Link Properties dialog - Details tab
You use the Details tab of the
Link Properties dialog to view and edit the attributes of the selected link.
This tab also displays the total and free float of the selected link. This information is used when calculating logical paths.
How to access the Link Properties dialog
To access the Link Properties dialog, right-click a link in the bar chart and select Properties.
Explanation of the fields on the dialog
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Link type |
Specify whether the link is drawn from the finish of one task to the start of another (FS); from the finish of one task to the finish of another (FF); from the start of one task to the finish of another (SF); or from the start of one task to the start of another (SS).
If you change the link type, the link only moves if it has no lead/lag time; if the link has lead/lag time, it does not move, but its lead/lag periods are recalculated relative to the start or finish of the task as appropriate.
|
| Link category |
Select the category in which to place the link. Click Properties to view and edit the details of the link category.
You can define any number of link categories in Library Explorer and choose which categories are displayed at any one time using the Links tab of the Format Bar Chart dialog. For example, you might want to place all your commercially-sensitive links in a Sensitive category and only display that category when discussing the project with senior management. |
| Slope |
The working duration across which the link slopes.
|
| Logical lead/lag |
The sum of the lead/lag time at the start of the link and the finish of the link.
|
| Maximum slope |
Select this check box to apply a maximum slope to the link, ie to specify a maximum allowable limit to the lag between the predecessor and successor tasks, or clear the check box to enable the link to have any amount of slope.
If you select this check box, enter the period of maximum slope in the field to the right.
|
| Annotate lead/lag |
Select this check box to display the amount of lead/lag on the bar chart next to the link, or clear the check box to display the link without a lead/lag annotation.
Lead/lag annotations are displayed using the font settings you specify for task data display on the Tasks tab of the Format Bar Chart dialog. |
| Maintain task offsets |
Normal links display 'Never' in this field. Editing this field for existing links and changing it from 'Never' to either 'Working' or 'Elapsed' is a way of maintaining the offsets between two tasks that are already linked. Select 'Working' if you want the offset to be calculated according to the task calendar, or 'Elapsed' if you want it to be calculated in elapsed time.
Once you have configured a link so that the offset between the tasks is maintained, you can move the tasks at the ends of the link manually to increase or decrease the offset between them without this changed offsets being overridden when the project is rescheduled: if you drag a predecessor task so that the offset between it and its successor task is twice what it was, this new offset is unchanged when you next reschedule.
|
| Draw curved if vertical |
Select this check box to draw the link with a curve when it appears vertically in the bar chart, or clear the check box to draw it as a straight line. Drawing vertical links with a curve can make them easier to see when links overlap or when they appear on top of a vertical grid line.
|
| Automatic curve settings | Select this check box if you want to use Asta Powerproject's default curved link settings for the link when it is vertical, or clear the check box if you want to specify your own settings. If you clear the check box, specify your own settings using the Draw to left and Draw to right radio buttons and the Curvature percentage field. |
| Draw to left | If you are not using Asta Powerproject's default curved link settings, click this radio button if you would like the link to curve to the left when it is vertical. |
| Draw to right | If you are not using Asta Powerproject's default curved link settings, click this radio button if you would like the link to curve to the right when it is vertical. |
| Curvature percentage | If you are not using Asta Powerproject's default curved link settings, select the percentage by which you would like the link to curve when it is vertical; the higher the percentage, the greater the curve. |
| Critical | Whether the link is located on the critical path. |
| Unschedulable |
This check box is selected if the link is incapable of being rescheduled for any reason. This can be caused by calendar conflicts, or by the link being part of a link loop.
|
| Driving |
Whether the link is a driving link or a non-driving link. A driving link is one that enters a task with the steepest slope, in which the link finish date sets the start date of the task.
|
| On loop |
Whether the link is in a link loop.
|
| Total |
The total float of the link. For Finish-to-Start links, the total float is the difference between the start task's early finish date and the finish task's late start date. For other link types, the corresponding dates are used - for example, for Start-to-Start links, this is the difference between the start task's early start date and the finish task's late start date.
If there is only one link between two tasks, the total float of the link is the same as the total float on the successor task. |
| Free |
The free float of the link. For Finish-to-Start links, the free float is the difference between the start task's early finish date and the finish task's free start date. For other link types, the corresponding dates are used - for example, for Start-to-Start links, this is the difference between the start task's early start date and the finish task's free start date.
If there is only one link between two tasks, the free float of the link is the same as the free float on the successor task. |
| Notes |
Enter any information that you want to save with the link.
You can display notes that you enter against links in the spreadsheet, by displaying either the Predecessors or the Successors field in a column and configuring it to display link notes.
|
How do I...
... change the link type?
Select the type of link to which you want to change the selected link in the Link type field. For example, you may want to change a Start-to-Start link to a Finish-to-Finish link.
... change the link category?
Select a category in the Link category field. The category defines the way in which the link appears on the bar chart.
... ensure that the two linked tasks are not separated by more than a maximum lag period?
Select the Maximum slope check box and enter the maximum period of lag that you want to allow between the tasks in the field to the right of the check box.
... specify whether the amount of lead/lag is displayed against the link?
Select the Annotate lead/lag check box to display the amount of lead/lag on the selected link on the bar chart, or clear the check box to display the link without a lead/lag annotation.
... configure the link so that it maintains the offset between the predecessor and successor tasks during a reschedule?
Select 'Working' or 'Elapsed' in the Maintain task offsets field.
... specify the way in which vertical links are displayed?
- Select the Draw vertical links curved check box to draw the link with a curve if it is vertical, or clear the check box to draw the link as a straight line. Drawing vertical links with a curve can make them easier to see when links overlap or when they appear on top of a vertical grid line.
If you choose to draw the link with a curve, you can choose to use Asta Powerproject's default curved link settings, or specify your own settings, namely whether the link curves to the left or the right, and the amount of curve. Using the default curved link settings, links curve to the left with a curvature percentage of 25%. - Select the Automatic curved link settings check box to use Asta Powerproject's default curved link settings, or clear the check box if you want to specify your own settings. If you clear the check box, specify your own settings using the Draw to left and Draw to right radio buttons and the Curvature percentage field.
... enter information about the link?
Enter details in the Notes field.