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How to Fix Microsoft Project Duration Not Syncing with Imported Work

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 27, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue in Microsoft Project where imported Work values cause mismatched Duration values and display question marks in automatically scheduled, Fixed Work tasks.

Fix Microsoft Project Duration Not Syncing with Imported Work

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing Work values into Microsoft Project from an external spreadsheet file like Excel.
Observed behavior: Duration values do not synchronize with the imported Work values, and question marks appear next to the task durations indicating estimated values.

Before you start

Verify that the tasks in your Microsoft Project schedule are set to 'Fixed Work' and keep a backup of your original import spreadsheet before making bulk adjustments to your schedule settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Estimated Durations Option in Project Settings

Disabling the estimated durations setting removes the question marks from your tasks and forces the project to display absolute duration values instead of estimates.

Open Project Options

Launch Microsoft Project, click on the 'File' tab on the top ribbon, and select 'Options' from the bottom of the left-hand navigation pane.

Navigate to Schedule Settings

In the Project Options dialog box, click on 'Schedule' in the left sidebar to access task calculation settings.

Disable Estimated Durations

Scroll down to the 'Scheduling options for this project' section and uncheck the box labeled 'Show that scheduled tasks have estimated durations'.

Apply Changes

Click 'OK' to save the settings. The question marks will disappear from your task durations.

Clear the Estimated Durations Option in Project Settings

Solution 2

Import Both Work and Duration Fields from Excel

If your project requires the Duration to always match the Work exactly, importing both fields simultaneously prevents Microsoft Project from calculating mismatched defaults.

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While Microsoft Project is a specialized scheduling tool, preparing, cleaning, and formatting your project data before import is much easier with a reliable spreadsheet program. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring seamless compatibility for all your project data preparation needs.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installer and set up the unified office suite on your computer.
2. Prepare Project Data: Open WPS Spreadsheet to accurately organize your Work and Duration columns before importing them into Microsoft Project.
3. Save in Excel Format: Save your data preparation file as a fully compatible .xlsx file for seamless integration with your scheduling software.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do question marks appear next to durations in Microsoft Project?

Question marks indicate that the task duration is currently an estimate. This is a default setting for newly created or imported tasks. You can disable this indicator globally via File > Options > Schedule.

How do Fixed Work tasks calculate duration?

In Fixed Work tasks, the total amount of work remains constant regardless of resource assignments. If you change the duration or the resource units, Microsoft Project recalculates the other variable to keep the total work fixed.

Can I force Duration to equal Work during an Excel import?

Yes. The most reliable way to force them to match is to include both Work and Duration columns in your source Excel file and map both fields explicitly during the Project Import Wizard process.

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