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How to Copy Resource Assignments Between Tasks in Microsoft Project

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to duplicate multiple resource assignments from one task to another while keeping the specific work hours intact for each resource.

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing repeated tasks in a project plan and needing to duplicate complex resource allocations without manually re-entering individual work hours.
Observed behavior: The goal is to successfully duplicate resources and their exact work values from a source task to a destination task.

Before you start

Ensure that all your required resources have been properly added to your Project's Resource Sheet and that you are working in a view that displays detailed task assignments.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy Assignments via the Task Usage View

Use the Task Usage view to copy and paste resources along with their specific work values directly to a new task without losing individual work hours.

By default, copying and pasting resources from the standard Gantt Chart view may cause Microsoft Project to recalculate work hours based on the destination task's duration. To preserve the exact hours assigned to each resource, you must perform the duplication from within the Task Usage view.

Open Task Usage View

Navigate to the 'View' tab on the main ribbon and select 'Task Usage' from the Task Views group.

Select Resources

Locate your source task. Select the row headers (the blank squares to the far left of the resource names) for the specific resources you want to duplicate.

Copy the Assignments

Right-click one of the selected row headers and choose 'Copy' from the context menu, or press Ctrl+C on your keyboard.

Select the Destination Task

Scroll to the destination task where you want to apply these resources, and click on it to make it the active selection.

Paste the Assignments

Go to the 'Task' ribbon and click the 'Paste' button (or press Ctrl+V). The resources, along with their original work values, will now be assigned to the new task.

Work Values Preserved: Using this method guarantees that the individual work hours originally assigned to each resource are accurately maintained in the new task without automatic recalculation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy resource assignments using the Gantt Chart view?

While you can assign resources in the Gantt Chart view, copying them from there will usually cause Project to recalculate the work hours based on the new task's settings. To copy specific work hours per resource precisely, you must use the Task Usage view.

Why did my work hours change when I pasted the resource to a new task?

If you copy resources from the Task Information dialog or the Gantt Chart, Microsoft Project recalculates the work based on the destination task's duration and the resource's standard allocation rate. Copying via the Task Usage view bypasses this recalculation.

Can I copy multiple resources to multiple destination tasks at once?

You can copy multiple resources from a single source task simultaneously, but you generally need to paste them into one destination task at a time to ensure accurate allocation and prevent unexpected software behavior.

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