Re: using resource pool with master project

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Hi Joel,

Perhaps we need to just start back at the beginning as we seem to have
some miscommunication :-).

I am assuming you have several project files (software releases or
phases.) I assume that among the multiple projects going on within your
organization that it is the same resources performing the work on those
several projects. I assume you need a way to see all assignments for
resources across several project files to see what resource demand
issues there may be.

To that end, I assume you have created a resource pool file (pool. mpp)
which contains no tasks, just resources.

You have created several project files (Project A, Project B, etc.)
which contains tasks, no resources.

You have opened the resource pool file (pool.mpp) and one of the project
files (Project A) and gone to Tools > Resource Sharing > Share
Resources, Use resources from the pool. This creates the pool/sharer
file relationship. You then assign resources in the project file as
usual.

The pool file then holds all resource assignment data. If you then
connect other project files (Project B, Project C) to the pool through
Tools > Resource Sharing > Share Resources, use resources from the pool
you can continue to assign the same resources to the tasks in each
project. The resource pool file then holds all assignment data (tasks +
resources) in all project files connected to the pool.

There is no need to create a master project file of the Projects A, B, C
through Insert Project. If you close all project files and then open
the pool, a prompt will appear with three options:

"Open the resource pool read-only allowing others to work on projects
connected to the pool."

"Open resource pool read-read so that you can make changes to resource
information (like pay rate, etc.), although this will lock others out of
updating the pool with new information."

"Open resource pool read-write and all other sharer files into a new
master project file. You can access this new master project file from
the Window menu command."

If you choose the last option, the master project is created. All tasks
from all sharer files are combined into one file. From that file you
can do reporting. The master project already has the pool file
connected as it was the pool file which allowed you to create the master
project.

In the scenario you describe, you have essentially two connections to
the pool -- never a grand choice. As a number of posters on this ng
will attest -- resource pool files are fickle objects. If you do not
treat them with care you increase the possibility of creating a
corrupted file.

Please let me know if any of my assumptions about your setup and the
method you used to create the resource pool and the sharer files are
wrong.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project


"jgzigler" <jgzigler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:76DC8BF4-690D-49E9-AAB5-FBAFA75E4682@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Julie,
So would it be better if I removed the link then deleted the file I am
currently using as the Master ('MasterCC.mpp') and then renamed the
'resourcepool.mpp' and called that the master? I suppose I would have
to
make sure I copy any reports, tables, or views in the master to the
global
file before deleting. Anything else I should be aware of if I do it
like
this?

P.S. Why is there a concern with file corruption doing it the way I
did it?
It makes sense to me that an organization would have one resource pool
that
they would want to link to several master projects (ie different
software
development projects) and that one or more master projects may have
one or
more subprojects (ie a subproject for each software release or phase).
I am
in software development and I use Project 2003 standard edition.


"JulieS" wrote:

Hi Joel,

Yes. If you stop sharing the resource pool file to the master
project,
you will need to type in the resource name into the filter.

You may certainly continue to work as you wish with having the
subprojects sharing resources and again the master project sharing
resources. However, as both Mike and I have mentioned, sharing the
resource pool to the master file is not necessary nor recommended.
You
risk corruption in the pool file and potentially the master and
sharer
files as well.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information
about Microsoft Project


"jgzigler" <jgzigler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:93BA59F5-9E96-44B6-A54E-1F51CAEB4A98@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If I break the link for sharing resources between the master and
the
resource
pool, am I going to have the problem you mentioned where the names
of
the
resources are not populated in the drop-down box?

My goal remains where I can print a calendar view (or a to-do list)
from the
master level that will print all tasks "using resource..." and it
will
pull
tasks from all of the subprojects for that resource. I do not want
to
have
to type in the name of the resource.



"JulieS" wrote:

Hi Joel,

Sorry for getting back to you late. It sounds as though you may
be
heading for a corrupted file. If you have created a resource pool
file
and have files sharing resources, you shouldn't create a master
file
and
share the resources again.

The idea behind a resource pool file is that it can create a
master
project automatically when you open the resource pool file. No
need
to
create a separate "master project" with inserted projects.

I suggest you open the master project you created, stop sharing
resources (Tools > Resource Sharing > Share Resource, Use own
Resources)
to break the link between the pool file and the master project.
Then
open the pool file with the second option (Open Resource pool
read/write
etc.). Navigate to Tools > Resource Sharing > Share Resources and
in
the dialog box, make sure you do not have the master file you
created
in
the list. If it is, select the master project and choose the
button
Break Link. Save and close the pool.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information
about Microsoft Project


"jgzigler" <jgzigler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:9F56ED55-4B1B-4939-AD70-137E32CB79D9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FYI - If I do it as you and Julie suggest (putting the resources
IN
the
master project instead of in a separate file), the list of
resource
names
isnt populated. If you do it the way I did (with a separate
shared
resource
pool), the list of resource names IS populated.

Joel

"Mike Glen" wrote:

OK, jgzigler, start with Project open and with no projects
opened.
Now
select and open your pool file. When the pool file opens, you
will
see a
dialog with three options, the last being the one thet Julie
mentioned.

You will have to type in the resource name into the header.

You might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project
in
the
TechTrax ezine, particularly #17 & 18 on multiple projects, at
this
site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the articles before leaving the
site,
:)
Thanks.)

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on :)

Mike Glen
Project MVP

jgzigler wrote:
Im unable to find "Open resource pool file and all other
projects
into a master...." as a choice anywhere.

I had an existing project that I called "resourcepool.mpp"
and
shared
that file with each of my subprojects. I then decided to
create a
master project file. I selected 'share resources' and
selected
the
resource pool file. I then inserted the subprojects into the
master
file with links back to the subproject files.
How would you do it any different than that?

How do I add the resource name in the header? It is not
listed
as
an
available field in the page setup dialogue. FYI I created a
text
field for each task that is called "responsible" and populate
it
with
the resource name, but am unable to get either resource name
or
responsible to show up.



"JulieS" wrote:

Hi jgizler,

Well, I am certainly *not* one of the Project Gods -- not
even
a
demi-god, but let's see if I can assist.

When I created a master project by opening the resource pool
file
(connected to several different projects) with the option
"Open
resource pool file and all other projects into a
master.......
I
was
able to display the Calendar view and then run the Using
Resource
filter. The oddity I ran into was the Using Resource filter
dialog
box did not populate with resource's names. I had to
manually
type
in the Resource Name I wanted to use. (And spelling does
count
as
the Using Resource filter is an exact match.)

As far as displaying which resource is the result of the
filter, I
think the easiest thing is to change the format of the
calendar
view
to add Resource Names after the name of the task. Go to
Format
>
Bar Styles enter Resource Names after the Name field (use a
comma
to
separate the values.)

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

"jgzigler" wrote:

Right now, I have a separate resource pool attached to the
master
and to the subprojects. The resource pool is simply a
project
with
resources but with no tasks.

First, I want to be able to print a calendar view "using
resource..." at the master
project level that pulls tasks from each of the subprojects
for
the
selected resource. Do I need to do anything different? Do
I
need
to put the resources in at the master level and remove the
resource
pool? Or just leave it the way it is?

Second, I want the calendar to indicate in some way WHO the
selected
resource is. Right now if I have several calendars on my
desk
there is no way to figure out which calendar belongs to
which
person.

Any suggestions out there from the all-knowing Gods of MS
Project?
:)












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