Formula to compare only specific tasks

[Tamara]

I'm setting up a project template. There are several milestones that are set
and I use the "Must Finish On" constraint type. The rest of the tasks use
predecessors to estimate the start date. What I want to do is:

1. Compare the end date of a specific task again a specific milestone
2. "Flag" the task if the dates don't match

Based on my limited knowledge of formulas, when you set up a formula it
works for all tasks. I can't seem to figure out if I can have individual
formulas using the same field.

TIA for your help. -Tamara

 

[Jack Dahlgren MVP]

Formulas (with some limited exceptions) work only on a single task at a
time.
You can only compare the end date of the task to other dates associated with
the SAME task.
You can't compare the end date of the task against a constraint on another
task.

There are ways to work around this (some are good, some not so good) so it
may be possible to do what you want with some creativity, but it depends on
the way the file is structured.

Can you share some specific information about exactly what you want to have
happen?

-Jack Dahlgren

 

[Tamara]

Basically I want to "flag" a task if it is estimated to finish after a
specific milestone. So maybe I just answered my own question. Instead of a
formula to compare, I just set the "must finish by" constraint of the
specific task. -Tamara

 

[Jim Aksel [MVP]]

Tamara - (Jack, sorry to jump in). I don't recommend that approach. What
will happen is if your schedule logic drives the finish date of your task
past the Must Finish On (or Finish No Later Than) constraint is Project will
pull the finish date of the specific task back in time to honor your
constraint. Then you may think thingss are well when they may not be.

Try using a Deadline Date instead. Set the Deadline of the task equal to
the milestone date (you have to key it manually unless you want to write
code). Now, if the Finish of your task exceeds the Deadline Date you will
see a red diamond in the indicators column.
HTH

Jim Aksel
check my blog at www.msprojectblog.com

 

[Tamara]

Perfect!

Tamara - (Jack, sorry to jump in). I don't recommend that approach. What
will happen is if your schedule logic drives the finish date of your task
past the Must Finish On (or Finish No Later Than) constraint is Project will
pull the finish date of the specific task back in time to honor your
constraint. Then you may think thingss are well when they may not be.

Try using a Deadline Date instead. Set the Deadline of the task equal to
the milestone date (you have to key it manually unless you want to write
code). Now, if the Finish of your task exceeds the Deadline Date you will
see a red diamond in the indicators column.
HTH

Jim Aksel
check my blog at www.msprojectblog.com