Lesson5.3.Setting Task Deadlines

Lesson 5.3. Setting Task Deadlines

Figure 5-4. The Advanced tab of the Task Information dialog box.

Deadlines are very helpful in project management, because they help Project indicate whether a task has been completed on schedule. It's important to understand that setting a deadline doesn't affect how tasks are scheduled; instead, the deadline is more like an indicator of the scheduling status of the project.

1. Select the Write XML-based lessons task.

   Adding a deadline is a good way to keep track of how the task is going.

2. Click the Task Information button on the Standard toolbar.

   The task is scheduled to finish on 1/13/06. Let's add a deadline to make sure that's when the task ends.

3. Click the Advanced tab.

   This tab is where you can define advanced task properties, such as deadlines.

4. Click the Deadline box and type 1/13/06.

   Compare your dialog box to Figure 5-4.

5. Click OK.

   A small green deadline arrow appears on the task's bar.

   So what happens once the deadline for a task is set? Project continues to update the task as work progresses. If the task is finished by the deadline date, nothing happens and the project continues as scheduled.

   If the task finishes after the deadline date, an indicator appears next to the task, notifying you that the task is scheduled to finish after its deadline. When this happens, you can choose to work with the task to make it finish on time, or simply allow the project to continue as scheduled and ignore the indicator.

QUICK REFERENCE

TO ENTER A DEADLINE:

1. SELECT THE TASK.

2. CLICK THE TASK INFORMATION BUTTON ON THE STANDARD TOOLBAR.

3. CLICK THE ADVANCED TAB.

4. ENTER THE DEADLINE DATE IN THE DEADLINE BOX.

5. CLICK OK.