Planning tasks slack in MS Project Pro

Contents:

1. Planning tasks slack in MS Project Pro
2. Create the graphical indicator tasks slack in MS Project Pro
3. Chat

Planning tasks slack in MS Project Pro

Using the deadline columns you can set time slack for non-critical tasks. This makes it easy to plan time reserves and additionally track the timing of tasks.

Steps to set time slack for non-critical tasks in MS Project Pro:

1. Open the Gantt chart view.
2. Add columns: "Finish", "Deadline" and "Total Slack".
3. Set the deadline task in the "Deadline" field. To determine the deadline, add the number of days of the slack to the end date of the task. "Deadline" = "Finish" + "Total Slack".

To track the use of reserves, create a custom column for a graphical indicator in MS Project Pro. The graphical indicator is placed by custom field. We must create custom field and set the data in this field. We can use the formula to set the data in the field.

Steps to create the formula for the graphical indicator in MS Project Pro:

1. Click the “Project” item in the top menu.
2. Click the “Custom Field” button in the “Properties” block.
3. Set the “Task” in the block field.
4. Select the “Duraction” in the “Type:” field.
5. Select the empty row of the list of the field.
6. Rename the field:
   1. Click the “Rename …” button.
   2. Entered the “GI Variance” in the field “Gr. Slack”.
   3. Click “Ok” button.
7. Add the formula:
   1. Click the “Formula …” button.
   2. Click the “Field” button in the “Formula for “Gr. Slack” window.
   3. Select the “Total Slack”.
   4. Click the “Ok” button.
8. Set the calculation for task and summary group by click the “Use formula” box.
9. Click the “Ok” button.
10. Add your custom field and check.

Create the graphical indicator tasks slack in MS Project Pro

Steps to create the formula for the graphical indicator tasks slack in MS Project Pro:

1. Click the “Project” item in the top menu.
2. Click the “Custom Field” button in the “Properties” block.
3. Set the “Task” in the block field.
4. Select the “Duraction” in the “Type:” field.
5. Click the "Graphical indecators ..." button.
6. Select the "is greater than or equal to" in the "Test for "Gr. Slack" field.
7. Set the "5d" in the "Value(s)" field.
8. Set the green image in the "Image" field.
9. Add a new row.
10. Select the "is less than" in the "Test for "Gr. Slack" field.
11. Set the "5d" in the "Value(s)" field.
12. Set the red image in the "Image" field.
13. Click the "Show data values in ToolTips" box.
14. Set rules for the summary rows:
    1. Click the "Summary rows" box.
    2. Click the "Summary rows inherit criteria from nonsummary rows" box.
15. Set rules for the project summary rows:
    1. Click the "Project summary" box.
    2. Click the "Project summary rows inherit criteria from summary rows" box.
    3. Click the “Ok” button in the "Graphical Indicators for "GI Variance" window.
16. Click the “Ok” button