Skip to content
ProjectControls.com
Microsoft Project

Task duration less than elapsed time??

In the Open Standard
Sara HellierMember for 18 years 6 months
Created
3
4
0
Hi, I’m new here, have just discovered what I hope will be a very useful online resource!!I have a question about task scheduling, current plan I’m working on has (for example)
Task 1 – place order, 1 day, 15 Apr
Task 2 – order delivery process, 60 days
Task 3 - delivery milestone, 0 days, 4th August

Now task 1 is today, task 3 is 4th August which is a greater elapsed time than the 60 days delivery, delivery is 3rd party and I don’t care now they split the task just that delivery is not before 4th August. How can I show this in project, in putting a FNET date of 4th August onto task 3 it’s just slipping the start date and making it a critical taks which obviously it’s not. I’ve tried adding my own splits but whatever I do the task is appearing as critical?

Any help much appreciated.
Thanks.
Save Follow Follow forum Report
Reply New topic

3 replies

Oldest first
  1. 0
    Darren Kosa ·
    #1
    Hi Sara,

    It seems a little strange that the end milestone date would move the start date of Task 1, if everything is linked correctly.

    I’m assuming that you have already set the project start date and that the activities are being driven by precedence rather that constraints.

    I’m also assuming that the schedule looks something like this

    Task 1 Duration 1d and has a FS relationship with Task 2
    Task 2 Duration 60d and has a FS relationship with Task3
    Task 3 Duration 0d and has a FNET constraint 04/08/08

    Task 1 Starts 15/04/08 Finishes 15/04/08
    Task 2 Starts 16/04/08 Finishes 10/07/08 (Inc. Bank Holidays)
    Task 3 Starts 04/08/08 Finishes 04/08/08

    Another question is, do you have the ’Tasks will always honor their constraint dates’ checkbox ticked? (Tools > Options > Schedule Tab)

    Regards,

    Darren
    Report
  2. 0
    Sara Hellier ·
    #2
    Hi Darren,

    Thanks for the reply, sorry I’m confusing things and I don’t even know how, I’ve just gone back to check what I’ve done and yep, following your guide gives the right result!!

    I was trying to show the same without Task 3 - ie is there any way to show in MSP a floating task whos start date is driven by Task 1 but whos end date is driven by elapsed time (a date) rather than task duration i.e avoiding the need to add Task 3 as a successor. ie the delivery window is say 80days but the delivery process is 60days.

    Thanks


    Report
  3. 0
    Darren Kosa ·
    #3
    Sara,

    Sounds like what you’re after is a ’Hammock’ task.

    If it is, be careful how often you use them as they have been known to corrupt project files if you have too many.

    Have a look and see if this fits the bill.

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/141733

    Regards,

    Darren
    Report

Log in or join to reply

ProjectControls.com is free to join. Members can post questions, reply, vote and follow discussions.

Log inJoin free

Existing members: your original username and password still work. Forgot password?