PM task

[PMinator]

This seems like it should be a simple task, but i cannot seem to get Project to do it.

I want to create a milestonoe called "Project Start" and a milestone called "Project Complete". then I want to have a general PM task that has a predecesor of "Project Start" and a Finish-Finish predecesor of "Project Complete". This will allow the PM work to float, depending on the completion date of the project. It makes sense why Project will not allow you to do it (you must supply two of the variables Work, Units, Duration). But it doesn't make sense to me why I can't do it. Does that make sense?

 

[JulieInMaine]

Hello,

Have you tried creating a Hammock task? See:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/141733

I hope this helps.

Julie

 

[PDQBach]

I've described elsewhere in this forum how to create a hammock task. You can. You shouldn't. As implemented in MS Project you will leave yourself open to a variety of updating issues and it's really not worth the effort when you already know that you have to maintain the PM task and can do this in mere seconds.

Another issue with creating a task running the entire duration of the project is that it will always appear on the Critical Path since it has no slack.

Finally, you need to consider whether you want to include the task in your EVA calculations since, generally, MS Project's hammock tasks will give you an *generally* level work load for the duration of the task while, as a PM, you know that during Initiation and Close your activities will be split between this project and the previous/next one.