Hello

I have dozens of summary tasks (lets call it ST) which are comprised of sub-tasks of different durations (d).

e.g.

ST_1


Task 1
SubTask1a --> d1
SubTask1b --> d2
Task 2
SubTask2a --> d3
SubTask2b --> d4

ST_2
Task 1
SubTask1a --> d5
SubTask1b --> d6
Task 2
SubTask2a --> d7
SubTask2b --> d8

The only thing I know is that the "Task_1" for ALL my summary tasks should finish on date X, i.e. Subtask1b should finish exactly on date X.

Can I implement this dependency WITHOUT using a "Must Finish On" constraint? Reason is I want to be able to change the date X many times and I would like not to have to manually update hundreds of tasks. Ideally I would like to just update one date at one place and then automatically the planning of related tasks to be updated automatically.

I would like to use a task of 0 days and "synchronize" all my "Task_1" with this date. However I cannot make it work!


Let me know if someone can help!
Thanks

Hi,

One suggestion would be to create a milestone at the top and link it to Subtask1b, etc. on a finish/finish constraint. Then you would only need to change the date for the driving milestone.

Thanks a lot, I tried that but then when I move the milestone to the right for example, then indeed Subtask1b is properly "shifted" to the right, but Subtask1a remains in the same position... I would like Subtask1a to also move respectively to the right.

I attach a test.mpp. In this example, if the milestone moves, then subtasks "Pre-Checks" and "Backup" stay static although I would like them to also move. Probably my dependencies there are not ok.. I would appreciate some help, I have been struggling with this for so long!

Hi,

Sorry, I cant see the test file.

The work around for this (assuming that the durations, lag & lead aren't going to change), would be to create the dependencies from the last task backwards, eg: d2 is dependent on d1 on a finish/start dependency with -5d lag.

Regards,

Margaret

Dnantia,
You don't describe what the relationships are between your subtasks. Can you post a picture?

Hello,

Unfortunately I am still struggling with this one.

I attach a mpp illustrating the problem I face in case someone can further help.
What I am trying to do is to have the 'phase 2' of all all my summary tasks synchronised to an external milestone date.
The start date of phase 2, defines when phase 1 and 3 also need to start. So basically I need to have all my SubTasks-2a to start on specific date X. Alternatively I could have all my Subtasks-1b to finish on specific date X. I do not mind which approach to take.

If the millstone date moves in the future or in the past, then all summary tasks should be shifted respectively. In the attached mpp, you can see that if the milestone 'PICK UP DATE' is shifted in the future, then all phases 2 and 3 are also shifted. However 'phase 1' does not move at all! Any ideas how I can fix this?

Thank you
Nantia

Attached Files

nantia_problem.zip (486.9 KB, 13 views)

Hi,

Just had a quick look at your plan, the Phase 2 milestone wont move earlier because of the dependency on Phase 1 as well as the constraints that have been set. It works fine if you are pushing the date out in the plan.

This suggests that the dependency should be the other way round and that Phase 1 should be on a fs with Phase 2. Eg. Task 3 has a predecessor 7fs-10d.

In summary, I suggest that you remove the constraints and the amend the dependency to make Phase 1 dependent on Phase 2.

Hope this helps.

Margaret

Thank you Margaret, I gave it a try but unfortunately not with much success.
Maybe I misunderstood what you said.
I am confused how I can at the same time link phase 2 with my milestone, link phase 1 with phase 2 and also make sure that all the phase subtasks keep their "sequential" order.
I attach a picture and mpp, is this what you mean?

many thanks for all your help!
Nantia

Attached Images

test.png (29.6 KB, 18 views)

Attached Files

nantia_problem2.zip (486.6 KB, 8 views)

Hope I haven't misunderstood what you are trying to do - I have attached what I meant with a before and after picture.

Regards,

Margaret

Attached Images

	MSP answer1.PNG (44.3 KB, 18 views)
	MSP answer2.PNG (41.1 KB, 18 views)

I cant thank you enough Margaret, I do understand now!

One last question please, is there a "clever" way to calculate the optimal lag period? Ideally in my project, all tasks should be sequential with no delay between them. So when we say that task 4 ('Pre-check') has dependency '7fs-10d' then this means that task 7 (phase 2) can start 10 days after task 4 has finished, correct?

Does it make sense to have a different lag period per server depending on the duration of phase 1? Or the lag period should not be related at all with the actual duration of the tasks of phase 1?

Apologies for the multiple questions, I am newbie and I am struggling a lot!

Thanks a lot!
Nantia

Hi Nantia,

Don't worry about it, I post questions as well when I get stuck

One last question please, is there a "clever" way to calculate the optimal lag period? I would made the lag period the same as the duration of the preceding phase. For example, Server 1, Phase 1 has a duration of 3 days so the dependency for task 3 would be 7fs-3days.

Ideally in my project, all tasks should be sequential with no delay between them. So when we say that task 4 ('Pre-check') has dependency '7fs-10d' then this means that task 7 (phase 2) can start 10 days after task 4 has finished, correct? Correct - see above

Does it make sense to have a different lag period per server depending on the duration of phase 1? Or the lag period should not be related at all with the actual duration of the tasks of phase 1? Based on how I would approach it, it is related to the duration of phase 1.

Hope this helps,

Margaret

Another quick point - it might make it easier for you to view as you are starting up to have one of the standard formats - I think you have manually formatted the summary bars. As well as to have the weekends showing on the weekly view. See attachment 1

&You can then add flags and format the text bars so that they roll up to give the view that you want when you print it. See attachment 2 (look at it in print preview to see the key to the bars)

Regards,

Margaret

Attached Files

nantia_problem3 (2).zip (85.7 KB, 12 views)

Many many thanks Margaret for your great help and the time you have spent for me!
This looks great!

Any time

Hello Margaret, sorry to bother you again but I would really like your help once more.
So I am trying to use what you have suggested and I am having a bit of problem with the starting dates that MS chooses automatically.

For example:
My project start date is 13 June.
Pick Up Point 1 I would like it to be at 1 July.
Pick Up Point 2 I would like it to be at 1 August.
Pick Up Point 3 I would like it to be at 1 Sept.

Phase 1 of server 1 lasts 3 days, so I have defined a 7fs-3d dependency.
Task 7 has a dependency with Pick Up Point 1 milestone.
So when I change the "Pick Up Point 1 milestone" date, I would expect that the starting date of phase 1 is automatically set to 3 days before the start date of task 7.
However this does not happen for some servers. Any idea why? I attach my mpp.
Thank you!
Nantia

Attached Files

nantia_semifinal_plan_v1.zip (508.9 KB, 8 views)