How to make a summary task a regular task.

Question

I need to change a summary task to a regular task but anytime I adjust it the entire plan changes dates. This is online microsoft project.

Answer 1

To change a summary task to a regular task in Microsoft Project without altering the entire plan's dates, you can follow these steps:

1. Ensure that the task is not indented under another task. If it is, select the task and click on Task > Outdent to make it a regular task.
2. Avoid changing the task's duration directly, as this might affect the subtasks and the overall schedule.
3. If your tasks are automatically scheduled, consider setting them to Manually Schedule first, then establish your baseline. Afterward, you can change the tasks back to Auto-Schedule, and this should prevent the fixed dates from moving. How to perform the above step:
   1. Open your project in Microsoft Project.
   2. Select the task(s) you want to change. You can click on a single task or use the Shift key to select multiple tasks.
   3. Go to the Task tab on the ribbon.
   4. In the Schedule group, click on Manually Schedule. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M1.
   5. Once the tasks are set to Manually Schedule, establish your baseline. To do this, go to the Project tab, click on Set Baseline, and then select Set Baseline again from the dropdown.
   6. After setting the baseline, you can switch the tasks back to Auto-Schedule. Select the tasks again, go to the Task tab, and in the Schedule group, click on Auto Schedule. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + A.
4. When you move or delete a summary task, be aware that the Project moves or deletes all of its subtasks. Before you delete a summary task, outdent the subtasks you want to keep.
5. Avoid assigning resources to summary tasks: Assign them to the subtasks instead, or you might not be able to resolve over allocations.

Summary tasks are designed to group subtasks and reflect their combined information. Changing a summary task to a regular task should be done with caution to avoid unintended changes to your project plan. If you continue to experience issues, it may be helpful to review the task dependencies and constraints to ensure they are set up correctly. For more detailed guidance, you can refer to the official Microsoft support documentation.