I am putting together a basic schedule showing several separate projects and their summary task components. The tasks are basically classified by department (architecture, construction, financing, marketing, etc.). Under each of these tasks, there are sub-tasks.

When these subtasks are rolled into the summary task or hammocked, the result is a bunch of overlapping long lines with not a lot of aesthetic meaning. There are several breaks between each subtask as the ball gets passed to another department then returned.

I was wondering if there is a way to have subtasks rollup into a summary task but show all of the breaks without a hammock. The summary task would appear as a split task by consolidating each its subtasks. For example, schematic design of building for 3 Mo, city approval for 12 months, finish design of building for 9 months. This would appear under summary task Architecture as 3 months of work, 12 Mo break, 9 Months of work.

Please let me know if this is possible. Thanks!

My first suggestion is to re-work the organization of your project. I would not use departments as summary tasks, but rather logical project and task break downs. If you create resources (even as basic as department names) you can then filter, group, or highlight tasks assigned to the departments.

Can you post a picture of the project as it is and I may be able to be more helpful.