Microsoft KB Archive/71060

Dates/Duration of Subproject Not Equal to Master Project Task

PSS ID Number: Q71060 Article last modified on 03-15-1995

1.00 | 1.10

WINDOWS | MACINTOSH

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Project for Windows, version 1.0 - Microsoft Project for the Macintosh, version 1.1

SUMMARY

The scheduled start/finish and the duration of a Project for Windows superproject (master) task many not reflect the scheduled start/finish date and the overall duration of the subproject.

MORE INFORMATION

Typically, this occurs when a task is constrained in the subproject. The master project is always trying to schedule tasks, including the subproject tasks, to be as soon as possible (ASAP).

Consider the following three examples, where both the master and subproject are scheduled from the start:

1. The subproject has no task constraints.

   Result: The scheduled start for the master project task will have the same date as the first task in the subproject. Also, the duration of the master project task will be equivalent to the overall subproject duration.

2. The subproject has a must-start-on constraint on its first task that is later than what could be scheduled on the master project task.

   Result: The scheduled start for the master project task will be earlier than the first task in the subproject. The duration of the master project task will be longer than the overall duration of the subproject.

3. The subproject has a must-start-on constraint on its first task that is earlier than what could be scheduled on the master project task.

   Result: The scheduled start for the master project task will be later than the first task in the subproject. The following messages may be displayed:

          "Start of Task 1 is Before the Project Starts,"
   
          "Late Date Before Scheduled Date in Task X."
   
       The duration of the master project task will be shorter
       than the overall duration of the subproject. In the case
       where the scheduled finish of the subproject is earlier
       than the scheduled start of the master task, the master
       task duration will be zero and no Gantt bar will be
       displayed.

To get the master project task to reflect the scheduled start and the duration of the overall subproject as listed in example 2, schedule the subproject task in the master to be as late as possible.

To resolve the conflict in example 3, either remove the constraint in the subproject or reschedule the master project from the finish.

REFERENCES

“Microsoft Project for Windows Reference,” version 1.00. “Subprojects,” pages 427-430.

KBCategory: kbother KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 1.10 1.0

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.