Linking dependencies across Subprojects

[Anika]

Hi -- I'm trying to link dependencies across subprojects and haven't had any
success. For each subproject, the tasks are re-numbered from 1, so I can't
refer to a task in another subproject. However, the online help says:

"If the projects are interrelated, the project manager can create task
dependencies between tasks in different projects. Creating dependencies
between projects makes it easier for different project managers to see how
work by other project managers affects their schedules. "

can anyone help???? if so, thanks in advance!

 

[John]

Hi -- I'm trying to link dependencies across subprojects and haven't had any
success. For each subproject, the tasks are re-numbered from 1, so I can't
refer to a task in another subproject. However, the online help says:

"If the projects are interrelated, the project manager can create task
dependencies between tasks in different projects. Creating dependencies
between projects makes it easier for different project managers to see how
work by other project managers affects their schedules. "

can anyone help???? if so, thanks in advance!

Anika,
For cross-project links, the full path is required in the Predecessor
field. You can type it in, although that is pretty tedious and prone to
error or you can use a much easier approach. Since you indicate your
subproject numbering starts over at "1", I assume you have inserted your
subprojects into a master file. If the tasks you want to link are both
visible on the current view, just click and hold your mouse on the
centerpoint of the predecessor task's Gantt bar and drag the mouse to
the successor task's Gantt bar. That will create the cross-project link.
However, as is usually the case the two tasks to be linked are far
enough apart in the master that a simple drag link doesn't work (it
scrolls way to fast). In that case, use a spare flag field to identify
the two tasks and use a filter to isolate them in the view. Then use the
above drag and link.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

First the good Open your two sub-projects
Click Window, New Window
Select the two projects then OK.

Now create your links.

Close the new consolidated file and don't save the changes.
Save BOTH sub-projects OR neither of them

The bad Creating links like this is risky. If you ever over-write, rename or move
either file then sooner or later you will corrupt one or both files.

Unless you have a number of links that have to update daily or weekly, then
I recommend the old talk to the other PMs for updates then update your
schedule method!

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[B Sai Prasad [PMP]]

Dear Microsoft Office Project user,

I understand your question as in a master project, you have inserted sub
projects and you want to estabilish relationship between tasks in different
projects. Since, the value of ID column under each sub project starts from 1,
which is difficult for you to establish dependency.

First, you need to understand that Microsoft Office Project doesn't renumber
the IDs of sub projects, that is it just shows the same IDs as shown when you
open the sub project separately.

Second, regarding your difficulty in creating dependencies across sub
projects, I suggest the following options on the master project.
1. You can go for "Drag and Drop" technique in Gantt Chart Timescale (drag
the predecessor and drop it on the successor)
2. You can select the tasks to be linked by using the CTRL or SHIFT key and
click the "Link tasks" in the Standard Toolbar.

Observation: After linking the tasks across projects, you would find the
"Predecessors" column of the affected tasks as <Path>\<sub project>.mpp\<ID
of the predecessor>

Please let us know if this helps.

Regards
Sai [PMP]

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Anika,

Alternatively, select the first task of the link, then scroll down to the
second task and, with the control key held down, click the second task's
name, which will highlight both tasks. Then click the linking tool in the
standard toolbar.

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[dlmckirdy]

Anika,

I routinely link sub project tasks just as Mike has indicated (I actually
learned from one of his earlier posts). One caution is that if tasks are
added to (or deleted from) the sub project, your link will fail. To help
troubleshoot this, I always add a note to the the linked task in the Master
Project indicating the sub project, task number, and task name of the link.
This way I can rather easily go back and troubleshoot the broken link, should
one occur.

I hope this helps.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Douglas,

What a good idea! It's now in my notebook Thanks for your input.

Mike Glen
Project MVP