MS Project 2002 - Hammock Tasks

[Jim Trickett]

Hello,

I am familiar with the MS advice on Hammock Tasks (141733 et al.) and have
used them on a number of occasions to great effect in Project'98 and '2000.

I am having difficulties in getting them to work correctly for a Client in
Project'2002. Is there any advice or experience on this? Does v.2002-on
handle these differently? I can find no new advice in the system concerning
the later versions and would be grateful for an update.

Many thanks,
Jim Trickett

 

[JackD]

Should work just the same.

 

[Jim Trickett]

Thanks Jack, I had hoped there were no changes in that respect. However, the
problem I am having is that, on following procedures to put the Hammock Task
in place, its Duration remains as '1d?' and it does not fill the gap as it
should.

The 1d? Task just zips to one end or the other, depending upon which Link
was input first.

I have set up a dummy programme and the thing works perfectly, but the
Client's programme is being a pain in this respect.

Any ideas?
Jim Trickett

 

[JulieD]

Hi Jim

it works when i test it under any conceivable situation i throw at it ... so
have you tried the good old "delete the task, close project, open project &
try again" method of trouble shooting

anything else 'odd' about the client's sitatuation (ie no service packs,
scheduling from a finish date - not that this seemed to make a difference
when i tested it).

Cheers
JulieD

 

[JackD]

I don't use hammock tasks much, so I'm not sure if it has an effect, but
perhaps try changing the task type (fixed duration, fixed work, fixed units)
to something different from what it is.

What exactly is the process you are following?

You should be selecting and copying the date from one cell and then pasting
"text data"- making sure that that the "paste link" option is selected. If
you forget to check the paste link then of course it will not work and you
get the behavior that you have described.

It MUST be a link.

 

[Jim Trickett]

Hello Jack,
Thanks for the advice.
the problem was in one particular file and a predessessor had set Task Types
to Fixed Duration (Hammocks don't appear to work in Fixed Duration - might be
worth passing on(?) Nor can you change the Task Type to make it work, it MUST
be on a 'virgin' task so delete and re-type is the only answer)

Thanks again,
Jim Trickett

 

[JackD]

Glad it worked out, and thanks for posting back what worked. I'm sure it
will help someone else who has the same problem in the future.

 

[Sue]

Thank you so very much! It's hard to believe that it doesn't say somewhere
in the documentation that "the hammock task cannot be type 'fixed duration'
".

-Sue