Task Duration Formula

[ccannon]

Hi,

Is there a way to automatically set the start and finish dates of a
task based on the start and end dates of other tasks?

For example, I'm budgeting for a project that includes a Project
Manager assigned to oversee the execution of a given set of tasks. I
estimate the Project Manager will spend 10% of his time managing it.

The first task starts on day 1 followed by a number of other tasks, the
last one ending on day 15. Is there a way to have the Project Manager's
-management task- automatically span the 15 days, with just 10% of his
time allocated during that period?

I'm hoping for an automatic duration solution so I can adjust the
durations of the other tasks and have the Project Managers task update
automatically.

Thanks for your help.

-C

 

[JulieS]

Hello ccannon,

You are looking for a hammock task which can be created in Project.
Please see FAQ #19 at:
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Andrew]

Hi

I have just seen your post. Julie is correct in what she is saying regarding
the summary/hammock bar. I have recently found an alternative method. If you
use the summary bar, then all the activities covered have to be in the sam
group beneath the summary. If the activities are scattered within the project
then you could insert a new "summary" bar anywhere in the project and copy
paste link the start field into the start field of the new "Summary" bar,
then do the same to the finish field from the last activity and the new
"summary" bar will move when either of these activities move and will give
you the duration between the two. The complication would be if any of the
other activities moves out of sequence. What do you think Julie ? have I
understood the summary bar in MSP.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Andrew,

I think we may be getting a bit muddled using the terms "summary bar"
for both a true summary task (a task with subtasks indented
underneath) and a hammock task.

A hammock task as described in both FAQ 19 and the KB article 141733
uses paste links to determine the start date and finish date of the
hammock task. I think a hammock task is more suited to ccannon's
question because of the need to assign a resource (the project
manager) to the task at 10%.

The start of a summary task is driven by the start date/time of the
earliest of any one of its subtasks and the finish date is driven by
the latest finish of any one of its subtasks. If any of the subtasks
schedules change and updates the schedule of either the earliest or
latest task, the summary task start and finish dates (and
consequently duration) change as well. Generally, I don't suggest
assigning resources to summary tasks preferring to keep summary tasks
in the schedule for true "summary" information.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Andrew]

Julie

Where do I find KB article 141733

Regards

Andrew

 

[JulieS]

Hello Andrew,

In FAQ 19 at http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm there is a link to the
KB article.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project