Summary Tasks are showing strange dates

[bmcpherson]

When I create a summary task and then add subtasks with specific start and
stop dates and then roll up the entire project the summary tasks will reflect
different dates thatn the subtasks, typically the project start or finish
dates.
Do I need to do soemthing different to get them to reflrct the subtask dates?

It creates confusion when people look at the project file and see different
dates for the summary task and the subtasks

 

[davegb]

When I create a summary task and then add subtasks with specific start and
stop dates and then roll up the entire project the summary tasks will reflect
different dates thatn the subtasks, typically the project start or finish
dates.
Do I need to do soemthing different to get them to reflrct the subtask dates?

It creates confusion when people look at the project file and see different
dates for the summary task and the subtasks

Your problem is that you're setting dates for your tasks. This will
always lead to problems. What you want to do is set your Project Start
Date (Project, Project Information), then enter your list of tasks and
each task's duration and link the tasks. All tasks should have at
least one predecessor and at least one successor, except for your
"Project Start" and "Project Finish" milestones. Let the software tell
you when each task needs to get done in order to finish on time.

If you google this NG, you'll find additional information. Look for
"Schedule Continuity" and other threads on Critical Path Method
scheduling. Or you could get a book or take a course.

Hope this helps in your world.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Are you sure that in Tools, Options, Calculation, Calculation is set to
Automatic?

 

[bmcpherson]

Thank You both for the great ideas, I will try them out today.

 

[Steve House]

They're not ideas - they're the way Project is designed. You don't tell it
the schedule you want or have somehow come up with on your own; you tell it
what you need to do and it tells you the schedule you'll be able to get.
Big difference!

Also, it is actually impossible to actually set task start AND end dates on
tasks and what you're seeing when you try is an illusion. Entering a date
in the Start column does NOT set a start date - it sets a "Start No Earlier
Than" constraint. Likewise, an entry in the Finish column sets a "Finish No
Earlier Than" constraint. Entering something into both of them gives you a
result that depends on the order you entered the fields - you still get a
constraint, but exactly which one you get is determined by the last entry
you made.

 

[davegb]

They're not ideas - they're the way Project is designed. You don't tell it
the schedule you want or have somehow come up with on your own; you tell it
what you need to do and it tells you the schedule you'll be able to get.
Big difference!

Also, it is actually impossible to actually set task start AND end dates on
tasks and what you're seeing when you try is an illusion. Entering a date
in the Start column does NOT set a start date - it sets a "Start No Earlier
Than" constraint. Likewise, an entry in the Finish column sets a "Finish No
Earlier Than" constraint. Entering something into both of them gives you a
result that depends on the order you entered the fields - you still get a
constraint, but exactly which one you get is determined by the last entry
you made.

Very well put, Steve! I hadn't actually thought of it this way, at
least not in this context.

--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visithttp://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htmfor the FAQs

Thank You both for the great ideas, I will try them out today.

"Jan De Messemaeker" wrote:

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