How to Show Remaining Hours in Microsoft Project Task Usage
Question details
The user needs to display the remaining work hours in the Microsoft Project Task Usage view after recording actual work.
- Product
- Microsoft Project
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Tracking project progress and remaining workload for tasks and assignments after logging actual work hours.
- Observed behavior
- The Task Usage timephased grid displays baseline hours instead of dynamically showing the remaining work hours directly.
Ensure you have your Microsoft Project file open and have already entered actual work hours for the tasks you are trying to review.
Display Work and Actual Work in the Timephased Grid
Since Microsoft Project does not directly show a 'Remaining Work' row in the timephased grid, you can display both 'Work' and 'Actual Work' to easily visualize remaining hours.
The Task Usage timephased grid distributes work across a timeline, so a single 'Remaining Work' value is best viewed by comparing scheduled work against logged actuals.
Navigate to your project file and switch to the 'Task Usage' view from the View tab.
Right-click anywhere on the right-side timephased grid to open the context menu.
From the menu, check both 'Work' and 'Actual Work'. You can uncheck 'Baseline Work' if you want to hide it.
Look at the timephased data. The scheduled 'Work' that appears in future periods after the last logged 'Actual Work' value represents your remaining work hours.
Use the Work Table to View Total Remaining Hours
Switch to the Work table layout in the Task Usage view to see the aggregated Remaining Work column for each task.
Manage Project Timelines Easily with WPS Office
While Microsoft Project is built for complex, heavy-duty project management, you can easily track tasks, work hours, and remaining schedules using WPS Spreadsheet. It offers a lightweight, free, and familiar alternative for everyday project tracking.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and open WPS Spreadsheet.
- 2. Search for Project Templates: Click on 'Templates' and search for 'Project Tracking' or 'Timesheet' to find a pre-formatted layout.
- 3. Track Work Hours: Use built-in formulas to automatically subtract Actual Work from Total Work, giving you real-time visibility into Remaining Hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Task Usage grid show Baseline Work instead of Actual Work?
By default, Microsoft Project may be configured to display Baseline Work to help you compare the original plan against the current schedule. You can easily hide it by right-clicking the timephased grid and unchecking 'Baseline Work'.
Can I add a 'Remaining Work' row directly in the timephased grid?
No, Microsoft Project's timephased grid does not natively offer a 'Remaining Work' row. The standard practice is to display 'Work' and 'Actual Work'; the scheduled work hours in periods following the last actual work entry act as your remaining work.
Does the Remaining Work automatically recalculate when I enter Actual Work?
Yes, when you enter hours into the Actual Work field, Microsoft Project automatically subtracts that amount from the total Work, updating the total Remaining Work for the task.
