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A task constraint is a restriction on the start or finish date of a task.
For example, a task representing a project deliverable with a required due date might have a Must Finish On constraint.
Note: You cannot place a task constraint on parent tasks since their planned start and finish dates are derived from their child tasks. A task that is converted to a parent task will lose its existing task constraint.
The default PPM constraint type is As Soon As Possible (ASAP).
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Constraint |
Description |
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None |
No constraints apply to the task. Task start and end dates can be changed.
This constraint is retained when a task is copied and pasted in the Task List.
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As Soon As Possible
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If no planned start date is specified, the task's planned start date is set at the earliest possible date in the task schedule. A task's type may affect the calculation of the earliest possible start date. For more information, see How Task Type Impacts Schedule Calculations.
Note: If this constraint is applied to a dependent task, the task's planned start date will shift to accommodate the dependency. If the dependency is later removed, the formerly dependent task maintains its current planned start date. If necessary, the task can be rescheduled manually.
This constraint is retained when a task is copied and pasted in the Task List.
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Must Start On |
The task must begin on the specified date.
The task start date cannot be modified.
If the task is linked to another task with a dependency and that task is moved in the project schedule, the dependency is removed.
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Must Finish On |
The task must end on the specified date.
The task finish date cannot be modified.
If the task is linked to another task with a dependency and that task is moved in the project schedule, the dependency is removed.
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You can add a constraint to a task when the task is first created. For more information on adding tasks, see Adding Tasks to a Project - Overview.
In the Gantt chart, you can add a constraint to a task by editing the task in the Task Details window. For more information, see Editing a Task in the Gantt Chart.
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