![]() The most important tasks to watch are those that have zero total float values. Note in particular the ‘Free Slack’ and ‘Total Slack’ data columns, which are Microsoft Project’s terminology for free float and total float. We have in Figure 1 our demonstration project. This article describes how to display both total float and free float on the Gantt chart in Microsoft Project 2013. In Microsoft Project both float bars may be displayed directly on the Gantt chart supporting more in-depth schedule analysis. But the beauty of scheduling software is its ability to describe schedule dynamics in a pictorial Gantt chart.ĭisplaying both the total float and free float of tasks on the Gantt chart provides the scheduler with greater insight into schedule flexibility. Most scheduling software is helpful because it lists both total float and free float data. Free float more stringently warns of a task’s potential for delaying other related tasks. Total float measures the potential for project schedule delays. A lesser known, but helpful tool is free float, which tells how many days a task can postpone without delaying a successor task. Total float is important because it specifies how many days a task can postpone without delaying the entire schedule. Reason: Situation 2 proves that this solution is wrong.Ī good solution would be one that defines another link – i.e.How to display free float and total float Gantt Chart bars in Microsoft Project. ![]() Most people I know would be exasperated just trying to define their project in such a detailed manner (particularly if this concerns projects that contain several hundreds of thousands of activities).Ī bad solution would be saying: “you cannot use the FF link use the SS link instead”. This solution is very clumsy and requires lots of work. Now all that remains is disassembling ‘c’ so that the link between ‘b2’ and ‘c’ is FS. You can forgo the SS or FF links only if you specify the activities and disassemble them to sub-activities, until no SS or FF links are necessary.įor instance, in Situation 1, if we disassemble Activity ‘b’ to Activities ‘b1’ and ‘b2’, Activity ‘c’ will only begin after ‘b1’, in parallel to ‘b2’ – we can forgo one link. The worst solution is saying: “do not use the SS or FF link” – because you need them, and they are valid in reality. Therefore, you need to one-up them there are two possible solutions: The Project software does not allow linking two activities with two different links. For instance, this problem would have us link Activity B to Activity C with the SS+4 days link and with the FF+1 day link, thereby preventing Activity B from ending after the project’s completion or Activity C from starting before the project begins. Primavera P6 software solved the problem by allowing to link two activities with numerous links. If you count from 0 to 3 in binary, you get: 00, 01, 10, 11. The nitpickers would probably ask – why does this exist? It may be possible to go back in time in films or in books, but as of today, it is not possible in real life – and should not be used in projects. BUT, if you flip the timeline – this link is exactly FS, just in the other direction! Meaning, if you’re planning a project from end to start – it is a logical link!Īs much as it’s important to maintain mindset flexibility – and plan a project from start to finish and vice versa, because we can only move from today to tomorrow during execution – when building a schedule: do not use this link! This link makes no sense – if you’re looking at it on a timeline. When Activity G precedes Activity H with the SF link, it means that only once Activity G begins, Activity H can end. ![]() This is the strangest link out there – if you try to think of it like the other links: When Task E precedes Task F with FF link, it means that only once Task E ends will Task F be able to end.Įxample: upon completing the experiment, its documentation can be completed. When Activity C precedes Activity D with the SS link, it means that only once Activity C begins will Activity D be able to begin.Įxample: only once the lecturer begins speaking, students can begin taking notes. When Task A precedes Task B with the FS link, it means that only once Task A ends will Task B be able to start.Īs most links between activities are FS links, the letters are not written in the link title in the Predecessors and Successors columns.Įxample : after finishing writing the script for a TV episode, filming can begin.
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