MS Project 2010: Managing the Split-tasks

Question

Hello,

I use MS Project 2010  and I would like to find a way to manage the split-task.

i.e. : I have to show a task that happend in three fases with two different lag between; Task 1 Phase 1 Start on 01/01/13 with a duration of 5 days, Task 1 Phase 2 Start after 2 days with a duration of 10 days and Task 1 Phase 3 Start after 14 days with a duration of 1 day. That trough a graphic is not easy to settle! I'm looking a parameter column or something where I can see the value of the splits and modify them?

Thanks for your help,

Ben

Answer 1

My answer still stands then - assuming you have resources assigned to Task 1, use the Task Usage view to stop and start the work.  You can use the split task button to split the task into pieces - it is just harder to be precise about start and stops of the split pieces.

You cannot, however use the different parts of the split task as predecessors to Task2 or Task3.

Answer 2

Hello,

Sorry for the late answer, I try to show in one Task Three periods of works. As this task (T1) is under a summary (P1) I don't like to split it in three tasks (T1.1, T1.2 and T1.3) because it will be too much lines and  if I gathered these three new task under a new summary (S T1) it will mix tasks (T2 and T3) and summary (S T1) under summary P1...

i.e.: I try to link T2 to 1st period of T1 and T3 to 2nd period of T1

Phase1

   Task1 xxxx------xxxx-------xxxxx

   Task2       xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

   Task3                     xxxxxxxxxxxxx

If I split T1 and create a summary for the new tasks in order to have a shortest overview:

Phase1

  Summary Task1

       Task1.1 xxxx

       Task1.2              xxxx

       Task1.3                           xxxxx

  Task2               xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  Task3                            xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Answer 3

I don't understand.  You should not be assigning resources to summary tasks.  Can you let us know in more detail what your structure is?

Is "Task 1" a detail or summary task?  Is Phase1 a detail or summary task?

Normally I would look for

Phase 1

     Task 1

     Task 2

     Task 3

     ........................

Phase 2

     Task 1

     Task 2

     etc.

Are you trying to change the way the phase looks or the task?

Answer 4

Thanks for your answer,

I will try the first method. In answer on your question, I would like to not mix task and summary under one summary. Just in order to have a better visibility of the depth of the view.

Answer 5

Hi Ben,

Assuming you have resources assigned, you can split the task in the Task Usage view by entering zeros in the time phased Work field to create the splits. If tracking, enter the zeros in the Actual Work field.

However, is there a reason why you want the task to be one task?  How about splitting it into three tasks?  What caused the task to be split up?