How to modify criteria for critical tasks

Question

We want to make sure that if any task's slack is anything frm 0 to 4 days it should fall on the critical path. So that we can track all tasks which are meeting business process's rule criticality. Is there a way to do it;

Answer 1

You can do it by changing the slack setting in File->Options->Advanced - scroll to bottom of page and in "Tasks are critical if slack is less than or equal to - give 4 days.

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Sapna Shukla

Answer 2

Project Beginner --

Yes, there is a way to customize the definition of Critical task on a project by project basis.  Click File > Options > Advanced.  At the bottom of the Advanced page, change the value in the Tasks Are Critical If Slack Is Less Than or Equal To field.  In the situation you describe, change the value to 4 days.  You can change this definition on each project, based on the size and scheduling needs of the project.

By the way, in following the above steps, you are asking Microsoft Project to show you the true Critical Path (tasks with Total Slack = 0 days) along with the Nearly Critical Path (tasks with Total Slack > 0 days).  There is a trick in the software that will allow to visually distinguish between the true Critical Tasks and the Nearly Critical tasks.  To do this, click the Format tab to display the Format ribbon.  In the Bar Styles section of the Format ribbon, select the Critical Tasks checkbox to display Critical and Nearly Critical tasks with red Gantt bars.  Then select the Slack checkbox as well.  Every Nearly Critical task that has Total Slack greater than 0 days will show a navy blue underscore to the right of the red Gantt bar, while truly Critical tasks will not display the underscore.

Hope this helps.

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Dale A. Howard [MVP]