task linking - can i get one task to pull another along?

Microsoft Project >> task linking - can i get one task to pull another along?

I'm struggling with linking. I've a group of tasks that are the core
of the work for the marjority of the team. However, running before
these tasks (for other team members) is some design work. Now i'm
focusing my scheduling on the work flow of the core work - but want to
kind of 'backward' link the design work to this core work so it always
preceeds the core work as closely as possible. And also, so if the
core work moves, the design work moves with it automatically.

However, project doesn't seem to have a link for linking a group of
design tasks so they preceed the other work and follow it's movement
forwards or backwards as work progresses.

Can anyone tell me how to do this in a non-manual way?

thanks!

PT

DotNet317

Microsoft Project >> task linking - can i get one task to pull another along?

> I'm struggling with linking. I've a group of tasks that are the core
> of the work for the marjority of the team. However, running before
> these tasks (for other team members) is some design work. Now i'm
> focusing my scheduling on the work flow of the core work - but want to
> kind of 'backward' link the design work to this core work so it always
> preceeds the core work as closely as possible. And also, so if the
> core work moves, the design work moves with it automatically.
>
> However, project doesn't seem to have a link for linking a group of
> design tasks so they preceed the other work and follow it's movement
> forwards or backwards as work progresses.
>
> Can anyone tell me how to do this in a non-manual way?
>
> thanks!
>
> PT

Pinkman,
Could it be done? Probably. Would it be simple? No. Does it make logical
sense? No.

Project does not have bi-directional linking and to be honest the
scenario you describe doesn't really make sense. If the design work
proceeds the "core" effort, then the design work is the driving force.
The core work should never drive the design. If for some reason the core
work must be delayed, then so be it. That should have no bearing on the
design work, unless of course the whole plan needs to be moved forward
or backward in time and the latter can be accommodated with the "Adjust
dates" utility found on the Analysis toolbar.

It sounds like what you need is a simple finish-to-start link perhaps
with a lag if necessary. And, any movement of the whole plan should be
done with the "Adjust Dates" utility.

John
Project MVP