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How to Automatically Shorten Tasks Between Dependencies in Microsoft Project

WPS Editor Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically calculate and adjust a middle task's duration based on the dates of two dependent tasks.

How to Automatically Shorten a Task Between Dependencies in Microsoft Project

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Scheduling project timelines where a bridging task needs to span exactly the time between a predecessor's finish and a successor's start.
Observed behavior: The user needs to set up dynamic date links so the middle task's duration expands or contracts automatically when surrounding schedule changes occur.

Before you start

Make sure your predecessor and successor tasks are fully defined and scheduled in your Microsoft Project plan before attempting to link their dates.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Hammock Task to Auto-Adjust Task Duration

Use the Paste Link feature to create a hammock task. This links the start and finish dates of a middle task to its predecessor and successor, allowing its duration to dynamically recalculate when the connected dates change.

A hammock task does not have a fixed duration. Instead, its timeline is entirely dependent on the finish date of the task that precedes it and the start date of the task that succeeds it.

Copy the predecessor's finish date

Select the cell containing the Finish Date of the predecessor task (the task that dictates when the hammock task starts) and press Ctrl+C to copy it.

Paste Link into the middle task's start date

Right-click the Start Date cell of your middle task (the hammock task), choose 'Paste Special', and select the 'Paste Link' option.

Copy the successor's start date

Select the cell containing the Start Date of the successor task (the task that dictates when the hammock task must finish) and press Ctrl+C to copy it.

Paste Link into the middle task's finish date

Right-click the Finish Date cell of your middle task, choose 'Paste Special', and select 'Paste Link'. The duration of the middle task will now automatically expand or contract as the dependent tasks move.

Create a Hammock Task to Auto-Adjust Task Duration

Paste Link Error Troubleshooting: If you receive an error when trying to paste the link, ensure the project file is saved to your local drive rather than a remote server, and verify you are copying only the specific date cell rather than the entire row.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a hammock task in Microsoft Project?

A hammock task is a special kind of summary or bridging task whose duration is determined by the finish date of an earlier task and the start date of a later task. As those boundary dates shift in your schedule, the hammock task expands or shrinks automatically.

Why does the 'Paste Link' option fail when I try to create a hammock task?

This error frequently occurs if your project file is stored on an unstable remote server or if the copy operation did not capture the right data type. To resolve this, save the file to your local computer first and make sure you are selecting just the single date cell to copy, not the entire row.

Can I use a hammock task to track ongoing administrative work?

Yes, hammock tasks are ideal for representing overhead, project management, or ongoing support activities that span the time between two specific project phases or milestones without having a predetermined fixed duration.

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