multiple critical paths question

[Gray]

I don't know how the multiple critical paths are calculated. And I cannot get
what I want I the multiple critical paths displayed in the Gantte Chart. It
contradicts with the single critical path algorithm. Could you give a
detailed description of how the multiple critical paths are calculated in MS
project 2003? Thanks a lot.

 

[Rod Gill]

The multiple critical path option calculates a critical path, one for every
task that has no successor. So, 5 tasks with no successor and five paths
will be flagged as critical and obviously some tasks will be critical for
more than one path.

If you only want one path, turn of the multiple path option or make sure all
tasks (except the last one) have successors.

There isn't a conflict in the algorithm as the algorithm is applied to each
path.

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP

NEW!! Project VBA Book, for details visit: http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Gray]

Fristly ,Thanks a lot for help.

Secondly, I could hardly understand the simple example: I have 2 tasks(named
task 2 and named task 3) under one phase(named task 1)(could I treat the
phase as a special task?).

And task 2's plan start time is 9/1/2005, plan end time is 9/2/2005,
task 3's plan start time is 9/1/2005, plan end time is 9/5/2005,
so the pahse(task 1)'s plan start time is 9/1/2005, and plan end time is
9/5/2005;

When I use multiple critical paths in the MS project 2003,
the task 2 is labeled as a critical task.
But when I use single critical path in the MS project 2003,
the task 2 is not.

I think the single critical path is useful, and I could hardly understand
why the task 2 is labeled as a critical task in the muliple critical paths.
Because I think the task 2's lateset end time should be the same in the two
algorithms.

 

[Rod Gill]

The dates don't matter, it's the links that drive calculation of critical
path and task durations. What links do your tasks have?

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP

NEW!! Project VBA Book, for details visit: http://www.projectvbabook.com