Fixed duration tasks

[Sharon AZ]

I have a group of tasks that can be completed in any order
within a given time period however they all need to be
completed by a given date. They all link to a subsequent
task that can't begin until all the these previous tasks
are completed. These tasks are completed by a group
outside of our own so I'm only interested in tracking the
percent complete of each task to ensure they are done by
the given finish date. What is the best way to set up
these group of tasks? Right now I'm having a problem with
the tasks splitting whenever I enter a percent complete
amount.

Thank You
Sharon

 

[Gary Chefetz [MVP]]

Sharon:

Splitting the tasks is Project's way of telling you that they're already
running late according to plan. The application is attempting to reschedule
the incomplete work when you status the project. What do you want to happen?

--
Gary Chefetz [MVP]
http://www.msprojectexperts.com
"We wrote the book on Project Server"

*** Remember to look for line breaks in links posted to the news group, use
cut and paste for these.

 

[Ed Kilner]

Maybe you need to look at it like this:

Either you need it done by a date (Olympic games start on a given date)

OR

You need them all done before another can start.

The latter is what MSP helps you plan for.

Then, when you track, there might not be a a linear set of progress, ie, 8
hrs per day. If you have the occasional day with zero hours of progress
(some people tell the truth), you will get a split. You can get splits for
many reasons. Basically, the actual work is "pinned" and the remaining work
satisfys the predecessor -- successor link.

You don't ever need to enter a % Complete by the way -- use the Update Task
icon and just enter actual duration and especially remaining duration. %C
will be calculated correctly for you.

Even better, enter actual work on a row in the Resource or Task Usage View.

--
Ed Kilner, P.Eng., PMP

(e-mail address removed) (416) 822-4835

Project Solutions Unlimited www.psu.ca