Lost Critical path (2024)

Discussion:

Lost Critical path

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Jpstewar

2010-01-07 14:05:01 UTC

A colleague of mine is working on a rather complex schedule. To date we've
been able to find the critical path. Last night he made some changes to it
and now the CP has disappeared, utterly gone. I can't imagine why this is
since there are a bunch of tasks that are linked so you would think it would
show *some* CP even if inaccurate. Can anyone list reasons why the CP would
not appear? Time is somewhat of the essence on this one as we are presenting
the CP this morning to start a crashing exercise. Thanks

unknown

2010-01-07 14:32:50 UTC

Permalink

Have you added a field called Critical to the table on the left? It may
just be that the Gantt Chart isn't displaying the bars in red - maybe you
changed the view inadvertently.

1) Add the Critical field. Confirm that some tasks display "Yes."
2) Toggle to the Tracking Gantt. That may solve your problems.
3) Go back to the original Gantt and run the Gantt Chart Wizard. (the magic
wand looking thingy)

- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Post by Jpstewar
A colleague of mine is working on a rather complex schedule. To date
we've been able to find the critical path. Last night he made some
changes to it and now the CP has disappeared, utterly gone. I can't
imagine why this is since there are a bunch of tasks that are linked
so you would think it would show *some* CP even if inaccurate. Can
anyone list reasons why the CP would not appear? Time is somewhat of
the essence on this one as we are presenting the CP this morning to
start a crashing exercise. Thanks

Permalink

The critical path is easily obscured if you key dates. Keyed dates establish
a "start/finish no earlier than" constraint that quickly obscures the
critical path.

In addition to the suggestions already posted, consider inserting the
Constraint Type and Constraint Date columns. You want as many tasks as
possible to be of type "As Soon As Possible"
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

Post by Jpstewar
A colleague of mine is working on a rather complex schedule. To date we've
been able to find the critical path. Last night he made some changes to it
and now the CP has disappeared, utterly gone. I can't imagine why this is
since there are a bunch of tasks that are linked so you would think it would
show *some* CP even if inaccurate. Can anyone list reasons why the CP would
not appear? Time is somewhat of the essence on this one as we are presenting
the CP this morning to start a crashing exercise. Thanks

Mike Glen

2010-01-07 20:35:23 UTC

Permalink

Hi Jpstewar,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup :)

Introducing any gap in the scheduled critical path will cut the critical path. This can be a date typed in or a task bar moved to the right. This is because the constraint so created is interpreted by the critical path calculation to be a discontinuity - a gap which equates to a delay or slack. This is why, when using automatic resource levelling, often the only critical task is the last one, as many of the tasks have been delayed awaiting a resource to become available.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials

"Jim Aksel" <***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:E7D87C34-B93F-4713-9229-***@microsoft.com...
The critical path is easily obscured if you key dates. Keyed dates establish
a "start/finish no earlier than" constraint that quickly obscures the
critical path.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

Post by Jpstewar
A colleague of mine is working on a rather complex schedule. To date we've
been able to find the critical path. Last night he made some changes to it
and now the CP has disappeared, utterly gone. I can't imagine why this is
since there are a bunch of tasks that are linked so you would think it would
show *some* CP even if inaccurate. Can anyone list reasons why the CP would
not appear? Time is somewhat of the essence on this one as we are presenting
the CP this morning to start a crashing exercise. Thanks

vanita

2010-01-08 08:05:01 UTC

Permalink

Check if there is an imposed date constraint for the last activity.

Due to modifications in the schedule, if the project is finishing before
this imposed date, you may lose the critical path.

I hope it helps.
Vanita
--
Project Management consultant and trainer

Post by Jpstewar
A colleague of mine is working on a rather complex schedule. To date we've
been able to find the critical path. Last night he made some changes to it
and now the CP has disappeared, utterly gone. I can't imagine why this is
since there are a bunch of tasks that are linked so you would think it would
show *some* CP even if inaccurate. Can anyone list reasons why the CP would
not appear? Time is somewhat of the essence on this one as we are presenting
the CP this morning to start a crashing exercise. Thanks

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Jpstewar2010-01-07 14:05:01 UTC

unknown2010-01-07 14:32:50 UTC

Rob Schneider2010-01-07 15:13:32 UTC

Trevor Rabey2010-01-07 15:32:33 UTC

Jim Aksel2010-01-07 16:43:01 UTC

Mike Glen2010-01-07 20:35:23 UTC

vanita2010-01-08 08:05:01 UTC

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The critical path method is a technique that allows you to identify tasks that are necessary for project completion. The critical path in project management is the longest sequence of activities that must be finished on time to complete the entire project.

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