Tasks with variable duration

[MalkiaSashko]

Hello,

Suppose I have a project that includes the execution of severa
consecutive investment projects. An investment project consists o
several steps: pre-feasibility study, cost-benefit analysis, designin
and construction of a plant. Now imagine a task that must run throughou
the duration of an investment project - say publicity of the investmen
project. It is logical that this task has a start-to-start link with th
pre-feasibility study and a finish-to-finish link with the constructio
of the project. It would also be logical that the duration of this tas
is determined by the durations of all other tasks - if any of them i
delayed, it must be possible that the project publicity task increase
in duration automatically. However, in Project I have to enter a fixe
value for a task. In this case I must manually calculate the duration o
the investment project and enter it as a value for the duration of th
publicity task. However, if during the course of the project there is
delay in any of the task, I have to perform the same calculation agai
and enter the new value for the duration of the publicity task.

Does anybody know a way around this, so that the duration of the las
task depends on the duration of the previous tasks and so that I don'
need to constantly oversee if the values match? Thank you

 

[Rob Schneider]

Malkia,

I think what you are looking for is what's called a "hammock task". See
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm#Hammock Tasks.

--rms

www.rmschneider.com

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi MalkiaSashko,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

Please see FAQ Item: 19. Hammock Tasks.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials


Hello,

Suppose I have a project that includes the execution of several
consecutive investment projects. An investment project consists of
several steps: pre-feasibility study, cost-benefit analysis, designing
and construction of a plant. Now imagine a task that must run throughout
the duration of an investment project - say publicity of the investment
project. It is logical that this task has a start-to-start link with the
pre-feasibility study and a finish-to-finish link with the construction
of the project. It would also be logical that the duration of this task
is determined by the durations of all other tasks - if any of them is
delayed, it must be possible that the project publicity task increases
in duration automatically. However, in Project I have to enter a fixed
value for a task. In this case I must manually calculate the duration of
the investment project and enter it as a value for the duration of the
publicity task. However, if during the course of the project there is a
delay in any of the task, I have to perform the same calculation again
and enter the new value for the duration of the publicity task.

Does anybody know a way around this, so that the duration of the last
task depends on the duration of the previous tasks and so that I don't
need to constantly oversee if the values match? Thank you.

 

[Larry Christofaro]

MalkiaSashko

This is sometimes called a hammock task. Try this:
Select the end date of the last task in the sequence and copy the date.
Then select the end date of the task that you want to float with that end
date and right click to get the selection menu.
Select Paste Special
Select the Paste Link radio button and then OK
The end date of the task will now float with the end date of the previous
task. You can do the same if you want to set the start date with the first
task of the group.

 

[MalkiaSashko]

As always this is the right place to get quick, exact, and extensive
answers! Thank you!!!

 

[Mike Glen]

You're welcome,

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials



As always this is the right place to get quick, exact, and extensive
answers! Thank you!!!