How do I revise the start date on a project template?

[Kees]

I downloaded a Project template from the Office site, changed the list of
tasks to my own, but the project is set to start in 2003 and I can't figure
out how to remove all the contraints and change that start date. I'm a
Project novice but can't find the answer in Help.

 

[Catfish Hunter]

Go to Project>Project Information and change the project start date.
Next go to Tools>Options>Schedule and look at New Task Start On.
Hope this gets you going.

 

[John]

I downloaded a Project template from the Office site, changed the list of
tasks to my own, but the project is set to start in 2003 and I can't figure
out how to remove all the contraints and change that start date. I'm a
Project novice but can't find the answer in Help.

Kees,
The default start date for all tasks is set by two things. First, the
setting of Tools/Options/Schedule tab, "new tasks start on", and second,
the Project Start Date which is found under Project/Project Information.

I'm not familiar with the template to which you refer (there are
probably several) but it normally shouldn't have constraints. The start
date of each task should either be the Project Start Date or be
determined by a link to one or more predecessor tasks. In special cases,
independent tasks may be constrained to "start-no-earlier-than".

A common reason tasks get a constraint set is because the user manually
enters a date in the Start or Finish field. Constraints can be removed
in various ways but one simple approach is to add the Constraint Type
field as a column in the view and then change it as necessary.

Hope this help.
John
Project MVP

 

[Kees]

Thank you. I discovered that the problem was the Percent Complete field
showed a number, so it was preventing the previous dates from clearing out.
My solution was to select the whole project, go to Task Info (Shift+F2), and
then, on the General tab, change the % Done field to 0. That solved it!