Top-Down Estimating Using the Estimating Rules Mode (Tasks)

You can apply top-down estimating to the tasks set up to receive the top down distribution using the estimating rules mode. Use this mode when you have a good idea of the number of hours necessary to complete all the tasks in a grouping or project. At the summary-task level, the number is distributed through all the detail tasks that have resource assignments.

The top-down method can be most effectively used when assignments have no existing estimates. That is, the ETC field is set to 0). Prepare the tasks to receive the top-down distribution.

Example

Suppose you know that Phase I requires 100 hours to complete. Before you can enter the number and apply it, you set up the tasks for the phase to receive some percentage of those 100 hours. In this case, you can enter 60 percent for Task A, and 40 percent for Task B. Once the tasks are set up to receive a percentage, you can apply the ETC. The number is distributed accordingly.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the project and click Tasks.

   The list page appears.

2. Open the task and click Estimating.

   The task estimating properties page appears.

3. In the General section, complete the following field:

   ETC

   Defines the total remaining work for the task. The list displays the value for the ETC field on the task estimating properties page.

   Required: No

   Enter the amount to distribute down to the detail tasks.

4. Click Preview.

   The preview ETC change page appears.

5. Click Apply.

   The ETC is distributed to the detail tasks, and the distribution is saved.

More information:

Apply Top-Down Estimating

How to Set Up Tasks for Top-Down Estimating