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# PRJ: Linking Predecessor Field May Add Tasks Unexpectedly

Article ID: 109414

Article Last Modified on 1/18/2007

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Project 2000 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Project 98 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Project 4.1 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Project 4.1a
- Microsoft Project 3.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Project 3.0a
- Microsoft Project 4.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Project 3.0 for Macintosh

This article was previously published under Q109414

## SYMPTOMS

After you delete a task, it may reappear in the project with the same information and the following characteristics: it appears with a one-day duration, it is scheduled to start on the same day as the project's start date, and its Name field is left blank.

## CAUSE

One possible cause for this problem is that you have used the Paste Link command to link the Predecessor or Successor field of a task from one project file to another.

## MORE INFORMATION

If you enter an ID number for a task that does not exist in the Predecessor or Successor field, Microsoft Project will create a task for that ID number. The new task's Scheduled Start will be the start of the project and have a duration of one day. The Name field for this task will be blank.
In the same respect, if you link the Predecessor or Successor field to another project file, Microsoft Project will create a new task for the ID of the linked task if the task does not exist. When you use the Paste Link command, you establish an automatic link between the two project files. If you delete the new task or tasks, Microsoft Project will update the linked information of the Predecessor or Successor field and therefore recreate the task.

Additional query words: prj2000 3.00a

Keywords: kbprb kbusage KB109414