Patent ID: 7249042

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for specifying and displaying whether a project task duration of a project plan is estimated or definite in a project management system, the method comprising: determining whether the specifying of a project task duration is in a first mode or a second mode; when in the first mode, receiving from a user a first project task duration string via a first project task duration field, the first project task duration string including a project task duration value, a project task duration display type, and a project task estimated character, the project task duration value being a numerical value of time, the project task duration display type indicating units of the numerical value of time, and the project task estimated character indicating that the project task duration is estimated and needs to be adjusted when a definite project task duration is known; parsing the first project task duration string to identify the project task duration value, the project task duration display type, and the project task estimated character; storing an indication of the project task duration value and the project task duration display type; and setting an estimated flag to indicate that the project task duration is estimated; when in the second mode, receiving from the user a second project task duration string via a second task duration field and an indication of whether the project task duration is estimated via a estimated duration field, the second project task duration string including a project duration value and a project task duration display type; parsing the second project task duration string to identify the project task duration value and the project task duration display type; storing an indication of the project task duration value and the project task duration display type; and setting an estimated flag to indicate whether the estimated duration field indicates whether the project task duration is estimated; displaying the project task duration by displaying an indication of whether the duration is estimated based on the estimated flag and displaying a project task duration string that includes the project task duration value, the project task duration display type, and when the project task duration is estimated based on the estimated flag, a project task estimated character; and updating the project task duration that is estimated when a definite project task duration is known.