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How to Use Calendar Days for Task Duration in Microsoft Project 2010

Bushra Parveen Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to schedule specific project tasks using continuous calendar days instead of the default working days calculation.

How to Use Calendar Days in Microsoft Project 2010

Product: Microsoft Project 2010
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Scheduling tasks that require continuous time without pausing for weekends, such as waiting for concrete to set or equipment running 24/7.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Project defaults to calculating task durations using standard working days, causing continuous tasks to improperly span across weekends and extending the overall project timeline.

Before you start

Identify the specific tasks in your project plan that require continuous scheduling, and ensure you know exactly how many calendar days those tasks need.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Elapsed Days (ed) Abbreviation

By adding 'ed' to your duration number, you instruct Microsoft Project to count consecutive 24-hour periods rather than skipping weekends.

In Microsoft Project, elapsed days ignore standard calendar working times and non-working days. An elapsed day is a full 24-hour period, which is essential for scheduling continuous processes.

Select the duration field

Open your project file in Microsoft Project 2010 and click on the 'Duration' cell for the task you want to modify.

Enter the elapsed duration

Type the number of days followed immediately by 'ed' (for example, type '8ed' for eight elapsed days) and press Enter on your keyboard.

Critical Path Gap: If an elapsed day task finishes on a weekend, the succeeding task using a standard working-day calendar will not start until Monday morning. This may create an apparent gap in your project's critical path.

Solution 2

Adjust Critical Path Options for Elapsed Tasks

Modify your advanced project settings to prevent puzzling gaps in the critical path when mixing elapsed days with standard working-day tasks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'ed' stand for in Microsoft Project?

In Microsoft Project, 'ed' stands for elapsed days. It is used in the Duration field to tell the software to calculate the timeframe using continuous 24-hour periods, bypassing non-working times like nights and weekends.

Can I use elapsed time for hours and weeks as well?

Yes, Microsoft Project supports multiple elapsed time units. You can use 'eh' for elapsed hours, 'ew' for elapsed weeks, and 'em' for elapsed months to schedule uninterrupted durations.

Why does my next task start on Monday when the current task finishes on Sunday?

Even if your current task finishes on a Sunday using elapsed days, any succeeding task that is linked to a standard working-days calendar will wait until the next available working hour (usually Monday morning) to begin.

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