exclude task from critical path, how to

Question

I have a single task that has to be completed and is linked to predecessors. However, its completion does not define the completion of the project. That task is a 2 yr long task (basically monitoring progress and continuing effort to reduce costs). The actual project is about 1 yr in length.

How can a task be excluded from the critical path calculation?

Other web search hits suggested to change the color of the bar, but that's kind of mickey mouse, isn't it...

Answer 1

The solution I use is as follows:

Create a task called End Of Project at the end of your schedule and set it to have astart no earlier than date of a week after the last task in your project to finish. This will now be the only critical task.

On tasks that represent deliverables for your project, set deadlines to agreed/required delivery dates. Now you get a critical path based on deliverbles for your project.

To add a deadline either insert teh deadline column or click Advanced in the Task information dialog.

Answer 2

Hello Yu B -  I have to agree, the really lame way is to change the bar color ... note that does not change the fact that the task is actually on the critical path, it just lies to you.

Here's aanother way (at least it works).  You appear to have a level of effort task that stretches the duration of the project.  If you shorten this task by even a couple of hours in duration, it can take it off the critical path.  I think that method is not very sophisticated either.

We keep level of effort type tasks in a completely separate schedule.  The two scehdules can be combined into a Master with two subordinate schedules in it: one is LOE, the other is "the real work."  By performining anlysis on the "real work" you can determine the critical path.

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If this post was helpful, please click on something :) I am also at msprojectblog.com

Jim

Answer 3

Hi,

Another piece of advice that may help you: In Tools, Options, Calculation, check "Calculate mulktiple Critical Path". It will not "un-critical" your very long task but at least your "true" critical path will now show

Answer 4

Great hint, Jan.

Answer 5

Hello,

As Jim says, there is no method of making a task not critical, particularly when it is the task which is one year longer than the rest of the project.  Whether a task is critical or not is math based -- and you cannot change the math.  You may not consider the monitoring task important, but it is critical as it directly drives the end date of the project.

I agree the Jim, if the two year task is really not defining the project end, remove it from the project and then make the tasks from the other project its predecessor.

I hope this helps.

Julie