MS Project - Changing Task Default Start Date

Question

MS Project - The default date for starting a new task is not defaulting to the Project Start date. I have used this same file for a couple years and changed the Project Start Date a number of times, each time the task default start date changed with it. But now its not. I have tried the suggestions from support, but not working. Not sure what to do next. Anyone else had this problem?

Answer 1

Wayne 0316,

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. If I answered your question, please consider marking my response as the answer or at least helpful.

John

Answer 2

I think I figured it out. I did not notice prior, but one of the tasks had a start date of February 1 and when I changed that task to a later start date the default start on new Tasks matched up to the Project Start. Thanks for your help!

Answer 3

Wayne 0316,

Okay....but in order to help you figure it out we'll need more info than that.

1. What is the Project start date?
2. What date is shown in the Start field of the Project Summary task (ID 0)?
3. Is there a date in the Actual Start field of the task that "jumps back"?

A screen shot showing the Project Summary task and the task in question would be helpful.

John

Answer 4

Thanks for the reply. In my case the task start time wants to jump back two months to a start date I used two months ago.

Answer 5

Wayne 0316,

Interesting you should ask this question. I had the exact same issue with a file yesterday, the first task just wouldn't start on the Project Start date. I checked for constraints, I checked for a date in the actual start date, I checked to make sure calculation was set for auto. All was good.

Then I realized the Project Start date was on a non-working day (Saturday in my case). The first task wanted to start on Monday and rightly so. Once I saw that "glitch" in my plan, I fixed the Project Start date to a normal working day and all was good.

Your issue may or may not be that simple. Take a look at the following Wiki article, it focuses on a different issue but the reasons are also applicable to your scenario. If the items noted in the article don' help, post back with some specifics (i.e. Project calendar, Project Start date, date of first task, etc.)

https://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.

John