Task constraints

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Task constraints

Sereen has attended:
Project Intro Intermediate course

by - delegate Sereen [1 post] (2008 Mar 12 Wed, 16:29) Reply

I am starting a new project plan and all I have input so far are the tasks, and set the task levels.

As i am inputting the dates to the tasks, Project has started automatically putting a 'start no earlier than' constraint against some of the tasks - and i didn't want it to (i haven't created any links yet and haven't treated these tasks any differently from other tasks where there hasn't been an automatic generation of this constraint).

I have taken this off by going into the task info and clicking on 'must start on' constraint - but i don't want these tasks to have any constraints.

Please help.

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RE: Task constraints

by - trainer Stephen gold contributer [386 posts] (2008 Mar 14 Fri, 12:04) Edited on 2008 Mar 14 Fri, 12:09 Reply

Hi Sereen

Thank you for your question

Whenever you enter a date for a task, you are automatically setting a start no earlier date for your task. It is usually a mistake to specify start or finish dates for a task in a project. Rather, it is better to:-

1. Enter your tasks and set levels
2. Set task durations
3. Set any task dependencies

Project will the set each task to start as soon as possible and you will then have a project with the shortest possible timeline given the data you have supplied. If you then have specific tasks which must start on certain dates you can then add the necessary constraints, but this should be done sparingly if at all.

Regards

Stephen

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Project tip:

Keep constraining dates to a minimum

As far as possible avoid fixing the dates of your tasks. For example try to steer of clear dragging task bars in the Gantt chart to move them on the timeline or entering dates directly into the Start / Finish fields.

Date constraints such as these limit Microsoft Project's ability to automatically adjust your project whenever you add, remove or modify the duration of your tasks. Instead use the logic in your task dependencies that link your tasks to enable Project to calculate the start and finish dates for you.

View all Project hints and tips

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