Automatically adjust the start and finish dates for new projects

You can use the Adjust Dates macro to adjust all the start and finish dates for the tasks in your project in relation to a new project start date. Tasks with constraints are also adjusted.

For example, you are planning a project for the current year that is similar to another project that was completed the previous year. You can copy the .mpp file from the previous year and then run the Adjust Dates macro in the copied plan to move the dates from last year to this year. The tasks will be moved to the same position in the project, but in relation to the new project start date. So a task that began two months after the project start date in the old project will be adjusted to start two months after the new project start date. The duration will remain the same, and the finish date will be adjusted accordingly.

Tasks that have been started or finished, with the actual data captured in the plan, cannot be rescheduled. Because the Adjust Dates macro reschedules tasks, you must remove all actuals from the copied plan before running the Adjust Dates macro.

Remove actuals from your project plan

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.

2. Select all tasks in the grid.

3. Click Task Information .

4. On the General tab, type 0 in the Percent complete box.

Run the Adjust Dates macro

1. Click Adjust Dates on the Analysis toolbar.

   To display the Analysis toolbar, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Analysis.

2. Type the new date in the Enter a new project start date box, and then click OK.

   Note: If the new project start date falls on a nonworking day according to the plan's calendar, the tasks will be adjusted to start on the first available working day.

Security Note: Because macros can contain viruses, be careful about running them. Take the following precautions: run up-to-date antivirus software on your computer; set your macro security level to high; clear the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box; use digital signatures; maintain a list of trusted publishers.