PRJ: How to Build a Hammock Task

MORE INFORMATION

1. Create or determine three tasks that correspond to A, B, and C in the example above.
2. Highlight the cell that contains date A (the date that will determine when task B starts).
3. On the Edit menu, click Copy (Cell).
4. Highlight the cell that contains the Start date for task B (the hammock task).
5. On the Edit menu, click Paste Special, and click Paste Link.
6. Highlight the cell that contains Date C (the date that will determine when task B finishes).
7. On the Edit menu, click Copy (Cell).
8. Click the cell that contains the Finish date for task B (the hammock task).
9. click Edit, click Paste Special, and click Paste Link.

Notes and Cautions

• Do not specify a predecessor for a hammock task. Only Paste Linked dates will determine start and finish. You may specify predecessors for the tasks from which dates are paste linked into the hammock task.
• A negative duration (finish date is before start) is not allowed. Depending on the source of the dates, the hammock task may turn into a milestone (zero duration) or erroneously calculate duration before the finish date or after the start date.
• An OLE update is different from a calculation. You may not see expected changes in the hammock task after calculating project. From the Edit menu, click Links to edit/update OLE links (Paste Links). Alternatively, press the F9 function key twice.
• Because the hammock task relies on other tasks for start/finish information, anything that affects those other tasks (resource leveling, constraints) will ultimately affect the hammock tasks dates.
• If the hammock task is a child to a summary task, it may inherit predecessor behavior from the summary task that may affect its duration and/or start and finish dates or create a circular relationship.