How to Control Fast Drag-and-Drop Scrolling in Microsoft Project
Question details
The user needs a way to control or slow down the rapid scrolling behavior that occurs when dragging and dropping tasks near the edge of the screen in Microsoft Project.
- Product
- Microsoft Project
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reorganizing project rows by moving tasks to nearby locations without using the cut-and-paste method, which disrupts task identifiers.
- Observed behavior
- When dragging a task near the top or bottom edge of the window, the screen scrolls too rapidly, making it nearly impossible to drop the task accurately into a nearby row.
Before reorganizing your tasks, save a backup copy of your project file to ensure you can easily revert changes if a task is accidentally dropped in the wrong hierarchy level.
Collapse Intermediate Sections and Move in Stages
Reduce the scrolling distance by hiding unrelated tasks or moving the target task in smaller, manageable increments.
Because Microsoft Project does not currently offer a built-in setting to slow down drag-and-drop scrolling, the most reliable method is to visually shorten the distance between your task's current location and its destination.
Locate the large summary tasks that sit between the task you want to move and its final destination row.
Click the small triangle or collapse icon next to these summary tasks to hide their subtasks from view.
If the destination is still off-screen, click and drag your task to the lowest or highest visible row and drop it there temporarily.
Scroll manually to bring the final destination into view, then drag and drop the task from its temporary location to the final target row.
Reorder Tasks Using a Custom Number Field
Use a custom column to assign a new sort order and permanently renumber tasks, completely bypassing the need to drag and drop.
Manage Project Timelines Easily with WPS Office
If you are frustrated by the rigid interface quirks in Microsoft Project, consider handling your task tracking and Gantt charts in WPS Office Spreadsheet. It offers a lightweight, user-friendly environment with highly responsive drag-and-drop controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a built-in setting to slow down drag-and-drop scrolling in Microsoft Project?
No, Microsoft Project does not currently feature a native setting or slider to adjust the drag-and-drop scroll speed. The rapid scrolling near the window edge is a default software behavior.
Why shouldn't I just use Cut and Paste to move my project tasks?
Using Cut and Paste actually deletes the original task and creates a new one. This action can permanently alter unique task identifiers (Unique IDs), break task dependencies, and disrupt resource assignments or links to other project files.
How can I request that Microsoft fix this scrolling behavior?
You can submit a feature request directly to the development team by opening Microsoft Project, navigating to File > Feedback, and selecting 'Send a Suggestion' to request a slower scrolling option for drag-and-drop.
Will collapsing summary tasks affect my project timeline or schedule?
No, collapsing summary tasks only alters the visual layout of your workspace. It temporarily hides the subtasks from view to make navigation easier, but it does not change any task dates, durations, or underlying dependencies.
