Microsoft Project

Question

In Microsoft Project I am working on a Gantt Chart Construction Program. On certain tasks I get an error message stating “These tasks cannot be linked because they’re already linked by another task chain”. I cannot find a conflicting link.

Is there any way of the software helping me find the conflicting link?

Answer 1

If it gives this error, then there is definitely some circular links in there somewhere. They can be hard to track down, especially if there are many tasks and numerous predecessors/successors, and especially if there are other than FS0 links (FF, SS, SF) with positive or negative lag.

We don't know how many tasks or how complicated the predecessors/successors are, so it is a bit difficult to help without seeing more.

It helps to have both the predecessor and successor columns side by side.

Also, view, details will split the screen and the right click menu will allow to display predecessors and successors in the lower pane..

Of course, summaries should (must) not have predecessors or successors.

Answer 2

James,

Okay, try this. Save your file as XML. Then re-open the XML file in Project. Note, you will lose any custom formatting with this process.

If that fixes your issue, great, but if not would you be able to e-mail my your file?

John

Answer 3

Thank you John. I have no summary tasks linked, and so am still at a loss. My plan is a stand alone single file, and not linked to anything else. Apart from this issue it's MS Project in it's more simple form

Answer 4

James,

Did you perhaps make the mistake of putting links on summary lines? If so, remove those and only link to performance tasks (i.e. non-summary tasks). If this applies to your file, please take a look at the following Wiki article: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/29569.ms-project-linking-andor-assigning-resources-to-summary-tasks.aspx

If you do not have any links on summary lines, then please tell us more about your plan. For example, is it a single file or part of a linked structure (i.e. master/subprojects or inter-project links). A screen shot might help, showing task IDs, task name, duration, predecessors and successors.

John