Project Task Due Dates based on Start Date or Go Live Date

BristolCVN

Hi all,

I found several similar questions/posts but not sure what would work best in my scenario. I am overhauling our Client Implementation process and we currently use a sheet for all project tasks that have a start and end dates, but currently it is a semi-manual process updating the dates. I will be adding "Due" dates for each task and would like to have it so that if I enter an Implementation Start Date OR a anticipated "Go-Live" date, that all project tasks would be updated based on either on of those triggers. A duration would be set for each tasks, thereby being able to have a due date, but what would be the best practice to achieve all project task dates being updated automatically based on either a Start Date or Go-Live Date. Obviously, the Go-Live Date would most likely be based on a 90-day process. Thanks in advance!

Leroy Noriega

Right click the column and select 'Edit Project Settings'. Modify the dependency settings to match your start and end date columns. Select 'Dependencies enabled', this will add in Duration and Predecessors to your project sheet. You can now start adding predecessors to your projects.

BristolCVN

Hi Leroy, thanks for your response, but that doesn't address my question.

I am already using the Template Set for Client Implementation. Typically, when we bring on a new client, the timeline is based on either 2 trigger dates. 1) Want to implement in # days (i.e. 90 days) or 2) We want to go live on XX/XX/XXXX.

So what I am trying to do is when creating a timeline for a client using a template, I'd like to either enter the number of days for implementation or a Go-Live Date and have all the Start & End Dates update automatically based on either one of those triggers. The tasks all have start & end dates, duration and any predecessors.

JEL7

Did you get this figured out? I am trying to do the same!

BristolCVN

@JEL7 Hi, no, still trying to figure this out.

Georgie

Hi @BristolCVN and @JEL7,

This is isn’t currently possible, since the way to do it would be to use formulas in the Start Date/End Date columns - however, formulas cannot be used in date fields that are used in the Project Settings. You’d be able to create a new date column and use a formula there, but this wouldn’t then allow you to use the predecessors, duration, etc on those dates. Take a look at this community thread for more information: Ability to automatically update end date on a row, after row is created based on create date.

If you have access to Resource Management (RM), you could sync your Smartsheet projects with RM and then you’d be able to copy projects and shift the project dates in the copied project - take a look here for more on this: Navigate the Project Page in Resource Management

You may also want to add your vote to the following ideas:

• Remove Restrictions for all Start/Finish and Duration Entry(via Formula on all date fields)
• Allow Gantt view to use Date columns with Column Formulas for Start/End

Hope that helps!

Georgie