Editing task pools

Once a task pool has been created, you can edit it in much the same way that you edit any summary group or chart within the project hierarchy. For example, you can create, edit and delete tasks within a task pool, link the tasks and assign resources, calendars, codes, etc to items within the task pool. You can also create, edit and delete subcharts and summary groups within more complex task pools.

Restrictions when editing task pools

• You cannot create links within task pools that start or finish outside the task pool.
• You cannot indicate that charts or summary groups within task pools represent individual projects.
• You cannot mark progress against the tasks within task pools.
• You cannot reschedule the tasks within task pools.
• You cannot level resources within task pools.

Aligning tasks within task pools according to their links

You can align the tasks within a task pool according to their links. This helps with setting up task pools, especially if you have added, deleted or changed any of the tasks in a task pool after its initial creation.

To align the tasks in a task pool, right-click the task pool in the project view and select Align Tasks from the menu that appears.

Notes on aligning tasks in a task pool according to their links

• Your current reschedule options are used when aligning the tasks in a task pool, although tasks with no incoming links are always left as they are drawn, regardless of these settings.
• If your reschedule options state that the progress line is straightened to the report date of a particular progress period, this also happens when you align the tasks in a task pool.
• If any link loops are detected, these are reported; however, it is not possible to view the tasks that are in a link loop.
• No violations of finish constraint flags are reported, even if these exist, as unlike reschedules, there is no backward pass through the tasks when aligning the tasks in a task pool.

When you create a task pool, its name is initially the same as that of the expanded or summary task on which it is based. You can rename a task pool by right-clicking it in the project view and selecting Rename from the menu that appears.

To delete a task pool, right-click it in the project view and select Delete from the menu that appears. The task pool is deleted from the list of task pools in the project view. Note that if you delete a task pool, any networks of tasks that you have created using the task pool are unaffected.

You can define access rights for task pools using the General tab of the Security Group Properties dialog. For example, you may want to prevent certain users from being able to edit task pools and to prevent other users from being able to see task pools at all.