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If you need to interrupt work on a task (task: An activity that has a beginning and an end. Project plans are made up of tasks.), you can split (split task: A task whose schedule is interrupted. For example, a two-day task that does not require contiguous work might be split so that the first day of work is scheduled for Monday, and the second day is scheduled for Thursday.) the task so that part of it starts later in the schedule.

When moving split tasks, you can choose to move just a portion of the split task, or you can choose to move the entire split task, with its gaps.

• Split a task

• Move one portion of a split task

• Move all portions of a split task

• Adjust the duration of a split task

• Modify the Gantt bar style for split tasks

Split a task

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.
2. Click Split Task .
3. On the task's Gantt bar, click the area of the bar on the date where you want the split to occur, and drag the second part of the bar to the date that you want work to begin again.

  Notes  

• You can split a task multiple times.
• To remove a split on a task, drag a portion of the Gantt bar so that it touches another portion.
• If you identify nonworking time on a calendar to indicate a split, the nonworking time will not appear as a split task on the Gantt Chart view.
• If your project has tasks that were already split, but you aren't sure why, your project may have been leveled while allowing splits to occur. To check your leveling (leveling: Resolving resource conflicts or overallocations by delaying or splitting certain tasks. When Project levels a resource, its selected assignments are distributed and rescheduled.) options, on the Tools menu, click Level Resources. In the Resource Leveling dialog box, select the Leveling can create splits in remaining work check box to allow splits as a result of leveling, or clear this check box to prevent splits during resource leveling.

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Move one portion of a split task

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.
2. Position the pointer over any portion of the split task other than the first portion. The cursor changes to a four-way arrow .
3. Drag the taskbar left to start the portion earlier or drag it right to start it later.

  Notes  

• If you drag the first portion of a split task, the entire task moves.
• If you drag a portion of a split task and drop it directly next to another portion, it will be incorporated into the other split task portion.
• If your project has tasks that were already split, but you aren't sure why, your project may have been leveled while allowing splits to occur. To check your leveling options, on the Tools menu, click Level Resources. In the Resource Leveling dialog box, select the Leveling can create splits in remaining work check box to allow splits as a result of leveling, or clear this check box to prevent splits during resource leveling.

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Move all portions of a split task

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.
2. Position the pointer over the first portion of the split task. The cursor changes to a four-way arrow .
3. Drag the taskbar left to start the task earlier, or drag it right to start the task later.

  Notes  

• If you drag any portion of a split task other than the first portion, you will move only that portion of the task, rather than the entire task.
• You can also change the start date or finish date to move the entire task and its related portions.
• If your project has tasks that were already split, but you aren't sure why, your project may have been leveled while allowing splits to occur. To check your leveling options, on the Tools menu, click Level Resources. In the Resource Leveling dialog box, select the Leveling can create splits in remaining work check box to allow splits as a result of leveling, or clear this check box to prevent splits during resource leveling.

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Adjust the duration of a split task

To change the duration (duration: The total span of active working time that is required to complete a task. This is generally the amount of working time from the start to finish of a task, as defined by the project and resource calendar.) of the entire split task (including all of its split portions), type a new duration in the Duration field for the task in the Gantt Chart view. You may want to move portions of the split task after changing the duration.

You can also adjust the duration of each portion of a split task.

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.
2. Position the pointer over the right end of any portion of the split task, until the cursor changes to an expansion arrow .
3. Drag to the left to shorten the duration of the portion, or drag to the right to lengthen the duration of the portion.

    Tip   To remove a split on a task, drag a portion of the split Gantt bar toward the other portion until both sides touch and join.

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Modify the Gantt bar style for split tasks

By default, split tasks are represented in the Gantt Chart view with dotted lines connecting each split portion. You can change the appearance of the split by modifying the split bar style.

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.
2. On the Format menu, click Bar Styles.
3. In the table, click Split in the Name column.
4. On the Bars tab, under Middle, click options for the split bar in the Shape, Pattern, and Color lists.

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