Linked Tasks

[Jim Stoaks]

Hello,
I have a task for support that is linked to a series of operation tasks. If
the duration of the operation tasks increases, I want the duration of the
support to increase also. Is there a way that I can setup the linkage so
that the support task always starts with the first operational task and
always ends with the last operational task and automatically changes it's
start and finish date if the start and finish date of the operational tasks
change.

Thanks,
--Jim

 

[John]

Hello,
I have a task for support that is linked to a series of operation tasks. If
the duration of the operation tasks increases, I want the duration of the
support to increase also. Is there a way that I can setup the linkage so
that the support task always starts with the first operational task and
always ends with the last operational task and automatically changes it's
start and finish date if the start and finish date of the operational tasks
change.

Thanks,
--Jim

Jim,
What you want is called a Hammock task. To set it up go to the MVP
website at: http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
and look at FAQ 19 - Hammock Tasks.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[ArnoS]

Then a question in the same category:
I want to link serveral (4) tasks to one task. But I use Start-to-Finish
because I want to calculate when the first task has to start. In other words;
the first task has to be finished when one of the other 4 tasks starts. But
MS projects connects the task with the task (of the 4) that starts last,
instead of the one that starts first.

Can I infuence that?

 

[John]

Then a question in the same category:
I want to link serveral (4) tasks to one task. But I use Start-to-Finish
because I want to calculate when the first task has to start. In other words;
the first task has to be finished when one of the other 4 tasks starts. But
MS projects connects the task with the task (of the 4) that starts last,
instead of the one that starts first.

Can I infuence that?

Arno,
So why not simply link the four tasks in a default Finish-to-Start
relationship with the primary task?

Perhaps I don't fully understand what you want. An expanded example
would help.

John
Project MVP

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

Task links are permissive, not obligatory. If I have a task that is linked
from a predecessor FS, where the finish of the predecessor is linked to the
start of the successor, what that is really saying is that the earliest that
the successor can start is when the predecessor has finished. But there are
many reasons why it might actually start LATER than that - resource isn't
available, parts haven't arrived, etc. If we have multiple predecessors
lkinked FS to a single successor, the succesor isn't allowed to start until
the latest finishing successor is done.

In the case of a SF link, the successor tasks is allowed to be declared
"finished" until all the precessors have started, meaning that the earliest
its scheduled finish can occur is when the last to start predecessor has
started.

You could try this. Create summary task and indent your 4 tasks under it.
Link the task you want to control as a successor to that summary task,
linked in a SF relationship so the start of the summary task is linked to
the finish of the successor you need to control. Now the controlled task
will be scheduled to finish when the earliest starting of you subtasks
begins. Usually it's not a good idea to link to and from summary tasks but
there are exceptions to every rule and this may be one of them. I think
you'll find that works.