Suggestion to Microsoft

[DavidC]

I find the use of 'hammock' type tasks very valuable for reports and
overviews of projects. The disadvantage of this is having to record the UID
of the task for which it is linked when paste linking the field from the
parent task to the same field in the report/overview.

Perhaps in an update/revised version the UID reference could form part of
the description under "Links" in "Edit". At present it simply has number as
an identifier but no reference to where it derives the data from

Regards

DavidC

 

[John]

I find the use of 'hammock' type tasks very valuable for reports and
overviews of projects. The disadvantage of this is having to record the UID
of the task for which it is linked when paste linking the field from the
parent task to the same field in the report/overview.

Perhaps in an update/revised version the UID reference could form part of
the description under "Links" in "Edit". At present it simply has number as
an identifier but no reference to where it derives the data from

Regards

DavidC

DavidC,
I'm with ya but unfortunately paste links are outdated and rather
fragile (i.e. are prone to corruption), so I doubt your request will
carry much weight. Nonetheless, you certainly won't get it if you don't
ask for it.

Maybe you (we'll) get lucky

John
Project MVP

 

[DavidC]

Thanks for your support John. You comemnt that the paste link is 'outdated',
what now replaces that function to still give the same functionality?

I must point out that we are still on 2003 and our company is mulling over
whether there are any compelling reason to upgrade to 2007. This is a cost
matter as we have many licences but the vast majoirty of users in the company
would be at best basic users and would not use Project to the level of even
an intermediate user. Hence upgrading may not offer any great advances for
the majority. I mention this in case 2007 has a better method to achieve the
same outcome as the 'paste link'

Regards

DavidC

 

[Robin Roe]

John

I am with you on this one. The Hammock task is a bit flaky at the best of
times. I usually use it on tasks that extend the entire duration of the
project, such as Project Management, where the task duration is driven by the
duration of the project rather than it being a driver of duration.
Unfortunately when I do this, it automatically shows it being on the critical
path which technically it is (0 Slack), but in reality it’s not. Primavera
have addressed this issue by allowing you select a ‘Level of Effort’ Activity
(Task) which seems to work well. Perhaps Microsoft could consider the same.

 

[John]

Thanks for your support John. You comemnt that the paste link is 'outdated',
what now replaces that function to still give the same functionality?

I must point out that we are still on 2003 and our company is mulling over
whether there are any compelling reason to upgrade to 2007. This is a cost
matter as we have many licences but the vast majoirty of users in the company
would be at best basic users and would not use Project to the level of even
an intermediate user. Hence upgrading may not offer any great advances for
the majority. I mention this in case 2007 has a better method to achieve the
same outcome as the 'paste link'

Regards

DavidC

DavidC,
Well that's just it, there is nothing to replace paste links for
creating hammock tasks. Paste links do have their place but
unfortunately creating and maintaining them requires experience and a
great deal of discipline - something I've found the average Project user
doesn't have.

Based on Robin's response, it sounds like Primavera has addressed the
level of effort (LOE) type task. Adding that functionality to Project
would be welcome. Meanwhile, in lieu of using a hammock task, you could
use discrete tasking to emulate LOE type tasks. By that I mean break
down the LOE task into individual weekly, monthly, quarterly effort -
the specific interval is based on the type of project and it's overall
span. As the overall project contracts or extends, discrete LOE tasks
are added or removed.

John
Project MVP