MS Project Tip: Linking Tasks Durations

A task in a project schedule might have its duration dependent on another task. While dependencies like Finish-to-Finish (FF) or Start-to-Start (SS) allow you to link the finish or start dates of two tasks, they do do not have any impact on the duration of the dependent task.

The need to have duration of a task linked with another may arise for activities like "code review" whose duration is directly related to start and finish dates of "development." MS Project 2007 (not sure about older versions) allows you to use "copy and paste-special" to link duration of tasks.



Suppose, as shown in the above illustration, you need to link the finish date of "Review" with the finish date of "Task 2." First, copy the finish date of "Task 2" and then right click the finish date of "Review" and choose "Paste Special." Finally, choose "Paste Link" in the final screen. Bingo!