Finish Date Update based on Linked Tasks Date Change

[tw_webex]

I want to set a "flexible" Finish Date that is updated automatically if I
update a milestone/end date for a linked task.

E.g. I have set the normal Start and Finish Dates for a project. I have
also set milestones/end dates for several Tasks. One of those Tasks,
however, will determine the acutal Finish Date of the entire project. So, if
I change the milestone/end date of the determinant Task, I would like the
Finish Date to update automatically by adding 60 days to the new
milestone/end date of the determinant Task and set the new Finish Date.

Is this possible/

Thx!

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi ,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

Yes, if you set up Project properly. Don't enter any dates - that's
Project's job. Just enter Tasks, Durations and Precedence links, then
assign resources and let Project calculate the end date. If you subsequently
have to change a milestone, Project will be able to update the end date
respectively.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials

 

[tw_webex]

Thanks for the welcome!

Couple of additional questions:

End Date of a Task vs. Finish Date of a Project - I presume there is a
difference between the two?

If so, and I link a Task to the main Project line, how would I get the
Project Finish Date to automatically read 60 days after the End Date of the
linked Task much less update automatically should I have to update the End
Date of the Task?

And as far as not entering any dates, does that include not entering any
dates for each Task? I'm guessing that at the very minimum I would have to
enter a Start date for each Task much less the Start of the project in order
for dates to be assigned based on duration.

Cheers!

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

Not entering any dates means just what it says - do not enter any dates,
either start or finish, for any tasks nor for the project end if at all
possible. In the best of all worlds, you enter the project start date, the
list of tasks and your estimates for how long each one will take, and the
links that describe the physical dependencies between various tasks (you
have to put up the walls before you put on the roof because you can't build
the roof in midair and tuck the walls in later kind of thing). Project's
job is to calculate the task's individual start and end dates and the
expected end date of the project if you structure the work the way you have
designed it. You don't tell it the schedule you think you'll work - it
tells you the schedule you can expecrt to be able to work.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi tw_webex,

You might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project in the
TechTrax ezine, at this site: http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the articles before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP