Set Deadlines for Tasks in Project- Instructions

Set Deadlines for Tasks in Project: Video Lesson

            This video lesson, titled “Setting Deadlines,” shows how to set deadlines for tasks in Project. This video lesson is from our complete Project tutorial, titled “Mastering Project Made Easy v.2016-2013.”

Set Deadlines for Tasks in Project: Overview

            You can easily set deadlines for tasks in Project. Many new Microsoft Project users accidentally make the mistake of using too many semi-flexible and inflexible task constraints. This often comes from the urge to set “Must Finish On” constraints or actual “Finish” dates when creating their tasks. Doing this then often produces an inflexible or semi-flexible constraint on the task. These types of constraints severely limit the task rescheduling potential of Microsoft Project.

            A better way to set task deadlines in Project is to simply set a deadline date for a task. Then use the default “As Soon As Possible (ASAP)” constraint. This way, Project can reschedule the task with the greatest flexibility. You can also view the deadline date for the task in the Gantt Chart.

            To set deadlines for tasks in Project, open the “Task Information” dialog box. Then click the “Advanced” tab within the “Task Information” dialog box. Then select the desired deadline date from the “Deadline:” drop-down. Finally, click the “OK” button to set the deadline date for the task.

Set Deadlines for Tasks in Project- Instructions: A picture of the “Advanced” tab in the “Task Information” dialog box where you can set the “Deadline” for a task.

            A deadline date indicator then appears for that task row within the Gantt Chart view of your project file. If the task is ever scheduled beyond the deadline date, Microsoft Project then displays a “Missed Deadline” task indicator. This task indicator appears in the “Indicators” column in the Gantt Chart view.

Set Deadlines for Tasks in Project: Instructions

1. To set deadlines for tasks in Project, open the “Task Information” dialog box.
2. Then click the “Advanced” tab within the “Task Information” dialog box.
3. Select the desired deadline date from the “Deadline:” drop-down.
4. Click the “OK” button to set the deadline date for the task.
5. A deadline date indicator then appears for that task row within the Gantt Chart view of your project file.
6. If the task is ever scheduled beyond the deadline date, Microsoft Project displays a “Missed Deadline” indicator for that task in the “Indicators” column in the Gantt Chart view.