Commit Dates are killing us | Community
Skip to main content
D
DavidCo3
Level 10
June 29, 2016
Question

Commit Dates are killing us

  • June 29, 2016
  • 75 replies
  • 8174 views
Hi, Commit Dates are really killing us and causing a lot of confusion/frustration with users. e.g. A task is originally scheduled for a certain date and an assigned user clicks 'Work On It', Workfront sets the commit date to the planned date (assuming the user doesn't propose an alternative commit date - and we ask them not to do this). If the task's planned date is later changed, the user's original commit date remains. Our users don't remember to go and update their commit dates on such tasks. This then affects tasks' and projects' projected dates, and more confusingly for the user, it leaves the original commit date on their mini-calendar on the My Work screen. We would love to just be able to switch off the Commit Date functionality completely. As this doesn't appear to be possible, how else can we try to keep the commit dates aligned with the planned dates? There doesn't seem to be a way to centrally edit commit dates (even one-by-one, let alone in bulk). The only way I know of doing this is to log on as the user and change the commit date on each task. This is impractical with thousands of tasks in progress per month. Do other customers have this issue? How do you handle it? We have a team who are in charge of scheduling people at the right time, so we really don't need the users to be setting alternative commit dates. Thanks, David.
This post is no longer active and is closed to new replies. Need help? Start a new post to ask your question.

75 replies

Show previous replies
V
VicAl1
Level 10
July 21, 2016
Ah, gotcha. Thanks. Assuming they're not changing that soon. Would it be possible to create a report or filter to list the Tasks where the Planned Completion Date and Commit Date are different. Might make them easier to spot and know to have a conversation. Vic Alejandro, PMP, CSM IT | Project Manager IV Denver Water | 303-628-7262 Sent from my fancy phone -------- Original message --------
E
EricLu2
Level 10
July 21, 2016
I can tell you what doesn't work :) I create a task report, then put in this text mode filter: numberOfChildren=0 numberOfChildren_Mod=eq plannedCompletionDate=commitDate plannedCompletionDate_Mod=ne That throws an error that leads me to believe this isn't how it should be done. Anyone got a better idea? Thanks, Eric
P
PhilipSt
Level 4
July 21, 2016

Vic,

Yes, I do not have a report, but I do have a Project Task view set up. Yes, it is very useful!

See Attached

Cheers,

Phil

Doug_Den_Hoed_AtAppStore
Community Advisor
Doug_Den_Hoed_AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
Community Advisor
July 21, 2016
Hi Eric, Try the advanced FIELD: argument in your filter: numberOfChildren=0 numberOfChildren_Mod=eq plannedCompletionDate=FIELD:commitDate plannedCompletionDate_Mod=ne Also, scrolling up to my previous post, I'd like to confim that our Synchronize Commit Date solution (overriding it with Planned Completion Date) would match the culture at your organization: conceptually, you believe that making that override global (vs allowing certain people or tasks to opt out) would be best? Regards, Doug
E
EricLu2
Level 10
July 21, 2016
<> Well done. That works delightfully. Thanks! Eric
M
MichaelLaberge
Level 4
July 21, 2016

Doug - re: " conceptually, you believe that making that override global (vs allowing certain people or tasks to opt out) would be best?" Yes, most definitely. Commit dates don't mean a thing to us as we strictly use Planned Completion to manage our projects. Obviously, can't speak for everyone.

Re: commit date report - we use a modified Working On tab view so that the Planned Completion Date shows up next to the Commit Date. It removes the need for yet another report and it's an easy way for the user to spot the differences. They can also click on the commit date and make the update right in the Working On tab (see screen grab enclosed). It's still not ideal because it is a non-value added step for us. Doug's new UberCalc will automate that step for us (my group will buy me breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next 3 months if it works the way Doug says it will).

L
LauraRa1
Level 7
July 21, 2016
Hi everyone I've been following this post for a while and I may have missed something so forgive me if this has already been pointed out..... You can hide the 'commit date' from the task assignee. We have removed it from view for everyone and we have replaced it with 'Planned date' in the individual task view of 'my work' page. Now they always work to the 'planned date'.
Doug_Den_Hoed_AtAppStore
Community Advisor
Doug_Den_Hoed_AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
Community Advisor
July 21, 2016
Laura, you're correct: hiding the Commit Date is certainly an option. However, Workfront will still always automatically fill it in when the person accepts the work (e.g. whether you're using My Work, or the "Work on it" button, etc.), defaulting it to the Planned Completion Date at that time . And that is where the snag is: should the Planned Completion Date be revised later, other dates that are built in to Workfront's UI will still show the now out of date Commit Date. As Phil and others have suggested, out of the box, you can then create some exception reports to help highlight the differences, but the onus is still on the end user to note the difference and update the Commit Date to make it match, which seems inefficient to many people. Michael, I could not asked for a more affirming testimonial than yours that we're on the right track with our Synchronize Commit Date plugin. At the risk of aiding and abetting your team's intention to clog your arteries with 3 meals day, thank you! We're on it, and I'll announce on this thread when it is released next week. Regards, Doug
L
LauraRa1
Level 7
July 22, 2016
Ah, ok, now I see the issue. Thanks for clarifying Doug. Laura Ray Project Support Analyst Bakkavor Information Systems Bakkavor Group West Marsh Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 2BB, UK Direct: +44 (0)1775 763 010 www.Bakkavor.com // Laura.Ray@Bakkavor.com< [cid:image001.png@01D1E3F1.A9677C10]
Doug_Den_Hoed_AtAppStore
Community Advisor
Doug_Den_Hoed_AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
Community Advisor
July 27, 2016
Hi folks, As promised above, AtAppStore is pleased announce that our Synchronize Commit Date solution is now available and included with our UberCalc AtApp until August 31, 2016, which (to recap) will automatically search for EVERY incomplete editable Tasks whose Commit Date differs from its Planned Completion Date and FORCE the Commit Date to match the Planned Completion Date, so that in turn: Planned Dates Trump Commit Dates Assignees need not "remember" The My Work Calendar dates match Plan Regards, Doug
Show more replies
Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

Loading footer...