problems in combining schedules

Greg. You have a lot more to worry about than just your pretty picture. By what you say, I take it that you are currently working on activities that you are responsible for. The Master Schedule indicates that you should not be working at this time at all. Clearly, there is a disconnect between your responsibilities and the governing agency in this matter. Either you are inefficiently working out-of-sequence, have mobilized prior to gaining permission, or the ‘controlling agency’ (GC) is completely out of touch with the project and not looking at their own schedules.

Think of what would happen if you were installing plasterboard months before you were scheduled to do so on the Master Schedule. You would be covering up walls that haven’t received rough-in for plumbing, electrical, communications, etc. You would be forced to remove your work and return again later at your own expense! I hope that this is not your situation.

P.S. to force your current schedule on the Master Schedule, constrain the late dates (either Late Start or Late Finish) with no-later-than constraints, not the early dates as you mentioned. Good luck!

Thanks Ronald,
I am lucky in that the physical work has not yet started, and we are "trying" to set this up. You’re correct in that the GC is out of touch. I will try to constrain things. Thanks again.