entering dependencies - any quick ways? i've got 000s of tasks!

[Pinkman Tintwhistle]

I'm building a project plan which will probably have about 3-4000
tasks - and inputting dependencies in there is a finger-aching task!
I'm entering the tasks into the plan in their correct running order -
but to make them happen one after the other means that i have to enter
each dependency in by hand (either entering an ID in the predecessor
field or dragging and linking the gantt bars). You can fill down of
course but this places an identical number in all dependency fields.
is there any way to fill down in the predecessor column and have it
add one number in each cell - or any other shortcut for filling in
dependencies in the predecessor field?

many thanks!

 

[New Earned Value]

If all of your tasks are in the order in which they are to be performed,
select the first task and drag your mouse to the last task. Then choose
Edit, Link. Using this method, each task will have the one above it listed
as the predecessor.

 

[Pinkman Tintwhistle]

If all of your tasks are in the order in which they are to be performed,
select the first task and drag your mouse to the last task. Then choose
Edit, Link. Using this method, each task will have the one above it listed
as the predecessor.

that's marvellous! i've been meaning to post about this for a few days
but i've been too busy typing in predecessor numbers

thanks very much - that'll save my RSI!

 

[davegb]

that's marvellous! i've been meaning to post about this for a few days
but i've been too busy typing in predecessor numbers

thanks very much - that'll save my RSI!

Make sure you don't link the summary tasks! This will cause you a lot
of problems later on.

Also, it's hard for me to imagine a project of 3,000 tasks where they
are all done in sequence. Even if the durations are 1 day each, this is
an 8 yr project. Is that really the case? Or is is several long series
of tasks, some of the starting at the beginning of the project? If the
latter, then I'd be surprised if there are no "crosslinks" (links
between the different paths) at all. If so, you want to be sure to
include those, they may well be very important down the road.

You can also create sequences of links of non-contiguous tasks by
clicking on the first in a series, then Ctrl clicking on each
successive task in the series. This also saves time, but doesn't
require the tasks to be contigous, as they often aren't in real world
projects.

Hope this helps in your world.

 

[John]

that's marvellous! i've been meaning to post about this for a few days
but i've been too busy typing in predecessor numbers

thanks very much - that'll save my RSI!

Pinkman,
I agree with Dave about the Summary line issue. You might want to go to
our MVP website at: http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
and read FAQ 48 - Summary line linking.

John
Project MVP

 

[Pinkman Tintwhistle]

Make sure you don't link the summary tasks! This will cause you a lot
of problems later on.

Also, it's hard for me to imagine a project of 3,000 tasks where they
are all done in sequence. Even if the durations are 1 day each, this is
an 8 yr project. Is that really the case? Or is is several long series
of tasks, some of the starting at the beginning of the project? If the
latter, then I'd be surprised if there are no "crosslinks" (links
between the different paths) at all. If so, you want to be sure to
include those, they may well be very important down the road.

You can also create sequences of links of non-contiguous tasks by
clicking on the first in a series, then Ctrl clicking on each
successive task in the series. This also saves time, but doesn't
require the tasks to be contigous, as they often aren't in real world
projects.

Hope this helps in your world.

thanks guys. no not all the tasks follow on from each other as there
are lots of people working on the project, but many of the tasks are
dependent on each other being complete in order, that's all.

my world is a happier place

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

If the tasks truly are dependent on being created in order - you can't edit
a film until you shoot it for example, then links are appropriate. But DO
NOT use links to resolve resource conflicts or to establish a preferred
order of working that is driven by executive whim etc rather than an actual
concrete reason the the tasks in question MUST be done in sequence. Links
are not driven by a required time sequence - the required time sequence is
driven by the links.