How fiscal dates are shown on a timescaled view

Original version: 2011

Original KB number:  86287

In Microsoft Project 2010, when the fiscal year is set to start in a month other than January that is also before the current month, the current date may appear incorrect. When a fiscal year is specified, the current date becomes a fiscal date, which results in the date jumping ahead by one year. This is the correct year based on the information supplied to Microsoft Project and standard fiscal year calculations.

Examples to show fiscal dates on a timescaled view

Example 1

  1. Click Project Information on the Project tab in Project.

  2. Change the current date to 6/29/97.

  3. Change the Timescale to Years over Quarters.

    1. On the View tab, select Timescale from the Timescale drop-down list.

    2. On the Middle Tier tab, in the Units box, select Years.

    3. On the Bottom Tier tab, in the Units box, select Quarters.

    4. Click OK.

  4. Change the Fiscal Year to start in February.

    1. On the File tab, click Options, and then click Schedule.

    2. Under Calendar options for this project: <Project Name>, in the Fiscal year starts in list, click February.

    3. Click OK.

The Current Date vertical bar in the Gantt chart now shows the year 1998.

Example 2

If the Fiscal year starts in option is set to a month that is past the current date, the current date on the Gantt bar remains the same, and the future months are incremented by one year starting at the month specified.

  1. Click Project Information on the Project tab in Project.

  2. Change the current date to 6/29/97.

  3. Change the Timescale to Years over Quarters.

    1. On the View tab, select Timescale from the Timescale drop-down list.

    2. On the Middle Tier tab, in the Units box, select Years.

    3. On the Bottom Tier tab, in the Units box, select Quarters.

    4. Click OK.

  4. Change the Fiscal Year to start in July.

    1. On the File tab, click Options, and then click Schedule.

    2. Under Calendar options for this project: <Project Name>, in the Fiscal year starts in list, click July.

    3. Click OK.

The time scale in the Gantt chart shows the current date is still in the current year; however, the next month (July in this example) is in 1998.