SS and FF simultaneously

[newtolivieri]

I'm having a hard time with a problem. I found considerably satisfactory workaround, but I would like to learn how to fix this... I believe it's simple.

Consider 3 activities: 1, 2 and 3.

For 2: 1 is the predecessor (a standard "Finish-to-Start")

I would like activity 3 to start with activity 1 *and* finish with activity 2

The first thing I tried was:
For 3: 1SS,2FF

Project doesn't complain when I do this, but when I pin the "2FF", the beginning of activity 3 shifts for date after the beginning of activity 1.

The duration of 3 is maintained, that's why the start shifts. I would like the duration of 3 to be a result of the duration of 1 and 2.

Is this possible? What settings could I have messed up to avoid such behavior?

Thanks in advance!

[newtolivieri]

For the record, the solution that I found was pasting a link to the dates from the activities with which I wanted to sync start and finish dates...

[JulieS]

Hello,

It sounds as though you found Hammock tasks in Microsoft Project. For those not familiar with hammock tasks see:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/141733

[newtolivieri]

Thanks for the reply! What is suggested in the link is what I initially did, but thought it to be a workaround. =)

[JulieS]

You are most welcome. It is a 'workaround' -- but it's a fairly widely accepted workaround :-)

[mbbackus]

Will this work with external dependencies as well?

[JulieS]

In quick testing, it appears not.

[mbbackus]

Thanks! You always have good advice;-)
That being said, we tried it anyway. It didn't work at first, but we realized the two projects had different calendars. Once we made sure both were on the same calendar, it was better. Not sure I can say it worked because the pasted dates weren't the same in the documents (?) but they were within a couple of days of each other. We decided to make a note of it and to monitor the situation whenever we make updates.
I'm wondering if the time difference stems from having a successor to the task that is the hammock. I read that you should avoid having a successor to a hammock.
There is so much to learn!!

[JulieS]

I would be more concerned about a predecessor to a hammock task than a successor.

You might have more success using two milestones to capture the start and finish dates and then trying the hammock tasks driving off those milestones.