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In MS Project, my successor tasks are starting on the final day of the predecessor tasks instead of the day after. How can I fix this?
Microsoft project management software used to plan, manage, and communicate a project schedule and other information among workgroup members, project managers, and other stakeholders.
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Joe,
I don't see the Predecessors field in your screen shot so I can't tell much from what you provided. I do see that the "HRD Review Checklist . . . ) has a start date of 1/6/25 1:00 PM. Apparently something delayed that start, perhaps a delay in the Predecessor (e.g. XXFS+4hr), a constraint date (e.g. Start-no-earlier-than 1/6/25 1:00 PM), or since the task shows as 100% complete, someone entered an Actual Start of 1/6/25 1:00 PM).
The next task of the HDR Review Checklist. . . ) shows 0% complete but it also shows a start time of 1:00 PM. I'm guessing that task has the previous task as its predecessor and since that task finishes at 12:00 PM, that explains why this task starts at 1:00 PM.
Again, without the task IDs and Predecessors, I can only assume. How about you show a screen shot with those fields included and also include three more fields: Constraint Type, Constraint Date, and Actual Start.
Believe it or not, we're getting somewhere, we just need to carry it a bit further. As a fallback (guaranteed to solve your issue), would you be able to send me you Project file?
John
It's likely a combination of things (i.e. Project calendar, Project options, etc.). Without actually seeing your file and settings, it's difficult to tell but my guess is that the predecessor tasks are not finishing at the end of shift (5:00 PM with the default Standard calendar) so the successor task has some time left in the workday to start.
Do this: Go to, File > Options > General group and select a Date Format that includes the time. That will likely show you why predecessor tasks are starting the same day.
John
This is the problem, but how do I change the hours on tasks that aren't ending at 5:00PM? Only about half of my schedule has tasks not ending earlier than 5:00PM.
Assuming the Standard calendar and the definition of a "day" at the default 8 hours, task durations in multiples of 8 hours or full days will result in each task finishing at 5:00 PM. If the duration of a task is more or less than that, the task will finish before 5:00 PM, unless the task didn't start at 8:00 AM. You seem to want all your tasks to finish at 5:00 PM. Why? If we can find out what exactly you are trying to accomplish, we could be of more help.
Thanks for the quick response. All of my tasks have durations in days, so I would like all of the. To end at 5:00PM so that the successor tasks always begging the following day. Somehow my schedule has a mixture of tasks ending at either 12:00PM, 1:01PM or 5:00PM. I want to change the 12:00PM and 1:01PM times to 5:00PM. I can’t figure out how to do that.
Joe, let's take a closer look at what you have.
A screen shot of your Gantt Chart display would be helpful, particularly including these fields:
ID, Duration, Start, Finish, Predecessors, Resource Names.
See attached for a section of the schedule with three different times. All should seemingly be 5:00pm.
Hi John,
Adding those fields immediately revealed the problem, which was related to upstream tasks with 0.5 day durations. This issue is now resolved and I thank you for your support.
Joe
Joe Pratt,
A little after the fact but if you are still active on this thread please consider marking my response as providing the answer to helping you resolve the issue.
This forum is going through its growing pains so the rules have changed (only the original poster can mark an issue as answered).
John