Hi Robert. That is probably the one question that experts disagree the most, but I’ll give you my take on the two sides. The first step is to use dependencies that are required by the schedule activities. It’s the next step that is the challenging one. There are two general options for managing resource availability. The first and more complex is to use Microsoft’s resource leveling feature. The second is to use additional dependencies to level out resource availability. Resource leveling feature requires learning and a lot of Project knowledge. MPUG has a few sessions on using the feature but don’t forget the latter requirement. Generally speaking, use what you know and are comfortable using.
Pro for resource leveling: Once setup it requires much less work to maintain, especially for larger schedules
Pro for resource dependencies: Simpler solution, easier to setup, WYSIWYG
Hope that helps…
Yes you can. From a Gantt chart or Task Sheet, select the Format menu, and select Text Styles. Select Summary Tasks from the Items to Change dropdown and format them as you wish. Hope that helps…
BobC, good question. Go ahead and move the projects and resource pool to the new location. Then do the following:
* Open the resource pool and all projects you want to link (or a few at at time)
* Select Resource Pool / Share Resources, select each of the existing links and break the link
* Open each project you want to link, select Share Resources, and reselect the resource pool
Hope this helps…
I definitely agree with Jeff on Project Online. They are more or less the same product but online is much easier as you don’t have to install and support the server software. Online uses subscription pricing vs. Project Server price per item (server app and each user).
Also know that even though Online is easier it still requires setup and configuration, and can be daunting for someone who isn’t familiar. Most will tell you that you need at least some help from a consultant. Another though if you are only looking at simple reporting is to combine them in a project desktop and report from there.
1. Open all projects
2. Select View/New Window, select the projects and the view you want to use.
You need to know a bit about using Project, but you can customize a view to show only selected tasks or summary tasks on the view. You can also combine them in a Project report. Understand that the reporting capabilities are not what you can get from Project Online/Server and it is single user, but will be a lot simpler to get going. It all depends on how much you need vs. how much you spend on $’s and effort. Good luck…
Hi Rosie, glad it worked for you. I did see your other message but I don’t have an answer. Is it the only project that this happens? Do you know how to create a new view? If so try creating a new Gantt chart view and see if that works. Let me know what you find out.
Hi Rosie, I should have been a bit more clear:
1. Create a task flag field called Hide.
2. Set the Hide field for the task identified above to Yes
3. Either filter the Hide column to show only the value No, or create a filter that tests for Hide equal to No.
3.1 Your online schedule should now exclude that task.
4. Print the schedule.
4.1. Your printed schedule should also exclude that task.
Hi Rena. Unfortunately Project only knows the current schedule. You can certainly modify baseline data manually after it is snapped. Those columns are open to modify. If you have a saved copy you might want to try and copy partial columns from one to the other, but I suggest care. The more automation or mass changes, the higher likelihood of errors. Good luck…
Hi Stergios, if you right click and select or double click the timeline header in the Gantt chart you have a couple of options for W1, W2 or Week 1, Week 2 under the Label drop-down. Hope that helps…
200 inspectors completing a total of a little over 20 tasks/day, each task averaging about 10 days. It’s a lot of tasks but maintenance is easy unless or until they change the inspection process…hence your question. The more you know Project the easier you can setup a fast path to making changes. You could even create a macro to automate some of the tedious clicks if you have to do the same thing 200 times. Can you simplify the task names, combine some of the simpler tasks, ??
Yes…:-) In that case you have a very large project. You could estimate what a typical car is in duration (and work if you are tracking that) and just enter one line for those cars that are far enough in the future to be estimated without details. 200 cars and 200 inspectors…are they all starting at once? I don’t know your situation but a general idea is to detail that which is closer in time. Best I got…
My question has to do with timing and managing the detail. How long does it take to inspect a car and would you need to manage what step you are on for each one? My assumption is that the inspection itself is typically done start to finish. If that’s the case then you don’t need each step for all your cars? Replace that with a task per car. If not then delete/copy/paste…just make sure the tasks are generic and don’t contain constraints or in process. Hope that helps.
