Forum Discussion
Yaakov_Shaked
Mar 13, 2023Copper Contributor
"Deadlines" to start by
Deadlines are useful, since they do not shift when the project is recalculated. Is there a way to set a "deadline" that indicates - "must start by", instead of "must be completed by"? (I guess I co...
Ignacio_Martin
Mar 17, 2023Iron Contributor
You can try the Schedule from: Project Start Date option in Project / Properties / Project Information, and Project will calculate a Start date from a Finish date, based on the current schedule.
Regards
- John-projectMar 17, 2023Silver ContributorIgnacio_Martin,
I think you have a typo. I think you meant to say, Schedule from: Project Finish Date.
Unfortunately, although reverse scheduling may sound like a good idea to users who want to "nail down" the plan's finish, it generally results in a lot of confusion and unexpected scheduling.
John- Ignacio_MartinMar 18, 2023Iron Contributor
"My apologies and thanks to John for detecting that typo error"
"The correct procedure to schedule backward from the Project Finish Date is as follows: go to Project / Properties / Project Information, and Project will calculate a Start date from a Finish date, based on the current schedule.
Although this option is not usually recommended, it can be useful for simulations such as 'When should I start if I want to finish on a certain date?' Later, the result can be used as a starting point for a new or adjusted schedule of the existing one"
- John-projectMar 18, 2023Silver ContributorIgnacio_Martin,
No problem, I've made my share of typos also 🙂
I agree that as a starting point, setting the finish date and then laying out the plan in reverse could be a first step, much like using manual scheduling. However, once a good plan is in place I believe a change to forward scheduling (with all tasks auto-scheduled) is a more natural, better approach.
John