Highlight Dependancies - Critical points

[TheDrake]

Hi

I am new to MS Project and have not used Project Management software
previously.

I need to show on the Gantt chart when a subsequent task should start in
relation to its predecessors.

Example - when TASK 4 is 25% complete then TASK 7 and TASK 39 must begin.
Of course the lower down the list a task appears the less obvious is the
link to a much higher up task.

We therefore need a visual (Vertical) line to show up from those tasks to
indicate that dependance and also to highlight this.

I have seen this feature on reports from other software and need to know if
this is possible in MS Project Professional.

Many Thanks

 

[John]

Hi

I am new to MS Project and have not used Project Management software
previously.

I need to show on the Gantt chart when a subsequent task should start in
relation to its predecessors.

Example - when TASK 4 is 25% complete then TASK 7 and TASK 39 must begin.
Of course the lower down the list a task appears the less obvious is the
link to a much higher up task.

We therefore need a visual (Vertical) line to show up from those tasks to
indicate that dependance and also to highlight this.

I have seen this feature on reports from other software and need to know if
this is possible in MS Project Professional.

Many Thanks

TheDrake,
The normal defaults for Project will show dependency link lines. The
simplest and default link type is finish-to-start. Although your example
seems simple enough, things aren't always as straightforward as you may
think. To get the dependency you want based on task duration you could
set predecessors on tasks 7 & 30 to be: 4SS+25%. However, 25% completion
of a task does not necessarily equate to 25% duration. If you have one
resource working full time on task 4 then the link relationship I
described will work. But, if that resource only works part time on the
task then the duration, (time span between task start and finish), will
most likely be different from the work content of that task (number of
hours to complete the task).

With regard to the vertical line you want, task link lines show up by
default as I noted above. If you're after something else then we need a
better understanding of what that is in order to help you.

Since you are new to Project and project management I suggest you go to
our MVP website at, http://project.mvps.org/links.htm, and click on the
link for fellow MVP, Mike Glen's tutorials.

Hope this helps.

John
Project MVP

 

[TheDrake]

Hi John

Thanks for your reply.

The problem I have is that the default view of the link lines is that it
points out of the end of the predecessor into the start of the dependant.

In this case the percentage completion or time from start of predecessor is
assumed to be the same.

Some tasks start "independantly" over the course of the project in
preparation of materials, but their completion is not going to impact the
critical path.

I need a visual represenation from the start of the task to the point of
completion on it's predecessor to highlight the point from which the new task
can begin.

I have started using "drawing lines" but would prefer if the lines could be
shown from a calculated rather than manual method.

All replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi The Drake,

In your circumstances I would split Task 4 into two - The first's duration
would be 25% of the original and the second 75%. You can then clearly set
the appropriate linking.

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

 

[John]

Hi John

Thanks for your reply.

The problem I have is that the default view of the link lines is that it
points out of the end of the predecessor into the start of the dependant.

In this case the percentage completion or time from start of predecessor is
assumed to be the same.

Some tasks start "independantly" over the course of the project in
preparation of materials, but their completion is not going to impact the
critical path.

I need a visual represenation from the start of the task to the point of
completion on it's predecessor to highlight the point from which the new task
can begin.

I have started using "drawing lines" but would prefer if the lines could be
shown from a calculated rather than manual method.

All replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

TheDrake,
It sounds like you want link lines to come out of the middle of task
Gantt bars but Project won't do that. Task link lines in Project only
connect to the beginning (e.g. start-to-start) or the end (e.g.
finish-to-start) of Gantt bars. The only way to do what you want is by
using Mike's suggestion and split the task into parts.

John
Project MVP

 

[Steve House]

Several good suggeestions already but you might consider also using a lead
time (negative lag time). When task 4 is 25% done, it has 75% of its
duration still to go to completion. You could enter the links for both
tasks 7 and 39 as "4FS-75%."

Note that links never create a "must start" on the successor tasks, Links
in MS Project are both obligate and permissive. Obligate, in the sense that
the predecessor has control because of some mandatory process relationship
between the two tasks - ie, we can't built the roof in mid-air and then come
back later and erect its supporting structures, the law of gravity doesn't
allow for a different sequence than "support->roof." They are permissive in
the sense that the successor might or might not start when the link allows
it to. It can't start earlier because of the physical process but there's
nothing about the link that says it must start then, it can always start
later than the link allows for any number of reasons - perhaps the resource
required to do it isn't available at the time the predecessor says the
successor can begin, for example..