Template, recurring linked tasks

[rayj]

I am using MS Project standard 2003 on a MS WIndows 2000 5 service pack 4.

I am building template schedule for projects. I would like the dates to flow:
I want to schedule recurring tasks such as meetings that occur twice a week.
I have two difficulties:
In the template, there is a recurring task that I set for 12 weeks, two
occurances per week - one on Monday and one on Thursday. I have the rollup
task linked to the kickoff meeting which is set as Monday (in the template).
When I change the kickoff meeting date from Monday to Tuesday, the recurring
tasks shift from Monday to Tuesday. I don'nt want the recurring tasks to
change days just because the kickoff meeting changes; I just want the
recurring meeting to follow on the next available Monday.

The second part is the time span the recurring meetings cover. I want the
recurring meetings to cover the span of the final project not the assumed
minimal, template project. I have several tasks that are recurring and I
only want them to cover the project span and I don't want the user to have to
go in and adjust each task to end on a fixed date. I would like the end
dates of the recurring task to track the project end date.

What are some methods to do this.

 

[John]

I am using MS Project standard 2003 on a MS WIndows 2000 5 service pack 4.

I am building template schedule for projects. I would like the dates to flow:
I want to schedule recurring tasks such as meetings that occur twice a week.
I have two difficulties:
In the template, there is a recurring task that I set for 12 weeks, two
occurances per week - one on Monday and one on Thursday. I have the rollup
task linked to the kickoff meeting which is set as Monday (in the template).
When I change the kickoff meeting date from Monday to Tuesday, the recurring
tasks shift from Monday to Tuesday. I don'nt want the recurring tasks to
change days just because the kickoff meeting changes; I just want the
recurring meeting to follow on the next available Monday.

The second part is the time span the recurring meetings cover. I want the
recurring meetings to cover the span of the final project not the assumed
minimal, template project. I have several tasks that are recurring and I
only want them to cover the project span and I don't want the user to have to
go in and adjust each task to end on a fixed date. I would like the end
dates of the recurring task to track the project end date.

What are some methods to do this.

rayj,
Unfortunately the only way I know to do what you want is through a VBA
macro. The macro code would basically detect all recurring tasks in the
new schedule (i.e. after the template has been modified), and then
adjust them to suit the new plan.

Of course the other method is manual adjustment but you've already said
you don't want to do that.

John
Project MVP

 

[rayj]

Unfortunately the only way I know to do what you want is through a VBA
macro. The macro code would basically detect all recurring tasks in the
new schedule (i.e. after the template has been modified), and then
adjust them to suit the new plan.

Of course the other method is manual adjustment but you've already said
you don't want to do that.

John
Project MVP

John,

Thank you for your response. OK, VBA is the solution. Do you have any
suggestions on how I can learn VBA for Project focusing on this particular
view?

Ray

 

[John]

John,

Thank you for your response. OK, VBA is the solution. Do you have any
suggestions on how I can learn VBA for Project focusing on this particular
view?

Ray

Ray,
You're welcome. Fellow MVP, Rod Gill, has an excellent book specifically
on Project VBA. You can get more information at,
http://www.projectvbabook.com.

John
Project MVP