Tasks that last the duration of the project 2

[dagwoodb]

How do you folks typically build tasks that will start whenever the project starts and end whenever it ends (like "Manage the Project Plan" for example)? 5've thought about creating a dummy resource that I will exclude from leveling, but that's not right. I would estimate that this activity might take 1 day (8hrs)/ week for the duration of the project.

Any suggestions?

 

[johnherman]

I create a recurring task for (say) 8 hours per week, or one day per week, depending on your scale, and put it on the plan near the top with all the other project management activities such as weekly status meeting, monthly committee meeting, weekly status reports, etc.

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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that noboby appreciates how difficult it was.
- Steven Wright

 

[PDQBach]

I just create a hammock task.

1. Decide which task is the real beginning task on the project (create a milestone, if necessay, such as "Start of Project").

2. Decide which task is the real completion of the project (once again, create a milestone, if necessary).

3. Create the hammock task:
3a. Name: Manage project
3b. Work: however many days of work you think it will take
3c. Duration: take the default (1 day)
3d. Start: take the default
3e. Finish: take the default

4. Make it a hammock task
4a. Click on the Start date of the task identified in Step 1 then click on Edit | Copy.
4b. Click on the start date of the hammock task created in Step 3; click on Edit | Paste Special; select the "Paste link" radio button; click on OK.
4c. Click on the finish date of the task identified in Step 2 then click on Edit | Copy.
4d. Click on the finish date of the hammock task create in step 3; click on Edit | Paste Special; select the "Paste link" radio button; click on OK.

This will automatically adjust the Duration of the hammock task to reflect the duration of the project. If you extend the project then the hammock task will be extended; if you shorten the duration of the project then the hammock task will be shortened.

(It seems like a lot of work ... but once you've done it you'll see how easy it is.)

 

[dagwoodb]

Great suggestions. I'll try both and see what works best. Thanks for the assist!