Inserting a fixed date task into an adjusting time line

[Michael McGillick]

I'm using Project 2000 to track the current project I'm working on. I've
defined my list of tasks and have chained them together so that I'm not
assigned to work on more than one task at a time. I understand that if I
adjust the hours for a particular task, the project end date either pulls in
closer or extends out farther depending on adjustment in hours to the task.
However, I also have one task that has a specific start and end date. How do
I get the rest of the schedule to flow around my fixed task and still make
project understand that during any given scheduled time, I'm only working on
a single task.

To be clear, let's assume that I was able to complete my first three tasks
prior to the task with the fixed time frame. If, for some reason, I needed to
extend the first task by a day, all other chained tasks would move out by a
day. What I would like to see happen is that Project automatically
recalculates the schedule to let me know that I should work on task three
until I reach the fixed task date, I should move to the fixed date task, and
then I should go back to task three to complete the remaining 8 hours work.
I'm looking to get the rest of the schedule to adjust without adjusting the
fixed task.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[JulieD]

Hi Michael

i think this might work ... (test on copy first) ... but we need to take a
couple of steps back before going forward ...
tasks should only be linked when there is a reason to link them not to
ensure that you're overallocated ... so enter the tasks, link those that
need it (ie "can't build walls until after the slab has been laid" concept).

Use a "Must start on" constraint (double click on task - advanced tab) to
set the start time for your "fixed time task" and set the priority of the
task (general tab) to 1000.

Now, assign yourself to all the tasks - don't worry if you're working on 20
different things on one day. now save your file (different name just in
case you don't like the result).

Now choose tools / resource levelling and ensure "minute by minute" is
selected - leave the rest as default. Click the LEVEL NOW button and have a
look at the result. Project will level (ie delay) tasks so that you're not
overallocated. The task to set the priority to 1000 will not be levelled.

if you want to see the actual changes have a look at the levelling gantt
view (green is as it was before levelling - blue is what it is now) .. this
should give you the outcome you desire.

Hope this helps
Cheers
JulieD

 

[Michael McGillick]

Julie:

This is fantastic. This is exactly what I was looking for. It's amazing how
when you ask one question and you get the answer, you actually learn more
than what you were expecting. One follow-up question to this would be once
I've got the tasks listed, does PowerPoint use a specific alogorithm to
determine the dates it assigns for tasks? For example, does it try to
complete all of the shortest duration tasks first, or some other such
algorithm? If so, other than assigning specific start or end dates to tasks,
is this controllable? (Can I choose the algorithm PowertPoint uses?)

Once again, thank you for your answer.

I love the forums.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Maichael,

Power Point doesn't do Resource Leveling, Project does )

Yes there is an algorithm - Only a few days ago I gave an overview but I
forgot the title of the thread :-(
By all means, Assignments/tasks with the lowest priority are postponed
And you can tune priority, it is a task fieled, insofar you have selected
"Priority, Standard" in the Leveling
Order box of the Resource Leveling window.
HTH