Main Task Date doesnot change

[Arjun M]

Friends,
I am 3 of 10 scale in MS project.Recently i have started using MS
project a lot .
I am running into a project issue which i do not have any solution.I
need your help on this.
I have several main tasks with subtasks in them.
The subtasks have a different start and end date.And the main task has
different start and end date.Even
though the sub tasks dates are changed the main task date doesnot
change.I want the main task to have the
start date of the first task and the end date of the last subtask.

I would really appreciate your help on this.

Thanks
Arjun M

 

[davegb]

Friends,
I am 3 of 10 scale in MS project.Recently i have started using MS
project a lot .
I am running into a project issue which i do not have any solution.I
need your help on this.
I have several main tasks with subtasks in them.
The subtasks have a different start and end date.And the main task has
different start and end date.Even
though the sub tasks dates are changed the main task date doesnot
change.I want the main task to have the
start date of the first task and the end date of the last subtask.

I would really appreciate your help on this.

Thanks
Arjun M

1. Make sure "Auto-calculation" is turned on.
2. From your question, I suspect you're entering dates instead of
entering a start date, then linking the tasks and letting the software
calculate the rest. Give this a try and see if it helps.

Hope this helps in your world.

 

[Arjun M]

Dave,
First of all i would like to thank you for answering my query.
I tried turning on the auto calculatuion but still its not helping
much.
Its a fixed timeline project.So i have to enter the start date and the
end date.May be this is the reason
the main tasks are not linked to the subtasks.Please advice to link the
main task to the subtask.

Thanks
Arjun M

 

[davegb]

Dave,
First of all i would like to thank you for answering my query.
I tried turning on the auto calculatuion but still its not helping
much.
Its a fixed timeline project.So i have to enter the start date and the
end date.

This will always get you in trouble. Most all projects are "fixed
timeline". Trying to set the start and the finish will make your life
very difficult with Project.

May be this is the reason

the main tasks are not linked to the subtasks.Please advice to link the
main task to the subtask.

I don't know what you mean the the "main tasks" are not linked to the
"subtask". Do you mean that the Summary line is not linked to the tasks
under it? If so, Project will not allow that to happen. It's called a
circular link and is prohibited because it leads to circular logic, and
un-ending sequence. If task a drives task b, and task b drives task a,
then it will just go forward in time forever.

Hope this helps in your world.

 

[Arjun M]

Dave,
Thanks for your answer.
I am clear now.
But here is the situation i came into.
I came into a fixed project when the project manager had quit.
So I had a fixed timeline to complete the project. But the phases have
already been defined.
So I had to fit in all the tasks within these dates. I have a clear
start date and end date for these phases.
But another project MVP suggested that for these types of projects
excel is the best tool. But I have to use project for the client's
sake.

So I am stuck.
Please advice


But here is the situation i came in.

 

[davegb]

Dave,
Thanks for your answer.
I am clear now.
But here is the situation i came into.
I came into a fixed project when the project manager had quit.
So I had a fixed timeline to complete the project. But the phases have
already been defined.
So I had to fit in all the tasks within these dates. I have a clear
start date and end date for these phases.
But another project MVP suggested that for these types of projects
excel is the best tool. But I have to use project for the client's
sake.

So I am stuck.
Please advice

You may have to educate your client, as so many PMs have to do. Project
is not a tool for making miracles happen. You can't enter 2 dates and
then tell Project to make whatever needs to happen actually happen. You
enter the start date for the whole project, enter your tasks and your
best estimates of durations, then link the tasks, and Project tells you
how long it takes. You can sometimes shorten that time by modifying the
schedule, i.e., add more resources, decrease scope, etc. Of course, you
can put in fake durations and make the end date whatever your client
desires. This simply puts off the date on which you have to tell them
it won't be done on time, but is very commonly done. You get to choose!
The way I look at it, would I rather have an angry client now, but
who's happy at the end, or have a happy client now who's angry at the
end.

Hope this helps in your world.

 

[Arjun M]

Dave,
Great advice.We will be in touch.

Thanks
Arjun M

 

[davegb]

Dave,
Great advice.We will be in touch.

Thanks
Arjun M

thanks, Arjun. Best of luck!