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When you build a new project plan, you need to specify whether you want to schedule your project from a start date (start date: The date when a task is scheduled to begin. This date is based on the duration, calendars, and constraints of predecessor and successor tasks. A task's start date is also based on its own calendars and constraints.) or finish date (finish date: The date that a task is scheduled to be completed. This date is based on the task's start date, duration, calendars, predecessor dates, task dependencies, and constraints.) and then set that date.

1. On the Project menu, click Project Information.
2. To schedule from the start date, click Project Start Date in the Schedule from box.

   To schedule from the finish date, click Project Finish Date in the Schedule from box.

3. In the Start date box or Finish date box, type or select a start date or finish date for your project.

   Note  If you choose to schedule from the finish date and determine how late you can start a project and still finish by a particular date, it's often preferable to switch back to scheduling from the start date when work begins on the project.

Notes

• You cannot set the project start date and the finish date at the same time. For example, if you are scheduling from the project start date, you won't be able to change the finish date using the Project Information dialog box, because Project will automatically calculate this date as your project changes.
• If the finish date doesn't change after you've changed the start date, then one or more tasks may have a date constraint (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].) applied. Review the constraints in your plan to make sure they're necessary and appropriate.
• If the start date doesn't change after you've changed the finish date, one or more tasks may have actual  (actual: Information that shows what has actually occurred. For example, the actual start date for a task is the day that the task actually started.)progress reported, or it may have a date constraint applied. Review the constraints in your plan to make sure they're necessary and appropriate.
• You can change the project start date or finish date any time, even after you have built your project plan. For example, you can make your start date earlier if you're trying to meet a specific finish date and your schedule extends beyond that date.
• You can also click Adjust Dates on the Analysis toolbar to change the start or finish date. When you adjust dates, tasks with date constraints move to a date in relation to the new start or finish date you entered.