Move dependent symbols based on duration

By default, when moving a symbol (predecessor), that symbol's dependent symbols (successors) may be moved to a date outside the workday time period or to a non-working day. By checking Always move dependent symbols based upon duration, the dependent tasks will move the amount of working time the parent symbol was moved. This prevents tasks from being pushed into non-working times and ensures duration values remain constant for the dependent tasks.

Note that if a parent symbol is shifted within a block of non-working time (e.g. from a non-working Saturday to a non-working Sunday), then the dependent symbols will not shift since the parent's date change had a net zero effect on duration.

In summary, to force dependent symbols to move to the next workday time period and thus maintain the integrity of the duration values, check Always move dependent symbols based upon duration.

Toggle this feature on/off:

1. Choose Tools | Program Options | Dates.

2. Check/uncheck Always move dependent symbols based upon duration.

Example 1:

In this example, the task begins on Monday and ends on Friday. The weekends are shaded and are non-working days

 Always move dependent symbols based upon duration. When this is checked, moving the start date forward by one day results in the end date moving ahead one day, to the next working day, as shown below. The duration would remain as five days.

 Always move dependent symbols based upon duration. When this is unchecked, moving the start date forward by one day results in the end date moving ahead one day, to the next day regardless of working/non-working days, as shown below. The duration would change to four days if weekends are non-working days.

Example 2:

In this example the workday is from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Referring to the task bars above, with  Always move dependent symbols based upon duration (checked), moving the 12:30 start time forward by two hours would result in this new display, as shown below. The dependent task moved forward 2 hours to the next available working time of 8:00 A.M. on the next working day.

With  Always move dependent symbols based upon duration (unchecked), moving the 12:30 start time forward by two hours would result in this new display, as shown below. The dependent task moved forward 2 hours; however, the workday end time of 5:00 is not a factor in placement of this task bar. That is, the dependent task bar does not move to the next available workday time.