New tasks defaulting to unexpected dates

A

Adrian Dodd

Usually (depending on configuration) new tasks default to the start date of
the project. I have a MS2002 plan where (apparently out of the blue) new
tasks have started defaulting to a different future date which is neither
the start or end of the project (actually 12-feb-04). Because the date is in
the future the task doesn't react as required to dependencies on other tasks
i.e. a new task which is made dependant on another task in the plan with a
completion date in advance of say end January will have a start date of
12-feb-04. The task properties appear ok i.e. there are no dependencies and
the constraint type is 'as soon as possible'. Also the scheduling options
haven't changed i.e. new tasks start date is set to project start date. The
task can be forced to start on an earlier date by use of task constraints
(e.g. must start on) but that isn't a solution.

The problem also seems to depend upon the location of the new task within
the plan. If entered towards the top of the plan, the default dates are as
expected, but if inserted further down the plan the behaviour described
above is exhibited.

The problem may be related to constraint dates. In testing I have observed
that the problem appears to start happening following the display of a
scheduling conflict message.

Any idea of what is causing this - or more usefully how I can stop it
happening?

Many thanks

Adrian
 
S

Steve House

Is this task assigned to a resource yet? If so, is leveling set to
automatic? If entering the task with a resource assigned and entering
it creates an overallocation, automatic leveling will immediately move
it so as to resolve the overallocation. How about the calendar - are
the last weeks of Jan and first weeks of Feb shown as non-working time?
If so, Project will not schedule tasks during that time and will push
them out to start on the first working day after the non-working days.
You say both that the problem task doesn't have any dependencies and in
the next sentence thgat is is dependent on a task finishing late
January - which is it? Finally, is the Option setting "Automatically
link inserted or moved tasks" set to off?
 
J

Jan De Messemaeker

Hi,

This can be because of a combination of reasons
Just to make sure:

Tools, Options, Schedule, New Tasks start on Project Start date
Tools, Resource Leveling, Manual, OK
Tools, Options, Scheduling, uncheck Autolink Inserted or Moved Tasks

HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
Project Management Consultancy
Prom+ade BVBA
32-495-300 620
 
A

Adrian Dodd

Steve,
Thanks for the reply. To answer your questions:

No, the task is not assigned to a resource yet and resource levelling is set
to manual. The Calendar is as would be expected working days Mon-Fri, Sat &
Sun non-working days throughout January and February.

The part of my previous note where I try to explain the dependency is, on
re-reading, not very clear. - I'll try again.

What I am attempting to achieve is for this new task to be dependent upon
(and to follow-on immediately from) an existing task in the plan. The
completion date for the existing task is 11-Jan-04.

I create a new task and it immediately defaults to a start date of
12-Feb-04. I add the dependency (simple finish-start) to the existing task
and the new task keeps its start date of 12-Feb-04.

Further testing reveals the following:
I can add new tasks anywhere else in the plan and the new task will default
to the expected start date of the start of the project. Any new task added
at the same outline level defaults to 12-Feb-04. This is a fairly simple
part of the plan i.e. one top level activity with seven sub-ordinate tasks.
The top level task runs from 19-Nov-03 to 20-May-04.

I have just found a workaround:
If I copy and paste the whole top level activity the new task that I had
previously created and any new ones default to the project start date; i.e.
the expected and required behaviour. Adding the dependency also works as
expected.

Maybe this will be of use to you in the future.

Regards

Adrian
 
G

Gérard Ducouret

Hello Steve, hello Adrian,

Isn't the new inserted task inserted as a child of a summary which is
begining on 12-Feb-04 ?

Gérard Ducouret
 

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