How to make 2 tasks start at the same time

[DaveZ]

Microsoft's Team Foundation Server only synchronizes with Microsoft Project
tasks if there are not more than one resource tied to a task -- so the
workaround until version 2 is to create 2 tasks with the same name and
duration and assign each to a different resource. The problem with this is
that when I level the plan it does not necessarily hold these two tasks
together. I tried setting a start to start dependency between the 2 tasks,
but you know that just means task A can't start until B does -- not ensuring
that they start and finish together of course. Any ideas?

 

[JulieS]

Hi DaveZ,

I'm afraid I know nothing about Team Foundation Server so I can't comment if
this will work with that technology. However, in Project there is an option
that will produce what I think you are seeking.

Create the two tasks (A & B) do not link them. Copy the start of task A and
paste link to the start of B. Repeat with the finish of A to the finish of
B.

If task A moves due to leveling or change in predecessor, task B will also
move. I don't know how well this will stand up to hundreds of similar
pairs, but it may be worth a shot.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[Catfish Hunter]

Try giving both task the same logic ties.

Hi DaveZ,

I'm afraid I know nothing about Team Foundation Server so I can't comment if
this will work with that technology. However, in Project there is an option
that will produce what I think you are seeking.

Create the two tasks (A & B) do not link them. Copy the start of task A and
paste link to the start of B. Repeat with the finish of A to the finish of
B.

If task A moves due to leveling or change in predecessor, task B will also
move. I don't know how well this will stand up to hundreds of similar
pairs, but it may be worth a shot.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[JulieS]

Hi Catfish Hunter,

Yes, setting both tasks with the same predecessor will work until Dave
levels the project. Then, due to leveling, there is no guarantee that the
tasks will remain with the same start or finish dates, hence my
recommendation that he paste link the starts and finishes.

Julie

 

[Catfish Hunter]

Julie, if they both have the same logic ties the slack time will be the same.
And if you place a high priority on the task before leveling, this should put
them at the same time. Leveling looks at slack time, resource availability
and if you tell it, priority.
Dave, does your program allow prioritizing task for leveling like MS
Projects? If it's similar to MS Proj 2002 you have the ability to code
between 1 and 1000. 1000 being don't level. 999 being the highest priority
and 1 the lowest. This gas helped me in the past. Good Luck.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Dave,

By now you have got some ideas that all work "sometimes".
The tough reality is that there is no way to make sure sure two tasks are,
and remain, simultaneous.
Paste link creates a "Start no earlier than" constraint thus does not
guarantee more than a link.
And yes, uyou can put leveling out of play by giving a 1000 priority but
that (and I do appreciate that!) is not what you look for.

No, sorry, won't do.
If this is a consolation: putting two resources on one task absolutely does
not ensure the two assignments will be simultaneous either!!

Greetings,

 

[DaveZ]

Thank you so much you three for posting your suggestions. Julie's innovative
seemed to have hope for me in my little scenarios -- I even wrote a macro
that would go through and do this for the tasks, and it works quite well
after leveling -- about as much as assigning them to the same task does. The
problem comes, however, when I save the project and open it up again -- I get
tons (but not all) of the links that come up as unavailable and it pretty
much forces me to break the links. What is up with that? This hurdle (if I'm
not missing something) makes this workaround pretty much unusable. Thoughts?