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Setting a project due date, then building tasks with predecessors leading into it - not working righ

JP Domanski
edited 12/09/19 inArchived 2016 Posts

I know there is a way to do this but for some reason I am stuck. I have an event taking place on 5/25. So that needs to be the due date and it CAN NOT MOVE. I then have maybe 40 or so tasks leading up to it, all of which have to occur in certain sequences. I am not able to set up the project. One of two problems occurs. Either I enter a dependency and all of my dates vanish. Or if I enter dummy dates on all tasks (which is about as anti-project management as it gets), and THEN attempt to sequence them, those dates stay in place while forcing my event due date outward, when the opposite should occure. The task dates need to all move back in time in order to accommodate the project due date. Anyone know what I am obviously missing here? I am used to traditional PMIS systems that can all do this so maybe I just need to retrain my mind here? Thanks to whomever can help.

Comments

  • J. Craig Williams
    J. Craig Williams ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    JP,

    Like most PM software, Smartsheet allows predecessor types.

    Default is FS (finish to start), but the others are available too.

    You want to build backwards using SF type.

    See this article on more.

    //www.santa-greenland.com/blog/support-tip-work-back-schedule

    Craig

  • Hi Craig - that is actually what I had ben doing for a while now. I just happened to notice the gantt flow, although LOOKED ok, was flowing backwards upward to the left. =D

    Is this the only way to make Smartsheets cooperate like this?

    Thanks for the input!

  • J. Craig Williams
    J. Craig Williams ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited 03/16/16

    To my understanding, yes, the arrows look different.

    Be aware, also, that the critical path is easily shown 'broken' on reverse tasks.

    Smartsheet is aware and I hope they fix it soon.

    Craig

  • Me too but I think it has been this way for a while so I'm not even sure they have considered it as a "fix". I can just ignore the arrows and pretend the timeline is flowing foward but one of our new PM's just asked me the other day "Why are the arrows flowing backward?" =O As much as a like Smartsheet, this one is really bugging me for some reason. Thanks for the feedback!

This discussion has been closed.
Hi @smbailey<\/a> <\/p>

I hope you're well and safe!<\/p>

I can't see any rows in your screenshot that should be colored differently. Parent rows can't be changed.<\/p>

Can you share more screenshots with the conditional formatting options used on a few child rows?<\/strong> (Delete\/replace any confidential\/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. <\/p>

I hope that helps!<\/p>

Be safe, and have a fantastic weekend!<\/p>

Best,<\/p>

Andrée Starå<\/strong><\/a> | Workflow Consultant \/ CEO @ WORK BOLD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

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How exactly is your Data Shuttle set up? If it is set to replace everything in the sheet when it runs, it is deleting the cell being referenced by the widget and then putting new data in new cells.<\/p>"}]}},"status":{"statusID":3,"name":"Accepted","state":"closed","recordType":"discussion","recordSubType":"question"},"bookmarked":false,"unread":false,"category":{"categoryID":321,"name":"Smartsheet Basics","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/smartsheet-basics%2B","allowedDiscussionTypes":[]},"reactions":[{"tagID":3,"urlcode":"Promote","name":"Promote","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":5,"count":0},{"tagID":5,"urlcode":"Insightful","name":"Insightful","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":11,"urlcode":"Up","name":"Vote Up","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":13,"urlcode":"Awesome","name":"Awesome","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0}],"tags":[{"tagID":292,"urlcode":"Dashboards","name":"Dashboards"},{"tagID":474,"urlcode":"data-shuttle","name":"Data Shuttle"}]}],"initialPaging":{"nextURL":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/api\/v2\/discussions?page=2&includeChildCategories=1&type%5B0%5D=Question&excludeHiddenCategories=1&siteSectionID=0&sort=-hot&limit=3&expand%5B0%5D=all&expand%5B1%5D=-body&expand%5B2%5D=insertUser&expand%5B3%5D=lastUser&status=accepted","prevURL":null,"currentPage":1,"total":10000,"limit":3},"title":"Trending Posts","subtitle":null,"description":null,"noCheckboxes":true,"containerOptions":[],"discussionOptions":[]}">

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