The Assignment Delay fields show the amount of time a resource is to wait before starting work on an assignment. No information is actually displayed in the Assignment Delay task and resource fields; they merely make the corresponding Assignment Delay field information available.
There are several categories of Assignment Delay fields.
Data Type Duration
Assignment Delay (task field)
Entry Type Null
Best Uses Add the Assignment Delay task field to the Task Usage view when you want to display delay information for assignments under a task.
Example You are reviewing delay information for assignments. You add the Assignment Delay field to the Task Usage view. Although no information appears in the Assignment Delay field next to the task names, the delay for their assignments appears in the assignment rows below each task name.
Assignment Delay (resource field)
Entry Type Null
Best Uses Add the Assignment Delay resource field to the Resource Usage view when you want to display delay information for assignments under a resource.
Example You are reviewing delay information for assignments. You add the Assignment Delay field to the Resource Usage view. No information appears in the Assignment Delay field next to the resource names. However, the delay for their assignments appears in the assignment rows below each resource name.
Assignment Delay (assignment field)
Entry Type Calculated or entered
How Calculated Microsoft Office Project calculates any difference between the assignment start date and the task start date. This difference is the assignment delay.
Assignment Delay = Start (task) - Start (assignment)
If you enter an assignment start date that is later than the task start date, the assignment delay field will change to reflect the difference between the assignment start date and the task start date.
Best Uses To have an assignment start sometime after the start of the task, enter a value in the Assignment Delay field. Add the Assignment Delay field to the Task Usage or Resource Usage view when you want to review, filter, or edit the assignment delay.
Example The "Conduct client meetings" task is assigned to Sean, Chris, and Jamie, with a duration of 5 days. However, Jamie is not to be involved with the task until the final day. To schedule Jamie for the final day of the task, type 4d in the Assignment Delay field (and 1d in the Work field) for Jamie's assignment.
