E
EG
I want to change the start and finish date of a summary
task and let Project calculate the appropriate dates for
the subtasks.
task and let Project calculate the appropriate dates for
the subtasks.
R
Robert
Hi EG,
Sorry dude... no can do!!!
A "summary" task is just that. It reflects your sub tasks.
i.e. The first start date, the last finish date, how much
work duration etc etc
You can then specify a desired start/finish date to a
subtask and lock it by giving it a must finish on/must
start on constraint!!!
CAUTION!! Use constraints carefully, and understand its
consequences!!!
Regards
Robert
Sorry dude... no can do!!!
A "summary" task is just that. It reflects your sub tasks.
i.e. The first start date, the last finish date, how much
work duration etc etc
You can then specify a desired start/finish date to a
subtask and lock it by giving it a must finish on/must
start on constraint!!!
CAUTION!! Use constraints carefully, and understand its
consequences!!!
Regards
Robert
T
Trevor Rabey
Be careful or you will get nominated for "question of the week".
It would take longer than it is worth to describe why you cannot do this but
the attributes of the summary are the result of the combined various
attributes of the tasks, the tasks drive the summary, not vice versa.
also, as a footnote, you should never, except in very few cases and only if
forced, use start/finish dates.
It would take longer than it is worth to describe why you cannot do this but
the attributes of the summary are the result of the combined various
attributes of the tasks, the tasks drive the summary, not vice versa.
also, as a footnote, you should never, except in very few cases and only if
forced, use start/finish dates.
S
Sarah
EG,
Sorry, no can do. The summary tasks are ONLY auto-calculate from the subtasks.
Sarah
Sorry, no can do. The summary tasks are ONLY auto-calculate from the subtasks.
Sarah
W
William Raymond [Project MVP]
Hi EG,
As mentioned by other posters, you cannot change the start date of a summary
task. However, if all your tasks are connected with predecessors/successors
and most of the tasks are serial, I would imagine that changes a few key
dates for the initial tasks in the phase will adjust the rest of your
schedule.
-Bill
As mentioned by other posters, you cannot change the start date of a summary
task. However, if all your tasks are connected with predecessors/successors
and most of the tasks are serial, I would imagine that changes a few key
dates for the initial tasks in the phase will adjust the rest of your
schedule.
-Bill
R
Rod Gill
Hi,
Link your summary task to another one. That is the only way to 'adjust'
summary task dates. None of the sub tasks will start until the predecessor
to the summary task finishes (assuming a finish-start link).
--
Rod Gill
Project MVP
For Microsoft Project companion projects, best practices and Project VBA
development services
visit www.projectlearning.com/
Link your summary task to another one. That is the only way to 'adjust'
summary task dates. None of the sub tasks will start until the predecessor
to the summary task finishes (assuming a finish-start link).
--
Rod Gill
Project MVP
For Microsoft Project companion projects, best practices and Project VBA
development services
visit www.projectlearning.com/
R
Robert
AS a footnote to that footnote
In a perfect world youshouldnt need to touch the start/finish dates. BUT if you
do use them, be aware that you then set a constraint. i.e.
adjusting the start date gives a "start no earlier than"
and adjusting the the finish date gives a "finish no later
than" constraint. Things can get a bit hairy if you dont
have complete understanding & control.
regards
Robert
J
Jim Peters
I must agree with the underlying reasons behind all of the responses that
would discourage you from doing what you have asked - especially since it
can't be done.
But assuming that you have a really good reason for asking (e.g., fixed
contract start dates for each project phase etched in stone...), I will
offer a technique that may accomplish your objective - make it look like you
had applied start and finish dates to the Summary. Here are the steps I
used:
1. On the summary task, create a deadline date matching the Finish Date you
are dictating and a "Start No Earlier Than" constraint with the Start Date
you are dictating. .
2. Update the Bar Styles to include display of the Deadline for Summary
tasks. (The deadline marker is not a constraint but a visual indicator of a
deadline, presumeably the date you expect to finish.
3. As the first task below the summary task, insert a new task, let's say
"Dummy Task", giving it a fixed duration to match the timeframe you desired
for the summary task so that the finish date aligns with the Deadline
indicator on the Summary task above it..
4. Create a filter to hide the Dummy task (you could use AutoFilter on Task
Name with "does not contain "Dummy Task"").
What you are left with is your original project, with a Deadline indicator
displayed on the Summary task. The summary task will be at least as long as
your Dummy Task, giving you the picture it sounds like you desire. If the
subordinate tasks extend beyond the Dummy task, the deadline indicator will
fall in the middle of your Summary bar, indicating that you are in trouble.
You could add constraints to prevent the subordinate tasks from ever
extending past the deadline but see all of the other responses to your post
before doing so. .
If this is being done just to show a "Picture" then it might be a useful
exercise. But if it is being done as a tool to help manage and track a real
project then this technique will tend to hide the reality of what is really
going on with the project.
Enjoy,
Jim Peters
would discourage you from doing what you have asked - especially since it
can't be done.
But assuming that you have a really good reason for asking (e.g., fixed
contract start dates for each project phase etched in stone...), I will
offer a technique that may accomplish your objective - make it look like you
had applied start and finish dates to the Summary. Here are the steps I
used:
1. On the summary task, create a deadline date matching the Finish Date you
are dictating and a "Start No Earlier Than" constraint with the Start Date
you are dictating. .
2. Update the Bar Styles to include display of the Deadline for Summary
tasks. (The deadline marker is not a constraint but a visual indicator of a
deadline, presumeably the date you expect to finish.
3. As the first task below the summary task, insert a new task, let's say
"Dummy Task", giving it a fixed duration to match the timeframe you desired
for the summary task so that the finish date aligns with the Deadline
indicator on the Summary task above it..
4. Create a filter to hide the Dummy task (you could use AutoFilter on Task
Name with "does not contain "Dummy Task"").
What you are left with is your original project, with a Deadline indicator
displayed on the Summary task. The summary task will be at least as long as
your Dummy Task, giving you the picture it sounds like you desire. If the
subordinate tasks extend beyond the Dummy task, the deadline indicator will
fall in the middle of your Summary bar, indicating that you are in trouble.
You could add constraints to prevent the subordinate tasks from ever
extending past the deadline but see all of the other responses to your post
before doing so. .
If this is being done just to show a "Picture" then it might be a useful
exercise. But if it is being done as a tool to help manage and track a real
project then this technique will tend to hide the reality of what is really
going on with the project.
Enjoy,
Jim Peters