How to work with external dependencies?

[bexley]

Hi Everyone,

I am working on a Programme which is comprised out of 8 sub projects
some of each comprised of other sub projects.
I am trying to link task from some projects to others. So far so good
but then I have a problem. Let's say that task number 3 of Project A is
linked to task number 4 from Project B on a SS constraint and to task
number 6 from Project C on a SS constraint then I want to add another
predecessor which this time will be from Project A task number 4. This
is where I get stuck. If I want to make task 3 Project A a summary task
as it wont let me outdent the rest due to the links it has with the
other tasks. The thing is I need to have the external predecessors and I
need to have the internal predecessor too so that the time span for task
3 is calculated by all of the others.
How do I do this?

Sorry if I confused you all as I just about confused myself.

Many thanks

 

[bexley]

Sorry I forgot to say that one of the problem is that if when adding
predecessors to Task 3 Project A it uses the external predecessor by
default before using the internal predecessor.This means that even
though Task 4 Project A start earlier on than Task 4 project B that Task
3 from project A will only start when Task 4 project B.
Please help

 

[Colin]

Hi bexley

You could create a milestone and link to that, instead of the summary task.
It is usually bad practice to link to/from summary tasks.

Colin

 

[bexley]

sorry I am getting confused once again. I really need to show the lenght
of time the tasks will be worked on for.

 

[bexley]

I really need your help please...

 

[Colin]

yes, I'm also confused.

But let me try to guess what you want

Create milestones (start & finish) which are linked from the activities in
the separate programmes. Then produce a summary task for these.

If this is not what you want, please give more information.

Others might have simpilar solutions

Colin

 

[bexley]

Hi Colin,

Many thanks for your prompt reply. I think that my explanation confuse
us all.Sorry!

Let me try to explain myself a bit better with real task names.

Tasks which has dependencies
DE-05 CATERING/VENDING ON DECANT SITE
Dependencies from other two other projects
Establish water refreshment requirements
Establish water refreshment requirement on first floor
Dates of the above tasks
11/08/08 -21/08/09
12/08/08 - 20/10/08

If DE-05 has only got those two tasks as predecessors it works fine an
DE05 will start 11/08/08 as it is a SS constraint.

Now if I want to add another dependency task to DE-05 on top of th
other two, this time the task is in the same project as DE-05
Procurement Work
Start date 01/03/08 Finish date 21/07/09
DE-05 doesnt take into account the 01/03/08 as Start date even though
have put the constraint as such, it starts on the 11/08/08

I hope I explained my problem a bit better this time.
I basically need DE-05 to start from the 01/03/08 and to finish on th
21/08/09 but this is not working.

Many thank

 

[Colin]

Hi bexley

First I think there is a time delay time between our posts - I am posting to
the microsoft project disussion group. Your posts are from techarean - They
seem to get transferred to this forum.

If DE-05 is a summary task -
Create a milestone
Link this milestone from the dependency tasks

If DE-05 is a normal task
Create milestones (1 for each dependency)
Create a summary task above these milestones
Creat a link SS with DE-05

Not sure if this is the CORRECT way to do it - but it is a work around

Let me know if this helps

Colin

 

[Colin]

After reading back,

also, you can create fininsh milestones to get the last end date

Colin

 

[bexley]

Hi Colin,

Sorry it took me such a while to respond but I finally tried out one of
your suggestions. I used DE05 as summary task, created a milestone
underneath it and then to link it to the external dependencies. I then
added a task underneath for procurement work. It seemed to be working
fine with DE05 which is now starting on the 03/03 and no longer on the
11/08 as previously. However, I have created a new problem...my
milestone is not picking up the first starting dependency date of the
11/08 but is only picking up the 12/08.
So once again I am getting really confused... I am really sorry for
going on and on about my problem but I really need to sort it out.


Many thanks once again for your help

 

[Colin]

Hi again bexley

Not sure - try checking that both tasks are using the same calendar, is the
link SS or FS? Is there any lag?

Sometimes if you format the date - Tools / options / View - Date format -
Change this to show the time also. And in the Gantt chart show Format /
Timescale - show
in days and hours - it might help (Plus filter the tasks you want)

Could you type a list (just copy and paste) of the tasks in question and
their dependancies

Regards

Colin