Chapter 7: Fine-Tuning Task Details

Chapter at a Glance

Change how tasks are related to each other, page 140. Apply constraints to control when tasks can be scheduled, page 142. View the project’s critical path and identify slack, page 148. Change a task’s duration, work, or assignments units and control how Project handles the change, page 157.

In This Chapter, You will Learn How to:

• Adjust task links to have more control over how tasks are related.

• Apply a constraint to a task.

• Identify the tasks on the critical path.

• Split a task to record an interruption in work.

• Create a task calendar and apply it to tasks.

• Change a task type to control how Project schedules tasks.

• Record deadlines for tasks.

• Enter a fixed cost and specify how it should accrue.

• Set up a recurring task in the project schedule.

Tip 

Do you need only a quick refresher on the topics in this chapter? See the Quick Reference entries on pages xxv–xlviii.

In this chapter, you examine and use a variety of advanced features in Microsoft Office Project 2007. These features focus on fine-tuning task details prior to saving a baseline as well as commencing work on the project with the goal of developing the most accurate schedule representation of the tasks you anticipate for the plan.

Important 

Before you can use the practice files provided for this chapter, you need to install them from the book’s companion CD to their default locations. See “Using the Book’s CD” on page xix for more information.