Task duration

[Yoni]

Hello,
i am running MS Project 2007 and i want to add a task with a duration of
4hrs, however i don’t mind what date the task is completed on; just that it
be completed by a certain set date.
How can i set this up? Please help.
So basically i want to have a sort of "floating" task which needs to be
completed by a set date but not necessary straight away.
Thank You

 

[Sai]

Hello,
i am running MS Project 2007 and i want to add a task with a duration of
4hrs, however i don’t mind what date the task is completed on; just that it
be completed by a certain set date.
How can i set this up? Please help.
So basically i want to have a sort of "floating" task which needs to be
completed by a set date but not necessary straight away.
Thank You

Yoni - You have the *duration* has 4 hours and want the task finish
not later a certain date. Since, you have not indicated whether you
have multiple or single resource assignment to this task, I assume you
have multiple resources assigned.

I provide two solutions - (1) Using Constraints + Task Type (2) Using
Deadlines + Task Type

First the (1) Using Constraints + Task Type solution.

Before, I go to the steps, add "Work" field as column to your Gantt
chart. So, now the steps
a. Double click the task to get the Task Information dialog
b. Select "Advanced" tab
c. Choose the constraint type as "Finish No Later Than" (that is
latest date by which the task can finish) and provide your "fixed"
date as constraint date
d. Set the "Type" as "Fixed duration"
e. [Optional - Only for multiple resources] Set the "Effort-driven" to
"Yes", if want the task "Work" to be constant and close the dialog
box.
f. In Gantt Chart view, set the "Duration" to 4 hours; you will
observe the "Work" and "Resource" assignment units will change
appropriately.

Effectively, the above steps indicate that the task duration is fixed
and constraint is placed.

Warning! If the predecessor of the task that has "Finish No Later
Than" constriant is delayed beyond its slack time, it will create a
scheduling conflict.

Now, the second solution (2) Using Deadlines + Task Type. Follow the
same set of steps, except in the "Advanced" tab, set the "constraint"
type as "as soon as possible" and set your "fixed date" in the
"Deadline" field.

If this answers your question, please consider rating it

- Sai, PMP, PMI-SP, MCT, MCTS
http://saipower.wordpress.com

 

[Steve House]

Enter the task and set it's duration to 4 hours. Double click on the task
ID number to display the Task Information Form and select the Advanced tab.
Enter the required "finish by" date in the Deadline field. I strongly
suggest you DO NOT use a "Finish No Later Than" or "Must Finish On"
constraint. The reason is that with a constraint, if the task's start gets
delayed because a predecessor is running late, when it runs up against the
constraint date it will stop moving, even if the predecessor keeps getting
later and later and it's going to be physically impossible for the task to
start on time. That throws the entire subsequent schedule out of whack,
with the Project plan now promising the impossible. The deadline field lets
it go to the date where it will actually end up on and red flag it so you
can figure out how to get it back on track while there's still time to
remedy the problem.