Default Tasks Constraint

[Big_Bad_Yellow_Eskimo]

I have just opened & created a brand new plan with MS Project 2000. To my
great surprise, each time i define a new task, it AUTOMATICALY sets the task
to a "Start no earlier then" constraint. The task has no link what so ever to
any other tasks. If I look at the Project Information dialog box, it is
written underneath the Schedule from box that "All tasks begin as soon as
possible. I have also checked the option view under the Schedule tab and I
have checked IN & OUT the "Tasks will always honot their constraint dates"
withiut any success.
Do you guys have any ideas of what is wrong? What is it that I'm not doing
right?

Regards, Big_Bad_Yellow_Eskimo

 

[John]

I have just opened & created a brand new plan with MS Project 2000. To my
great surprise, each time i define a new task, it AUTOMATICALY sets the task
to a "Start no earlier then" constraint. The task has no link what so ever to
any other tasks. If I look at the Project Information dialog box, it is
written underneath the Schedule from box that "All tasks begin as soon as
possible. I have also checked the option view under the Schedule tab and I
have checked IN & OUT the "Tasks will always honot their constraint dates"
withiut any success.
Do you guys have any ideas of what is wrong? What is it that I'm not doing
right?

Regards, Big_Bad_Yellow_Eskimo

Big_Bad,
What's wrong is your method of creating the plan. You are directly
entering a Start date for each task in the plan. This automatically sets
the constraint. What you should be doing is the following:
1. Through Project/Project Information, set the Project Start date. Any
task that does not have a predecessor or a fixed Start date will start
on that date.
2. Enter task names in the form of action verbs. If you include summary
lines, they should be in noun form.
3. Enter the estimated Duration for each task. This can be based on
historical data or your best guestimate.
4. Link tasks in a logical sequence of performance. If a task truly has
no predecessors but does not start immediately, then and only then
directly enter the task Start date. However, ALL tasks must have a
successor, even if it is simply the completion milestone.
5. Assign resources as required for all performance tasks (no resources
on summary lines).

Notice that nowhere in this process are dates entered (except as noted
in step 4). It is Project's job to schedule your plan. It does that by
using the estimated duration and links to establish Start and Finish
dates for all tasks.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Big_Bad_Yellow_Eskimo]

John,

Once again, Thank You for the very quick reply. I have read your
recommandations and it doesn't work. Actually, I should not say that. Let me
better describe for you what is happening.
At the moment, ALL that tasks have been set back to As soon as possible
constraint. I go at the bottom of the plan, it doesn'y matter if I insert a
new line, click on new task or directly write in the Task Name column (name
field), as soon as I finish giving a description name to the task and I move
the cursor to the next field (Text1), Project set the Start no earlier then
constraint (I see the icon in the Indicators field), the start date is set as
today, the duration is set for 1 day and obviously, the finish date is set
accordingly (finishes tomorrow). Again, and I must insist, as soon as the
cursor leaves the Task name field, the constraint appears and at that time, I
can guarantee that absolutely no values are entered in any of the other
fields. Am I nuts or what?

Regards, Big_Bad...

 

[John]

John,

Once again, Thank You for the very quick reply. I have read your
recommandations and it doesn't work. Actually, I should not say that. Let me
better describe for you what is happening.
At the moment, ALL that tasks have been set back to As soon as possible
constraint. I go at the bottom of the plan, it doesn'y matter if I insert a
new line, click on new task or directly write in the Task Name column (name
field), as soon as I finish giving a description name to the task and I move
the cursor to the next field (Text1), Project set the Start no earlier then
constraint (I see the icon in the Indicators field), the start date is set as
today, the duration is set for 1 day and obviously, the finish date is set
accordingly (finishes tomorrow). Again, and I must insist, as soon as the
cursor leaves the Task name field, the constraint appears and at that time, I
can guarantee that absolutely no values are entered in any of the other
fields. Am I nuts or what?

Regards, Big_Bad...

Big_Bad,
Yup, you're going nuts - no doubt about it - but then, at one time or
another, all of us who work with Project go nuts. Once we are in that
state, everything becomes clear - just like muddy water.

Ok, let's fix this thing for you. Go to Tools/Options/Schedule tab.
Change the selection in the New Tasks selection box to: "Start on
Project Start Date". That will solve the problem.

But now you won't be nuts. How in the world are you going to cope with
Project now ;-)

John
Project MVP

 

[Big_Bad_Yellow_Eskimo]

John,

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! You don't see it but, I started to laugh
at my self and now I'm crying.... It's working like a charm... and you are
right, I'm aint nuts anymore. I clearly see the muddy water.... I need to
find something else that doesn't work!

Thanks again buddy,

Big_bad....

 

[JackD]

Just wait. Another will come along soon.

 

[Hammi]

Big_Bad,

Please...put your pants back on, we don't want to "clearly see your nuts" .

Hammi

 

[John]

John,

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! You don't see it but, I started to laugh
at my self and now I'm crying.... It's working like a charm... and you are
right, I'm aint nuts anymore. I clearly see the muddy water.... I need to
find something else that doesn't work!

Thanks again buddy,

Big_bad....

Big_Bad,
It's a good sign when you can laugh at yourself. That puts you in the
same group as the rest of us.

You're welcome.
John