Bug on task auto scheduling

Question

Hello,

I'm having some problems with automatically scheduled tasks on MS Project 2010. Part of the tasks on the schedule are not being updated to reflect the right predecessors requirements. The only way to correct this is to use a constraint type of  fixed date (e.g. "must start on", "must finish on") but then it is not possible to study the dependency between tasks.

I noticed that even when a new activity is created, without any predecessor or successor, it appears on some arbitrary date instead of the project start date or the date of the first activity of the task group. This also happens when a "bugged" task has all its predecessors and successors removed and is set to "As soon as possible".

I checked that auto schedule is on, the "calculate project after every edit" is on, the project calendars are not constraining the date (I use multiple calendars to different portions of the project)...

For me it seems a file bug, but I would like to know if someone has had the same type of problem and if there is any known solution.

Thanks!

Caio Peret

Answer 1

Caio,

These are excellent suggestions by John.

In addition, your phrase, "or the date of the first activity of the task group" implies that you may make a habit of logically tying or constraining summary tasks.  I'm not sure the wiki covers these explicitly.

Make sure that ALL levels of summary tasks above your "bugged" tasks are:

a. Free of any start constraints;

b. Free of any Actual Start dates;

c. Free of any predecessors; and

d. Task Mode does not equal Manual.  (Tends to sneak in for new MSP2010 users.)

Good luck, tom

Answer 2

Caio,

My first thought is that your file may be corrupt. Try saving as XML and then re-open in Project. Note, you will lose any custom formatting using this process.

There are other reasons why a task may not respond to its predecessors. You might want to read the following wiki article:http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/30143.ms-project-why-a-successor-task-s-start-date-may-not-directly-follow-a-predecessor-task-s-finish-date.aspx.

With regard to a new task not starting on the Project Start Date, check your scheduling options under File/Options/Schedule group "auto scheduled tasks scheduled on:".

Hope this helps.

John