how do you lock summary dates in project?

[TM]

I need to change subtask dates without changing summary dates, as they are
our target dates, but it seems that the summary dates are always controlled
by the subtasks...this makes me hate project, any suggestions?

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi TM,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You seem to be a newcomer - you might like to have a look at my series on
Microsoft Project in the TechTrax ezine, particularly #1, 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 article before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

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

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

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP

 

[Jim Aksel]

You could use Deadline Dates which will tell you if you passed the desired
date.
Since these are "target dates" it sounds to me that you are using them as a
baseline.

You can save a baseline by going to Tools/Tracking/Save Baseline... This
will store all the dates, durations, work, cost, etc. into special baselne
fields: Baseline Start, Baseline Finish, Baseline Duration, etc. The
baseline dates will not change unless you overwrite the baseline. So, you
can compare "start" to "baseline start" simply by inserting both columns.

Also, run the Gantt Chart Wizard (Format/Gantt Chart Wizard...). Select the
option to show the baseline. Now your Gantt Chart will show two sets of bars
for each baselined task --- one is "forecast" and the other is the baseline
your "memorilalized" when you set the baseline. Now you graphically can see
the slips in your schedule.

HTH
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

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

 

[Steve House [MVP]]

In addition to the other comments you have received, there is another
fundamental flaw in your reasoning: you are apparently attempting to tell
Project the dates tasks and their summaries will take place. Don't do that.
Project is not intended to document a project schedule you have already
created. Its job is to create the schedule for you. You don't tell it the
dates you want; it tells you the dates you can have. Ideally the only date
you provide Project is the project start date - everything else in the
schedule should be calculated based on the task durations, task
predecessor/successor links, and resource availability information that you
provide to it. There are rare exceptions where a task needs a further
constraint to modify its calculated schedule - parts are on back order until
a certain date, for example - but those are the only times you should
manually input a task start or end date.