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How to Change the Finish Date in a Microsoft Project Template

Phi Hung Vo Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to modify the project finish date when starting a new schedule from an existing Microsoft Project template.

How to Change the Finish Date in a Microsoft Project Template

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a new project timeline using a template where a specific project deadline or finish date needs to be established.
Observed behavior: The finish date field is greyed out and uneditable, with no apparent option to manually change or override the date.

Before you start

Before modifying your template's scheduling mode, determine if your project is driven by a strict final deadline (requiring backward scheduling) or if the deadline is flexible based on task durations (requiring standard forward scheduling).

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Scheduling Mode to Project Finish Date

By default, Microsoft Project templates calculate the finish date automatically based on the start date and task durations. To manually edit the finish date, you must switch the scheduling mode.

When you schedule from the project finish date (known as reverse or backward scheduling), Microsoft Project will automatically calculate the required start dates for all your tasks to ensure the project meets that exact finish date.

Open Project Information

Navigate to the 'Project' tab on the main ribbon and click on 'Project Information' in the Properties group.

Modify the Scheduling Mode

In the Project Information dialog box, locate the 'Schedule from' dropdown menu and change the selection from 'Project Start Date' to 'Project Finish Date'.

Enter the New Finish Date

The 'Finish date' field above will now become editable. Click on the dropdown calendar and select your desired finish date, then click 'OK'.

Change the Scheduling Mode to Project Finish Date

Reverse Scheduling Consideration: While changing to backward scheduling allows you to set the finish date, it is generally not recommended for complex projects as it removes float and flexibility. Tasks are scheduled 'as late as possible'.

Solution 2

Adjust Project Deadlines or Individual Task Constraints

If you want to keep standard forward scheduling (from the start date) but still need to enforce a finish date, you can set a hard deadline on your final project milestone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the finish date greyed out in my Microsoft Project template?

The finish date is greyed out because Microsoft Project defaults to 'Forward Scheduling' (scheduling from the Project Start Date). In this mode, the software automatically calculates the finish date by adding the duration of all scheduled tasks to the start date.

What is the difference between forward and backward scheduling?

Forward scheduling calculates the project finish date based on when tasks begin and how long they take. Backward scheduling starts with a fixed finish date and calculates backward to determine the exact date by which tasks must start to meet that deadline.

Can I permanently change the default scheduling mode for a specific template?

Yes. You can open the template file (.mpt), change the 'Schedule from' setting in the Project Information dialog, and then save the file again as a Project Template. Any new projects created from this updated template will use your preferred scheduling mode.

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