Chapter Five Review

Lesson Summary

Overlapping Tasks

To Overlap Tasks: Select the successor task you want to overlap. Click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar and click the Predecessors tab. Click in the Lag field and enter the lead time as a negative (-) value. Or, double-click the link line connecting the tasks, click in the Lag field, and enter the lead time as a negative (-) value.

Delaying Tasks

To Delay Tasks: Select the task you want to delay. Click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar and click the Predecessors tab. Click in the Lag field and enter the lag time. Or, double-click the link line connecting the tasks, click in the Lag field, and enter the lag time.

Setting Task Deadlines

To Enter a Deadline: Select the task and click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar. Click the Advanced tab and enter the deadline date in the Deadline box. Click OK when you're finished.

Setting Task Constraints

To Enter a Task Constraint: Select the task to which you want to add a constraint and click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar. Click the Advanced tab, click the Constraint type list arrow, and select the constraint you want to use. Enter the deadline date in the Constraint date box, and click OK when you're finished.

Splitting Tasks

To Split a Task: Select the task and click the Split Task button on the Standard toolbar. Place the splitting cursor on the date you want the interruption to begin, and click and drag the task bar to the date you want the interruption to end.

To Remove a Split: Click and drag the split task portions until they touch.

Understanding Task Type

To Define Task Type: Select the task and click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar. Click the Advanced tab, click the Task type list arrow, and select the task type you want to assign to the task. Click OK when you're finished.

Assigning a Task Calendar

To Assign a Calendar to a Task: Select the task and click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar. Click the Advanced tab, click the Calendar list arrow, and select a calendar from the list. Click OK when you're finished.

Understanding Task Indicators

Task indicators are helpful in understanding how your project is scheduled. Learn to identify the most common task indicators.

Quiz

1. Overlapping linked tasks means that you want the successor task to begin before the predecessor task ends. (True or False?)

2. Lead time is always entered as a positive value. (True or False?)

3. Why would you want to delay a task? (Select all that apply.)

   1. To give yourself less time to work on a task.

   2. To give yourself more time to work on a task.

   3. Because it looks pretty on your screen.

   4. Because of unforeseen circumstances.

4. A deadline affects how tasks are scheduled. (True or False?)

5. Which of the following is NOT a task constraint?

   1. As Soon As Possible

   2. Finish No Earlier Than

   3. Must End On

   4. Must Finish On

6. Why would you want to split a task?

   1. So the task will take twice as long to complete.

   2. So you can interrupt it and finish it on a later date.

   3. So you can assign more than one resource to the task.

   4. So you can make like a banana and split.

7. Which of these is NOT a task type?

   1. Fixed Duration

   2. Fixed Units

   3. Fixed Work

   4. Fixed Budget

8. Which of the following is NOT a type of task calendar?

   1. 12 Hours

   2. Night Shift

   3. Project

   4. Standard

Homework

1. Start Microsoft Project 2003.

2. Navigate to your practice files and open the Homework 5 project.

3. Double-click the link line connecting the "Build Stand" and "Make a pretty sign" tasks. Give the "Make a pretty sign" task one week lead time. (Remember: When you are entering lead time for a task, make sure it is a negative value.)

4. Delay the start of the "Dress up in a lemon costume" task five days. You want to put that off as long as possible!

5. Enter a deadline of 3/20/02 for the "Create a website" task.

6. Split task #15, "Hang signs around town."

7. Assign the Night Shift calendar to the "Send SPAM" task.

8. Close Homework 5 without saving your changes.

Quiz Answers

1. True. Overlapping linked tasks means that you want the successor task to begin before the predecessor task ends.

2. False. Lead time is always entered as a negative value. Otherwise, Project would think you are entering lag time.

3. B and D. Delaying one task gives you more time to work on another and offers flexibility due to circumstances beyond your control, such as a resource who cannot work because of the flu.

4. False. A deadline does NOT affect how tasks are scheduled. It simply acts as an indicator of whether or not a task has been completed on schedule.

5. C. "Must End On" is not a type of task constraint.

6. B. Splitting a task allows you to interrupt the task and finish it on a later date.

7. D. Fixed Budget is not a task type.

8. A. 12 Hours is not a type of calendar24 Hours is.