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Constraints (constraint: A restriction set on the start or finish date of a task. You can specify that a task must start on or finish no later than a particular date. Constraints can be flexible [not tied to a specific date] or inflexible [tied to a specific date].) are often mistaken for deadlines (deadline: A target date indicating when you want a task to be completed. If the deadline date passes and the task is not completed, Project displays an indicator.) and are therefore erroneously applied, which restricts the scheduling flexibility of Microsoft Office Project 2003. You may want to review your tasks with constraints and make sure they are valid.

1. On the View menu, click Gantt Chart.
2. Rest the pointer on the constraint indicator ( or ) to see the constraint type and date.
3. To get more information about a task with a date constraint, click the task, and then click Task Information .
4. Click the Predecessors tab.
5. Review the predecessors of the task to determine how the predecessors influence the scheduling of this task.

   You might find that the predecessors are sufficient to control the task scheduling constraint that's applied.

Notes

• Dragging a Gantt bar automatically applies a Start No Earlier Than constraint, which may be done inadvertently.
• You can also review all tasks with their constraints by applying the Constraint Dates table. The Constraint Dates table shows the task name, duration, constraint type for all constraints (even As Soon As Possible), and the constraint date, as applicable.
• You can categorize all tasks with constraints by applying the Constraint Type group. The grouped tasks will be sorted alphabetically.
• You can focus on those tasks that have a date constraint by applying the Tasks With Fixed Dates filter. Use this option if you don't need to see the tasks in the context of their predecessors or other tasks.