Let Me Try!

Linking Tasks
In this exercise, youll link tasks using default assumptions about task dependencies.

1. Open Home Construction 2E from your course dataset folder, and take a moment to examine
the project plan.
In this plan, all durations for the task list have been added. The Gantt bars on the right side of
the Gantt Chart view reflect the durations for all 54 tasks in the project plan. You will now begin
linking these tasks using the default dependency Finish-to-Start.

2. Select task 1 by choosing the header for row number 1.

3. Press and hold the (Ctrl) key, then click the row 4 header.

Task numbers 1 and 4 are now selected. You will use this selection technique several times in
this exercise.

4. Click the TaskScheduleLink Selected Tasks button to create a link between the
selected tasks.

Project draws a link line on the right side of the Gantt Chart view between tasks 1and 4, as
shown below.

5. Select tasks 4, 5, and 6, and link them.

As you link tasks, Microsoft Project updates the Gantt bars on the right side of the Gantt Chart
view, extending them into the future. Note that the Finish date column shows a completion date
of 7/3/14 for task 6.
 Let Me Try!

6. Examine task 3; it is a summary task and its start and finish dates are a rollup of the dates for
its subordinate tasks. Task 3 runs from 6/17/14 to 7/3/14.

7. Select tasks 3 and 7, then link them.

Why link tasks 3 and 7? Because task 7 is not within the summary task 3, and you want task 7
to follow all of the tasks in summary task 3.

Note that the Gantt bars on the right of the Gantt Chart view have begun to extend off the right
side of the screen.
8. Select the row number for task 7, hold down (Shift) and select the row number for task 14;
then link them.

The Finish date for task 14 is now set to 7/29/14, but you cannot see the end of the Gantt bars
in late July, so next youll modify the view of the Gantt bars to display the entire project.

9. Choose View->Zoom->Entire Project .

Check your project plan against the illustration below. The Gantt bars on the right of the Gantt
Chart view show the project tasks running from 6/16/14 to 7/29/14.

10. Save your file and close it.