Master Project Advice

From: John (john_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 03/01/05 

Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 10:21:02 -0800

I need some assistance in understanding how best to use Master Projects in a
Project Server 2003 environment. My goal is not to publish the Master
Project but to have the sub-plans reflect the overall work in progress. I
have five projects that are part of a program. I have created cross project
links between the plans to reflect critical touch points. This will reflect
changes to schedule if one of the linked plans slips; however, I have an
executive that wants to see the full view of the critical path across the
five projects in one view.

I have created a Master Project by inserting the Enterprise projects and I
have selected the Unlink and Read Only options during the Insert process. I
have then saved the Master Project as an .mpp off line. What I am seeing is
the links that I created originally are duplicated; one references the
sub-plan task (my original link) and a second for the Master Project I
created. I’m not sure I want this duplicate linkage but can live with it if
no one sees an issue with it.

I was thinking about saving this Master to server but not publish it. This
would give my executive his view into the overall critical path while
allowing the sub-plans to remain as sub plans. His overall desire is to
create one project for the entire program. This would create a project of
well over 3,000 tasks and a resource pool of over 75. I am really concerned
about Project’s ability to support such a large plan. To reduce overall size
of a combined project, I would have to cut out detail in the sub plans which
could result in a loss in our ability to manage the project. Any thoughts on
a strategy on this are appreciated. 

-- 
John

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Organizing Project Plans
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  • Re: Master Project Advice
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  • Re: Project Server Planning
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  • Re: Master Projects in 2003 Professional Server
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    (microsoft.public.project.pro_and_server)