Make Microsoft Project Successor Tasks Start After Actual Completion
Question details
The user wants successor tasks to automatically adjust and start when a predecessor task finishes earlier than planned.
- Product
- Microsoft Project
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Tracking actual progress on project schedules and updating dependent tasks.
- Observed behavior
- Successor tasks do not move forward automatically because the schedule relies on the standard planned Finish field rather than actual completion progress.
Ensure you have established standard Finish-to-Start (FS) dependencies between your tasks and are prepared to input actual tracking data rather than using custom date fields.
Use Built-in Tracking Fields for Actual Progress
Instead of creating custom finish date fields, use Microsoft Project's built-in tracking and status features to correctly recalculate schedules.
Microsoft Project calculates Finish-to-Start dependencies using the standard 'Finish' field. If you use custom fields to track real finish dates, successor tasks will not automatically adjust without complex VBA scripts. By updating actual progress, MS Project automatically recalculates the standard Finish date and adjusts successors accordingly.
Go to the 'Project' tab on the ribbon and click 'Status Date' to define the current date for tracking project progress.
Navigate to the 'View' tab, click 'Tables', and select 'Tracking' to view the progress tracking columns.
Locate the predecessor task that finished early. Enter the exact date it started in the 'Actual Start' column and input the completed duration (e.g., hours or days) in the 'Actual Duration' column.
Change the 'Remaining Duration' (or 'Remaining Work') to 0 to indicate the task is fully complete. Microsoft Project will immediately pull the successor task's start date forward to follow the newly calculated Finish date.
Need a simpler way to manage tasks? Try WPS Office
While Microsoft Project offers complex scheduling, many teams prefer managing timelines and task dependencies using straightforward spreadsheets. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, perfect for creating customizable Gantt charts and project trackers.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free on your PC, Mac, or mobile device.
- 2. Access Free Templates: Open WPS Spreadsheet, click on 'New', and browse the built-in Template library.
- 3. Track Your Project: Search for 'Gantt chart' or 'Project Tracker' to easily manage tasks, actual finish dates, and dependencies without complex software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't my successor task move when I change a custom finish date?
Microsoft Project strictly uses the standard 'Finish' field to calculate dependencies. Custom fields cannot act as link points for predecessor/successor relationships without advanced VBA programming.
How do I show that a task finished earlier than planned?
Update the 'Actual Duration' to reflect the actual time spent and change the 'Remaining Duration' to zero. MS Project will recalculate the standard Finish date automatically and adjust linked tasks.
Can I change the bars on the Gantt chart to use custom dates?
While you can customize Gantt chart bar styles to display custom date fields visually, modifying the display will not drive the actual scheduling logic or dependencies of the tasks.
