Hi,



My second thread here (and thanks Julie, for helping me out with the first one!). This time I have a question on how MS Project picks and shows tasks on critical path.

Firstly, some background: I have an extensive schedule in Project that covers 1.5 years+ worth of preparing for and then drilling two exploration wells overseas, some place in Asia. We drilled the first well and are scheduled to start drilling the second one on 3/31/14; depending on what this second well will have produced, we'll decide whether to invest more $$$ in exploration activities, or to walk away from the project. So as of right now the Go/No Go decision is ultimately the current project goal and it is also where the schedule ends. There are quite a few tasks that are absolutely crucial for achieving the Go/No Go by planned date, e.g. securing a good rig, choosing reliable contractors, having bank accounts open/functioning in the country of operation - all completed by certain dates.

Now when I run the in-built filter for critical tasks, the only item that it returns is one task "X", and this is a joint venture meeting where the Go/No Go will be officially announced - and this is also the only task, out of total 334, that has zero floats, both free and total. I understand that Project does what it is supposed to do: picks out tasks with no time cushion left. But what my management is really wanting to see on this report are also the tasks that absolutely must be completed on time to ensure the timely completion of task "X" - and they keep asking me why Project doesn't show any of them. All my explanations that these tasks have some float in them and hence don't get picked out are to no avail.

So I guess my question is, is there an in-built report in Project that I have not discovered yet that can fit their purpose? Or perhaps a certain way to single out these crucial items? I did create several customized filters to reflect certain aspects of the project that my managers are interested in but haven't figured this one out.

Apologies for the lengthy post and thanks in advance for any helpful tips.