Predecessors Don't Increment When Inserting New Task

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Bill Bonds

2003-10-24 13:37:06 UTC

Inserting a new task does not increment predecessors.

In below example, Task10 is a predecessor of Task2.
Clicking Task9 and inserting a new task does not increment
Task2's predecessor to 11, which it should. However,
selecting Task3 and inserting a new task does increment
properly. Also, inserting 2 successive tasks, and then
deleting the second one, causes Project to correctly show
Task11 as Task2's predecessor.

Also, I just noticed, toggling out of and back into
Project forces update. What's going on here?

I'm using Project 2000 on NT4 SP6.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!

SummaryTask1
Task2
Task3
Task4
Task5
Task6
Task7
SummaryTask8
Task9
Task10
Task11
Task12
Task13
Task14

Rob Schneider

2003-10-24 14:42:22 UTC

Permalink

Bill,

But after the new task insertion (Under Task 8) in the Gantt chart,
doesn't the arrow still go from the end Task10 (ID=11) up to the front
of Task2 (ID=2)?

What you describe is not how Project works. Suggest you look more
closely at the the ID numbers that they are indeed changing.

If they aren't changing, then what is the ID for the newly inserted task
(under Task8) that you inserted. It should be ID=9. If not 9, then
what do you see?

When you talk about deleting to successive tasks, specifically which
Tasks are you referring to? Tasks between Task2 and Task10?

Not sure exactly what you mean by "update" ... are you refering to the
what happens when Calculation Mode is set for "automatic" (See Menu
Tools/Options, Tab: Calculation). Change the options on that page for
different behaviour.

Post by Bill Bonds
Inserting a new task does not increment predecessors.
In below example, Task10 is a predecessor of Task2.
Clicking Task9 and inserting a new task does not increment
Task2's predecessor to 11, which it should. However,
selecting Task3 and inserting a new task does increment
properly. Also, inserting 2 successive tasks, and then
deleting the second one, causes Project to correctly show
Task11 as Task2's predecessor.
Also, I just noticed, toggling out of and back into
Project forces update. What's going on here?
I'm using Project 2000 on NT4 SP6.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
SummaryTask1
Task2
Task3
Task4
Task5
Task6
Task7
SummaryTask8
Task9
Task10
Task11
Task12
Task13
Task14

Jack D.

2003-10-24 17:32:27 UTC

Permalink

Post by Rob Schneider
Bill,
But after the new task insertion (Under Task 8) in the Gantt chart,
doesn't the arrow still go from the end Task10 (ID=11) up to the front
of Task2 (ID=2)?
What you describe is not how Project works. Suggest you look more
closely at the the ID numbers that they are indeed changing.
If they aren't changing, then what is the ID for the newly inserted task
(under Task8) that you inserted. It should be ID=9. If not 9, then
what do you see?
When you talk about deleting to successive tasks, specifically which
Tasks are you referring to? Tasks between Task2 and Task10?
Not sure exactly what you mean by "update" ... are you refering to the
what happens when Calculation Mode is set for "automatic" (See Menu
Tools/Options, Tab: Calculation). Change the options on that page for
different behaviour.

Bill,

Look carefully at the calculation options that Rob mentioned. It sounds like
you are set to manual calculation.
If hitting the F9 key updates things, then you are definitely set to manual
recalc.

--
Please try to keep replies in this group. I do check e-mail, but only
infrequently. For Macros and other things check http://masamiki.com/project

-Jack Dahlgren, Project MVP

+++++++++++++++++++

Bill Bonds

2003-10-24 20:29:22 UTC

Permalink

Rob, Jack-

Thanks very much for your quick replies.

I am not in manual mode. (First thing I checked.)

Yes, the Gantt chart reflects the change correctly.
However, the value in Task2's predecessor column should
change from 10 to 11 when I insert a new task after Task8,
which is not happening.

When I insert 2 tasks beneath Task8---NewTask9 and
NewTask10, see below---and then delete NewTask10, Task2's
predecessor column changes ("updates")to 11.

Any ideas?

SummaryTask1
Task2
Task3
Task4
Task5
Task6
Task7
SummaryTask8
NewTask9
NewTask10<--- delete this one
Task9
Task10
Task11
Task12
Task13
Task14

-----Original Message-----

Post by Rob Schneider
Bill,
But after the new task insertion (Under Task 8) in the

Gantt chart,

Post by Rob Schneider
doesn't the arrow still go from the end Task10 (ID=11)

up to the front

Post by Rob Schneider
of Task2 (ID=2)?
What you describe is not how Project works. Suggest

you look more

Post by Rob Schneider
closely at the the ID numbers that they are indeed

changing.

Post by Rob Schneider
If they aren't changing, then what is the ID for the

newly inserted task

Post by Rob Schneider
(under Task8) that you inserted. It should be ID=9.

If not 9, then

Post by Rob Schneider
what do you see?
When you talk about deleting to successive tasks,

specifically which

Post by Rob Schneider
Tasks are you referring to? Tasks between Task2 and

Task10?

Post by Rob Schneider
Not sure exactly what you mean by "update" ... are you

refering to the

Post by Rob Schneider
what happens when Calculation Mode is set

for "automatic" (See Menu

Post by Rob Schneider
Tools/Options, Tab: Calculation). Change the options

on that page for

Post by Rob Schneider
different behaviour.

Bill,
Look carefully at the calculation options that Rob

mentioned. It sounds like

you are set to manual calculation.
If hitting the F9 key updates things, then you are

definitely set to manual

recalc.
--
Please try to keep replies in this group. I do check e-

mail, but only

infrequently. For Macros and other things check

http://masamiki.com/project

-Jack Dahlgren, Project MVP
+++++++++++++++++++
.

Rob Schneider

2003-10-25 11:16:02 UTC

Permalink

Bill,

Frankly, I have no idea. Sorry. My Project 2002 does not work as you
describe. when I insert a New task under 8, it changes the Predecessor
for Task 2 from 10 to 11. As it should. I can think of no settings
which would explain the difference (I also have manual recalculation,
but this change of ID is not something that waits for calculation).

You don't say what you see. You see it unchanged at 10? If it does,
then how to explain why arrow goes from 11 to 2, when 2's predecessor is
know to be 10 (per what you report).

Exactly what version of project do you have? I have 10.0.2002.0502.

It would be interesting to do a NetMeeting on your machine to see this
strange behaviour.

Post by Bill Bonds
Rob, Jack-
Thanks very much for your quick replies.
I am not in manual mode. (First thing I checked.)
Yes, the Gantt chart reflects the change correctly.
However, the value in Task2's predecessor column should
change from 10 to 11 when I insert a new task after Task8,
which is not happening.
When I insert 2 tasks beneath Task8---NewTask9 and
NewTask10, see below---and then delete NewTask10, Task2's
predecessor column changes ("updates")to 11.
Any ideas?
SummaryTask1
Task2
Task3
Task4
Task5
Task6
Task7
SummaryTask8
NewTask9
NewTask10<--- delete this one
Task9
Task10
Task11
Task12
Task13
Task14

-----Original Message-----

Post by Rob Schneider
Bill,
But after the new task insertion (Under Task 8) in the

Gantt chart,

Post by Rob Schneider
doesn't the arrow still go from the end Task10 (ID=11)

up to the front

Post by Rob Schneider
of Task2 (ID=2)?
What you describe is not how Project works. Suggest

you look more

Post by Rob Schneider
closely at the the ID numbers that they are indeed

changing.

Post by Rob Schneider
If they aren't changing, then what is the ID for the

newly inserted task

Post by Rob Schneider
(under Task8) that you inserted. It should be ID=9.

If not 9, then

Post by Rob Schneider
what do you see?
When you talk about deleting to successive tasks,

specifically which

Post by Rob Schneider
Tasks are you referring to? Tasks between Task2 and

Task10?

Post by Rob Schneider
Not sure exactly what you mean by "update" ... are you

refering to the

Post by Rob Schneider
what happens when Calculation Mode is set

for "automatic" (See Menu

Post by Rob Schneider
Tools/Options, Tab: Calculation). Change the options

on that page for

Post by Rob Schneider
different behaviour.

Bill,
Look carefully at the calculation options that Rob

mentioned. It sounds like

you are set to manual calculation.
If hitting the F9 key updates things, then you are

definitely set to manual

recalc.
--
Please try to keep replies in this group. I do check e-

mail, but only

infrequently. For Macros and other things check

http://masamiki.com/project

-Jack Dahlgren, Project MVP
+++++++++++++++++++
.

Mike Glen

2003-10-24 20:50:46 UTC

Permalink

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the Microsoft Project newsgroup :-)

Try: Tools/Options.../Schedule tab - check Autolink inserted or moved
tasks. However, I don't recommend this - I'd rather be responsible for
adjusting logic links myself than let Project do whatever and not know what
it's done!

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on:-)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP

Steve House

2003-10-25 11:20:20 UTC

Permalink

I've tried but cannot duplicate your problem. Tasks A(#1), B(#2) C(#3)
D(#4), links FS 1->3 and FS 4->2 to get some links flowing each direction.
Insert Task X between B & C. Task X becomes #3, C becomes #4, and D becomes
#5. Links automatically adjust to read 1->4 and 5->2 with the correct task
ID numbers in both predecessor and successor columns.
--
Steve House
MS Project MVP
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

David Hunsberger

2003-10-26 13:48:44 UTC

Permalink

Bill, other replies have covered what Project is supposed
to do, but your comment "toggling out of and back into
Project forces update" gives me a clue to another
explanation.

There is a "screen refresh error" condition that has
plagued all versions of Project from 98 up through Project
2002 (I've not checked P2003 yet). I get this to varying
degrees on many different computers I use and teach on.
When scrolling around in your project suddenly the rows
and columns appear misaligned somehow. Data in one row
don't match the columns in the next rows, etc. I have
found that minimizing and remaximizing the MS Project
window always solves it, until it happens again.

What is happening is you are forcing a total screen
refresh, and that is the same as toggling away from and
back to Project, as you described it. I don't recall
seeing anything written about this in the Knowledge Base,
but it seems that many types of computers, monitors, and
screen drivers have some communications glitches with
Project and rarely other applications that cause the
screen to refresh only partially, with "old" data
remaining on part of the screen. Sometimes it is an
obvious jumble, other times it is very subtle and
alarming, seeming to show work data in a cost column, date
information in a text column, etc.

Others who see this reply may be able to offer a better
technical explanation, and may know what hardware and
monitor driver factors are involved, but I can assure you
I have seen this problem many times on many machines, so
you are not going mad. Rebooting seems to help also, as
if there were a gradual degradation of the controls
affecting screen behavior over time till the next reboot.
I have seen this behavior in Excel also, rarely, but
mostly in Project.

The answer is to minimize and remaximize the screen, and
rebooting at your next opportunity may help as well.

Regards,
David Hunsberger
Microsoft Project Instructor
www.it7.com

-----Original Message-----
Inserting a new task does not increment predecessors.
In below example, Task10 is a predecessor of Task2.
Clicking Task9 and inserting a new task does not

increment

Task2's predecessor to 11, which it should. However,
selecting Task3 and inserting a new task does increment
properly. Also, inserting 2 successive tasks, and then
deleting the second one, causes Project to correctly show
Task11 as Task2's predecessor.
Also, I just noticed, toggling out of and back into
Project forces update. What's going on here?
I'm using Project 2000 on NT4 SP6.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
SummaryTask1
Task2
Task3
Task4
Task5
Task6
Task7
SummaryTask8
Task9
Task10
Task11
Task12
Task13
Task14
.

Rob Schneider

2003-10-26 18:22:17 UTC

Permalink

David,

Excellent diagnosis. I don't ever recall experiencing about this screen
refresh error, thus even if I heard about it it probably went in one ear
and out the other.. Probably the root-cause.

rms

Post by David Hunsberger
Bill, other replies have covered what Project is supposed
to do, but your comment "toggling out of and back into
Project forces update" gives me a clue to another
explanation.
There is a "screen refresh error" condition that has
plagued all versions of Project from 98 up through Project
2002 (I've not checked P2003 yet). I get this to varying
degrees on many different computers I use and teach on.
When scrolling around in your project suddenly the rows
and columns appear misaligned somehow. Data in one row
don't match the columns in the next rows, etc. I have
found that minimizing and remaximizing the MS Project
window always solves it, until it happens again.
What is happening is you are forcing a total screen
refresh, and that is the same as toggling away from and
back to Project, as you described it. I don't recall
seeing anything written about this in the Knowledge Base,
but it seems that many types of computers, monitors, and
screen drivers have some communications glitches with
Project and rarely other applications that cause the
screen to refresh only partially, with "old" data
remaining on part of the screen. Sometimes it is an
obvious jumble, other times it is very subtle and
alarming, seeming to show work data in a cost column, date
information in a text column, etc.
Others who see this reply may be able to offer a better
technical explanation, and may know what hardware and
monitor driver factors are involved, but I can assure you
I have seen this problem many times on many machines, so
you are not going mad. Rebooting seems to help also, as
if there were a gradual degradation of the controls
affecting screen behavior over time till the next reboot.
I have seen this behavior in Excel also, rarely, but
mostly in Project.
The answer is to minimize and remaximize the screen, and
rebooting at your next opportunity may help as well.
Regards,
David Hunsberger
Microsoft Project Instructor
www.it7.com

-----Original Message-----
Inserting a new task does not increment predecessors.
In below example, Task10 is a predecessor of Task2.
Clicking Task9 and inserting a new task does not

increment

Bill Bonds

2003-10-27 12:27:13 UTC

Permalink

David, Rob et al:

Thanks very much for your help.

It is reassuring to confrim that I'm not losing my mind!

Thanks again.

-----Original Message-----
David,
Excellent diagnosis. I don't ever recall experiencing

about this screen

refresh error, thus even if I heard about it it probably

went in one ear

and out the other.. Probably the root-cause.
rms

Post by David Hunsberger
Bill, other replies have covered what Project is

supposed

Post by David Hunsberger
to do, but your comment "toggling out of and back into
Project forces update" gives me a clue to another
explanation.
There is a "screen refresh error" condition that has
plagued all versions of Project from 98 up through

Project

Post by David Hunsberger
2002 (I've not checked P2003 yet). I get this to

varying

Post by David Hunsberger
degrees on many different computers I use and teach

on.

Post by David Hunsberger
When scrolling around in your project suddenly the rows
and columns appear misaligned somehow. Data in one row
don't match the columns in the next rows, etc. I have
found that minimizing and remaximizing the MS Project
window always solves it, until it happens again.
What is happening is you are forcing a total screen
refresh, and that is the same as toggling away from and
back to Project, as you described it. I don't recall
seeing anything written about this in the Knowledge

Base,

Post by David Hunsberger
but it seems that many types of computers, monitors,

and

Post by David Hunsberger
screen drivers have some communications glitches with
Project and rarely other applications that cause the
screen to refresh only partially, with "old" data
remaining on part of the screen. Sometimes it is an
obvious jumble, other times it is very subtle and
alarming, seeming to show work data in a cost column,

date

Post by David Hunsberger
information in a text column, etc.
Others who see this reply may be able to offer a better
technical explanation, and may know what hardware and
monitor driver factors are involved, but I can assure

you

Post by David Hunsberger
I have seen this problem many times on many machines,

Post by David Hunsberger
you are not going mad. Rebooting seems to help also,

Post by David Hunsberger
if there were a gradual degradation of the controls
affecting screen behavior over time till the next

reboot.

Post by David Hunsberger
I have seen this behavior in Excel also, rarely, but
mostly in Project.
The answer is to minimize and remaximize the screen,

and

Post by David Hunsberger
rebooting at your next opportunity may help as well.
Regards,
David Hunsberger
Microsoft Project Instructor
www.it7.com

-----Original Message-----
Inserting a new task does not increment predecessors.
In below example, Task10 is a predecessor of Task2.
Clicking Task9 and inserting a new task does not

increment

show

Post by David Hunsberger

Task11 as Task2's predecessor.
Also, I just noticed, toggling out of and back into
Project forces update. What's going on here?
I'm using Project 2000 on NT4 SP6.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
SummaryTask1
Task2
Task3
Task4
Task5
Task6
Task7
SummaryTask8
Task9
Task10
Task11
Task12
Task13
Task14
.

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