Lesson 6 Mgmt 404
Objectives - MS Project 2010
* Use constraints to set date limitations * Set a project schedule baseline
A task constraint is a restriction or limitation that you or MS Project set on the start or finish date of a task. During the course of a project, limitations may have to be placed upon a start or finish date of a task. For example, while you can start doing your income taxes at any time, you must complete them by April 15 (assuming you do not file for an extension). Do not confuse task constraints with task dependencies. While you may schedule two tasks to start at the same time (dependency), you may not specify a certain starting date (constraint).
All tasks are assigned constraints. A constraint is either flexible or inflexible. A flexible constraint is not tied to a specific date; whereas an inflexible constraint is tied to a specific date.
Task constraints can help create a more accurate schedule by using detailed information to control start and finish dates of important tasks. But they can restrict your flexibility in scheduling. You should make sure that any constraint for a task is necessary before assigning that constraint, particularly if the task is part of the critical path.
For this lab, we will be using the MS Project Lab, MyLab5_XXX (where XXX are your initials) from where we left off in Lab 5. You may use your previous file or download MyLab5_XXX.mpp from Doc Sharing.
Applying Flexible Constraints
The following table lists the flexible constraints and when they are flexible:
Constraint | Description | Flexible for… | As Soon As Possible (ASAP) | Starts the task as soon as possible based on other constraints and dependencies | All projects | As Late As Possible (ALAP) | Starts the task as late as possible based on other constraints and dependencies | All projects | Finish No Earlier Than (FNET) | Finishes the task on or after an entered date | Projects scheduled based on a start date | Start
* Use constraints to set date limitations * Set a project schedule baseline
A task constraint is a restriction or limitation that you or MS Project set on the start or finish date of a task. During the course of a project, limitations may have to be placed upon a start or finish date of a task. For example, while you can start doing your income taxes at any time, you must complete them by April 15 (assuming you do not file for an extension). Do not confuse task constraints with task dependencies. While you may schedule two tasks to start at the same time (dependency), you may not specify a certain starting date (constraint).
All tasks are assigned constraints. A constraint is either flexible or inflexible. A flexible constraint is not tied to a specific date; whereas an inflexible constraint is tied to a specific date.
Task constraints can help create a more accurate schedule by using detailed information to control start and finish dates of important tasks. But they can restrict your flexibility in scheduling. You should make sure that any constraint for a task is necessary before assigning that constraint, particularly if the task is part of the critical path.
For this lab, we will be using the MS Project Lab, MyLab5_XXX (where XXX are your initials) from where we left off in Lab 5. You may use your previous file or download MyLab5_XXX.mpp from Doc Sharing.
Applying Flexible Constraints
The following table lists the flexible constraints and when they are flexible:
Constraint | Description | Flexible for… | As Soon As Possible (ASAP) | Starts the task as soon as possible based on other constraints and dependencies | All projects | As Late As Possible (ALAP) | Starts the task as late as possible based on other constraints and dependencies | All projects | Finish No Earlier Than (FNET) | Finishes the task on or after an entered date | Projects scheduled based on a start date | Start