Linking Multiple Tasks

[meg99]

Using 2007 (just started). I have a need to link multiple tasks to a
single predecessor. Is there a way to do that efficiently? Example
Task A is the pred, while tasks B - Z are successors. I know that I
can select task a and enter all the task ID numbers in the pred field,
but that is tedious. If I hold the Ctrl key and select B-Z and then
A, it links but automatically links each of the B-Z tasks with a
finish to start.

Is there a way to select all of the successors and then link them each
to the predecessor? I've got almost 1000 of these puppies to link and
I'm looking for an automated or semi automated way to do it.

thanks

meg99

 

[Jim Aksel]

Hello Meg99 -
So each of tasks B-Z have A as a predecessor. Might you try inserting the
Predecessors and Successors columns. Filter to show only tasks A and B-Z (I
am assuming you also have AA-AZ, BA-BZ, etc). Type the ID of "A" into the
predecessor of B. Now highlight B-Z in the predecessors column and hit CTL+D
(which is Fill Down). I believe it will work even if B-Z are not contiguous.

If you have one of them done already, you could copy the successors to "A"
into the predecessors of "AB" and then repeat (assuming the task numbering as
I did above).

Becareful your CTL+D avoids summary task, otherwise you can go back and
clean them up later.

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]]

Are B through Z each DIRECT successors to A, - A finishes and then B, C, D
.... all start together and proceed in parallel - or do they lie in sequence
in a chain A->B->C->D->...->Y->Z?

Part of your problem sounds like you're reversing the function of the
Predecessor field. You don't put the numbers for B thru Z in A's field. If
your situation is as the first example above, you put A's number in the
predecessor field for tasks B thru Z. A quick way to do that would be to
enter Task A's number (#1) into the predecessor cell for Task B (#2).
Observe the little block on the lower right corner of the cell. That's a
fill handle working just like it does in Excel. Grab it will your mouse and
drag it down to fill the column down to Task Z.

HTH

 

[meg99]

Are B through Z each DIRECT successors to A, - A finishes and then B, C, D
... all start together and proceed in parallel - or do they lie in sequence
in a chain A->B->C->D->...->Y->Z?

Part of your problem sounds like you're reversing the function of the
Predecessor field.  You don't put the numbers for B thru Z in A's field..  If
your situation is as the first example above, you put A's number in the
predecessor field for tasks B thru Z.  A quick way to do that would be to
enter Task A's number (#1) into the predecessor cell for Task B (#2).
Observe the little block on the lower right corner of the cell.  That'sa
fill handle working just like it does in Excel.  Grab it will your mouse and
drag it down to fill the column down to Task Z.

HTH
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visithttp://project.mvps.org/faqs.htmfor the FAQs

Using 2007 (just started).  I have a need to link multiple tasks to a
single predecessor.  Is there a way to do that efficiently?  Example
Task A is the pred, while tasks B - Z are successors.  I know that I
can select task a and enter all the task ID numbers in the pred field,
but that is tedious.  If I hold the Ctrl key and select B-Z and then
A, it links but automatically links each of the B-Z tasks with a
finish to start.

Is there a way to select all of the successors and then link them each
to the predecessor?  I've got almost 1000 of these puppies to link and
I'm looking for an automated or semi automated way to do it.

meg99

I didn't explain it very well. Tasks B - Z are tasks with various
durations but they all have A as a successor. Thus the predecessor
for A is each of the tasks B-Z. Some of the tasks B - Z are
interlinked and some are independent thus any of the B - Z tasks could
push A.

What I am looking for is a somewhat automated way to select all of the
B - Z tasks and make them predecessors to A.

It would look like this in the predecessor column
A = B,C,D,E....
in the successor columns for B - Z it would look like this
B = A
C = A
D = A
E = F,G,H,A

etc

meg99

 

[meg99]

I didn't explain it very well.  Tasks B - Z are tasks with various
durations but they all have A as a successor.  Thus the predecessor
for A is  each of the tasks B-Z.  Some of the tasks B - Z are
interlinked and some are independent thus any of the B - Z tasks could
push A.

What I am looking for is a somewhat automated way to select all of the
B - Z tasks and make them predecessors to A.

It would look like this in the predecessor column
A = B,C,D,E....
in the successor columns for B - Z it would look like this
B = A
C = A
D = A
E = F,G,H,A

etc

meg99

I think I have it solved. I have taken Jim's advice and opened the
successor field and entered the ID for A into all of the tasks for B -
Z. That works reasonably well.

Thanks for the input.

meg99

 

[Jim Aksel]

Please check one more thing for me.
You want B-Z all as predecessors to "A." What I see continously "out in the
field" are over constrained schedules. It happens like this:

X-drives-Y-drives-Z. There is no need to make X and Y predecessors to "A."
In this case, since Z drives "A", placing X and Y as predecessors to A would
be quite useless.

I think if you preclude that in your schedule, you will be doing well.
--
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]]

So you're saying that A can only occur AFTER all the tasks B thru Z are
complete???

I still have the feeling that you're mixing up the definitions of
predecessor and successor. We have task A that takes X days and it produces
some parts that are needed in Task B. So A has to finish before B can start
because until A finishes, B's required parts aren't available. Or perhaps
we're painting a wall and Task A is "Apply Primer Coat" and Task B is "Apply
Colour Coat." We can't put on the colour until we have put on the primer
and given it time to dry. A and B are linked in a Finish-to-Start
relationship with the finish of A, the PREDECESSOR, controlling the earliest
date that B, the SUCCESSOR, will be able to start. "Predecessor" equals
"controlling task" while "Successor" equals "controlled task."

In the Gantt chart table, the Predecessor column carries the ID number of
the task(s) that are the predecessors to the instant task. If you add the
Successor column, it carries the ID number(s) of those tasks that are
Sucessors to the instant task.

--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Are B through Z each DIRECT successors to A, - A finishes and then B, C, D
... all start together and proceed in parallel - or do they lie in
sequence
in a chain A->B->C->D->...->Y->Z?

Part of your problem sounds like you're reversing the function of the
Predecessor field. You don't put the numbers for B thru Z in A's field. If
your situation is as the first example above, you put A's number in the
predecessor field for tasks B thru Z. A quick way to do that would be to
enter Task A's number (#1) into the predecessor cell for Task B (#2).
Observe the little block on the lower right corner of the cell. That's a
fill handle working just like it does in Excel. Grab it will your mouse
and
drag it down to fill the column down to Task Z.

HTH
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visithttp://project.mvps.org/faqs.htmfor the FAQs

Using 2007 (just started). I have a need to link multiple tasks to a
single predecessor. Is there a way to do that efficiently? Example
Task A is the pred, while tasks B - Z are successors. I know that I
can select task a and enter all the task ID numbers in the pred field,
but that is tedious. If I hold the Ctrl key and select B-Z and then
A, it links but automatically links each of the B-Z tasks with a
finish to start.

Is there a way to select all of the successors and then link them each
to the predecessor? I've got almost 1000 of these puppies to link and
I'm looking for an automated or semi automated way to do it.

meg99

I didn't explain it very well. Tasks B - Z are tasks with various
durations but they all have A as a successor. Thus the predecessor
for A is each of the tasks B-Z. Some of the tasks B - Z are
interlinked and some are independent thus any of the B - Z tasks could
push A.

What I am looking for is a somewhat automated way to select all of the
B - Z tasks and make them predecessors to A.

It would look like this in the predecessor column
A = B,C,D,E....
in the successor columns for B - Z it would look like this
B = A
C = A
D = A
E = F,G,H,A

etc

meg99

 

[meg99]

So you're saying that A can only occur AFTER all the tasks B thru Z are
complete???

I still have the feeling that you're mixing up the definitions of
predecessor and successor.  We have task A that takes X days and it produces
some parts that are needed in Task B.  So A has to finish before B can start
because until A finishes, B's required parts aren't available.  Or perhaps
we're painting a wall and Task A is "Apply Primer Coat" and Task B is "Apply
Colour Coat."  We can't put on the colour until we have put on the primer
and given it time to dry. A and B are linked in a Finish-to-Start
relationship with the finish of A, the PREDECESSOR, controlling the earliest
date that B, the SUCCESSOR, will be able to start.  "Predecessor" equals
"controlling task" while "Successor" equals "controlled task."

In the Gantt chart table, the Predecessor column carries the ID number of
the task(s) that are the predecessors to the instant task.  If you add the
Successor column, it carries the ID number(s) of those tasks that are
Sucessors to the instant task.

--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visithttp://project.mvps.org/faqs.htmfor the FAQs

Are B through Z each DIRECT successors to A, - A finishes and then B, C, D
... all start together and proceed in parallel - or do they lie in
sequence
in a chain A->B->C->D->...->Y->Z?

Part of your problem sounds like you're reversing the function of the
Predecessor field. You don't put the numbers for B thru Z in A's field.If
your situation is as the first example above, you put A's number in the
predecessor field for tasks B thru Z. A quick way to do that would be to
enter Task A's number (#1) into the predecessor cell for Task B (#2).
Observe the little block on the lower right corner of the cell. That's a
fill handle working just like it does in Excel. Grab it will your mouse
and
drag it down to fill the column down to Task Z.

HTH

I didn't explain it very well.  Tasks B - Z are tasks with various
durations but they all have A as a successor.  Thus the predecessor
for A is  each of the tasks B-Z.  Some of the tasks B - Z are
interlinked and some are independent thus any of the B - Z tasks could
push A.

What I am looking for is a somewhat automated way to select all of the
B - Z tasks and make them predecessors to A.

It would look like this in the predecessor column
A = B,C,D,E....
in the successor columns for B - Z it would look like this
B = A
C = A
D = A
E = F,G,H,A

etc

meg99- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

For those who may not be familiar with the IMP/IMS.
This construct is the result of the IMP/IMS requirements set forth by
government regulation. The IMP (Integrated Master Plan) is a set of
Events, Accomplishments, and Criteria that provides a top level
description of the project without regard to calendar time. Here are
a few lines of a sample IMP:

Event IMP EAC Title Description
ATP A E [] (ATP) Authority To Proceed Initiated [] This is the start
event for the Delivery Order / Line Item
SRR C E [] (SRR) System Requirements Review Completed []The SRR will
assess the requirement allocations, flowdown, traceability, and
verification of mission requirements from the A level spec to lower
level specifications. This revew indicates that the established
System Engineering processes have been followed to include
configuration management, cost targets, operational support concepts,
and risk/opportunity management plans/processes. This also means that
System requirements have been defined.
SRR C01 A [] (SRR) SRR Data Package Completed [] This Accomplishment
is completed when all Criteria for the development of the SRR Data
Package have been satisfied
SRR C0101 C [] (SRR) Action Items / Closure Plan Completed [] This
Criteria is completed when all associated Action Items Completed or
Closure Plan Tasks have been Approved
SRR C0102 C [] (SRR) SRR Data Package Delivered [] This Criteria is
completed when all associated SRR Data PackageTasks have been
Delivered
SRR C02 A [] (SRR) System Requirements Defined [] This Accomplishment
is completed when all Criteria for System Requirements have been
satisfied
SRR C0201 C [] (SRR) System Specification Completed [] This Criteria
is completed when all associated System Specification Tasks have been
Completed
SRR C0202 C [] (SRR) Closure Plans for TBx Established [] This
Criteria is completed when all associated Closure Plans for TBx Tasks
have been Established

The IMS (Integrated Master Plan) is created when tasks with links and
durations and resources are added. Each task that belongs to a
Criteria is linked to the Criteria (usually with a FS) - thus the
Criteria (a milestone) has all of its Tasks as predecessors (however,
if task C02020001 is FS with C0202002 then only C0202002 is linked to
the Criteria). All of the Criteria associated with an Accomplishment
are linked FS to the Accomplishment and all the Accomplishments
associated with an Event are linked FS with the Event. When all of
the tasks for a Criteria have been completed, the Criteria is
satisfied and completed. When all of the Criteria for an
Accomplishment have been completed, the Accomplishement is completed.
When all of the Accomplishements for an Event are completed, entry
criteria for the Event has been satisfied. Since the Events are
usually scheduled with a set date, significant delays in tasks will
show up as negative float at the Event level and highlight need for
management action.

meg99