The Scheduled Start field indicates the date when work on a task is scheduled to begin as calculated by Microsoft Project, based on dependencies, constraints, calendars, and other scheduling factors. For a manually scheduled task, this is the start date recommended by Project and is a read-only field. For an automatically scheduled task, the Scheduled Start date is the same as the date in the Start field.
Data Type Date
Entry Type Calculated or Entered
How Calculated Project calculates the Scheduled Start field based on task dependencies, constraints, the project calendar, and any task calendars. If resources are assigned, Project also considers the resource calendar and assignment units.
If you enter an actual start date that is different from the scheduled start date, Project changes the Scheduled Start date to match the date in the Actual Start field.
Best Uses Add the Scheduled Start field to a task sheet to review scheduled start dates as calculated by Project for all tasks, whether automatically or manually scheduled.
Example You need to filter for all start dates scheduled after April. You add the Scheduled Start date to the table portion of the Gantt Chart view and then filter on the field to see only those tasks with a scheduled start date beyond April 30.
Remarks If you enter a scheduled start date for an automatically scheduled task, Project assigns a Start No Earlier Than constraint to the task and uses your entered start date as the constraint date. If you have set your project to schedule from the finish date, and if you enter a start date, Project assigns a Start No Later Than constraint to the task.
