Summary Task Types

[Tammy]

Using Project XP and have inserted the column 'Type' into
our Gantt Chart as we are modifying the Task Type on some
tasks and want to be able to view that information.

Should there be a legitimate entry in the Type column next
to a Summary Task? I'm finding that if my project is set
to the default of Fixed Duration and I enter new tasks
into a new project and then outline them, the Summary Task
always displays 'Fixed Duration' in the Type column and
the subtasks display 'Fixed Unit'. And the Summary
Task 'Type' column is not editable.

If I change any/all of the subtasks to a different Task
Type, the Summary Task remains as a 'Fixed Duration'
type. So is this a case where that particular field (Task
Type) really doesn't have any relevance to a Summary Task
and just always defaults to Fixed Duration and ignores
whatever type the subtasks may have?

Thank you for your help,
Tammy

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Tammy,

Duration of a summary task is just the distance between the earliest task
start and the very latest task finish of the tasks it covers.
Assigning or re-assigning resources to the summary task can never change
that and yes, as such it reacts as Fixed Duration.
HTH

 

[Guest]

Yes, we understood what Duration was-just not how the Task
Type field relates to the Summary task, but I think you've
confirmed what we were thinking.

Thanks very much for your help.
Tammy