Late Start (task field)

Data Type    Date

Entry Type    Calculated

Description    The Late Start field contains the latest date that a task can start without delaying the finish of the project. This date is based on the task's start date, as well as on the late start and late finish dates of predecessor and successor tasks, and other constraints.

How Calculated    When you first create a task, its late start date is the same as the project finish date minus the task duration. As you link the task to predecessors and successors and apply any other constraints, Microsoft Office Project calculates the late start date as the last possible date this task could be started if all predecessor and successor tasks also start and finish on their late start and late finish dates. These calculations are based on a fixed task duration. If there is a leveling delay on successor tasks, this delay is also figured into the date in the Late Start field.

Best Uses    Add the Late Start field to a task view, along with the Early Start, Early Finish, and Late Finish fields, to analyze slack time in your schedule.

Example    Several critical tasks are slipping and are likely to cause the entire project to be severely delayed. You add the Early Start, Early Finish, Late Start, and Late Finish fields to the Task Sheet view, so that you can analyze the delays and find any available slack time.