TOTAL Float

Start Float is the difference between the early and late start dates;
Finish Float is the difference between the early and late finish dates; and Most Critical Float is the least (most critical) of the start or finish floats.

Can somebody help me in answering me the following question in seriatim on priority ?

a) Does Total Float means the Completion Date of Project?

No, total float is the difference between the late finish and early finish of an activity. Float is how much time an activity can slip before it becomes critical. In general activities with zero float are critical.

b) For a CPM schedule, will the total float of all activities be zero. If not will we have to make zero float of all activities?

In general the only activities with zero float will be those activities that are critical.

c) Front loaded and Back Loaded Curve is used for which type of resources?

The s-curve shape is determined by what type of loading you place on your resources(ie front loaded or back loaded, etc.). This s-curve tracks the earnings on a project. The project s-curve is based on all of the resources.

d) Why do we need the Backward Pass and Forward Pass in scheduling? Illustrate Backward and Forward Pass calculation by a simple example?

The forward pass determines the early start and early finish. The backward pass determines the late finish and late start. Once you have done this you can find the total float for each activity and determine the critical path. If needed I can send you a sample calculation.

e) While giving 100% progress why does the bar become invisible in P3?

Which bar? The acitivity bar should still show even at 100%. You could have a filter running, you could have the bar checked not to be displayed...

LOL... Another homework assignment successfully completed...

Bernard Ertl
InterPlan Systems Inc. - Project Management Software, Project Planning Software

This does look like some student was sharing his or her homework assignment with us, doesnt it?

Just in case the questions were legitimate and the requestor really was trying to understand the concepts and problems, I will answer the last question:

Why does the bar disappear when you status the activity 100% complete?

This is a typical error many ‘Schedulers’ make, they forgot to input the Actual Start and Actual Finish dates. You told the scheduling software that the activity is complete but you didn’t tell it where to plot the complete activity. Until you supply the Actual Start and Actual Finish dates, the scheduling software will do what you told it to do; make the activity bar disappear.