Creating a task with a duration = sum of all tasks durations

[dtksocal]

Is it possible to have a task that has a duration equal the sum of the
duration for a set of tasks and that has work for that task calculated
automatically based on a formula of say number of hours per day times the
number of days duration?

 

[Steve House]

Duration is not additive but work is. Imagine a summary task that has 3
subtasks, each of which lasts one day. If the three are in parallel,
starting together, they all finish at the same timne and all work on the
summary is complete since all work on its children is complete, The summary
task duration is 1 day. But as to work, each subtask reuqires 8 man-hours
of work and so the summary requires a total of 24 man-hours..

If you display the worl field in the Gantt chart entry table you will see
this phnomnen in action.

 

[Jim Aksel]

You may also find "Hammock Task" helpful. Please see FAQ#19here:
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm
--
Jim Aksel, MVP

Check my blog for more info:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

This newsgroup is moving, try here too:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums

 

[Steve House]

Addendum to preevious answer - the only time a summary task has a duration
equal to the sum of the durations of its subordinate subtasks is when the
suntasks are linked in a linear sequence so they occur one after the other
AND when there are no lag times or lead times in the links between them.

The existing "Work" field does exactly what you're asking for regading work
hours. Simply choose a table view that displays it or add it to your table
of choice.

 

[salgud]

Addendum to preevious answer - the only time a summary task has a duration
equal to the sum of the durations of its subordinate subtasks is when the
suntasks are linked in a linear sequence so they occur one after the other
AND when there are no lag times or lead times in the links between them.

The existing "Work" field does exactly what you're asking for regading work
hours. Simply choose a table view that displays it or add it to your table
of choice.

True, to a point. Technically, though it will rarely happen, the duration
of the summary task could be equal to the sum of the subtasks durations if
it happens just by coincidence, if all the overlaps and leads and lags
zeroed each other out somehow. Not likely, but possible.