I have about 8 small to medium projects to manage on an ongoing basis. When one project completes the resources rolls onto a new one. My questiion is what is the advantage to using indivdual project plans with a shared resource pool vs. 1 plan where each project has a section. My main concern is managing resource utilization. I would like to have a neat report which shows which projects my resources are working on and how much time is spent and planned by resource by project (The who does what when report by project).
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Managing Multiple Projects 1
- Thread starter newpm
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1
- #2
I'm not sure, given my understanding of your circumstances, that I'd use a resource pool to meet the requirement you show above. You may have other (quite valid) reasons for the pool but for the purposes of this answer, I wouldn't go that way.
Open a clean project
Insert > Project and open (I'd "link" to the project)
Repeat for the other projects
As much as I like WDWW, I couldn't easily find a way to modify it to make it work so that it will generate the consolidated info you want.
I looked at WDW, and I included the Project name field in the display and it "sort of" works but it gets messy very quickly.
So ... what to do?
View > Resource Usage
Project > Group by > More groups... click on the New button
Name: PDQBach
Group by: Name, Resource, Ascending
Then by: Project, Resource, Ascending
Click on OK, click on Apply
On the Formatting bar, click on Show and set to Outline Level to:
Level 1. You'll see a summary for each resource
Level 2. You'll see the resource and the project(s)
Level 3. You'll see the resource name again but, if in red, then there is a possible overallocation.
The only tough bit (not so tough, really) is to "consistify" the resource names so that you use the same spelling in each project. Although a resource pool will *generally* force that, it brings some additional baggage and potential for issues that -- if you're just trying to get the result I've described above -- I would avoid but, as I said earlier, if you have other requirements that can only be met with a Resource pool then you can use that approach.
Open a clean project
Insert > Project and open (I'd "link" to the project)
Repeat for the other projects
As much as I like WDWW, I couldn't easily find a way to modify it to make it work so that it will generate the consolidated info you want.
I looked at WDW, and I included the Project name field in the display and it "sort of" works but it gets messy very quickly.
So ... what to do?
View > Resource Usage
Project > Group by > More groups... click on the New button
Name: PDQBach
Group by: Name, Resource, Ascending
Then by: Project, Resource, Ascending
Click on OK, click on Apply
On the Formatting bar, click on Show and set to Outline Level to:
Level 1. You'll see a summary for each resource
Level 2. You'll see the resource and the project(s)
Level 3. You'll see the resource name again but, if in red, then there is a possible overallocation.
The only tough bit (not so tough, really) is to "consistify" the resource names so that you use the same spelling in each project. Although a resource pool will *generally* force that, it brings some additional baggage and potential for issues that -- if you're just trying to get the result I've described above -- I would avoid but, as I said earlier, if you have other requirements that can only be met with a Resource pool then you can use that approach.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks you for this post! I finally finished creating all my projects, followed your instructions and got exactly what I was looking for. I did use a resource pool to set my projects up which ensured that the names were consistent. Then when I was done I switched each project to use own resources, before I put them into the master project. Worked like a charm. Thanks again.
I have tried using the same idea but instead of getting the project name in the subgroup, i get "project: Resource Pool" (this is the name I have given to the resource pool).
I have a number of projects that run simutaneously (so I am using a master project) and am trying to get a report that shows each induvidual resource what they should be working on when (a sort of reference card for their next job and when it is expected to be completed by). The only problem is that each project that I have in are very similar and many of the tasks are called the same thing (i.e. all the tasks in one project will be called something different, but a second project can be put in that is identical to the first, but on slighlty different dates).
The trouble I am having is that a resource, for instance, knows they have to "manufacture part" on a certian day, but they will not be able to see which project that relates to (useless, of course).
Can anyone shed any light on this??
I have a number of projects that run simutaneously (so I am using a master project) and am trying to get a report that shows each induvidual resource what they should be working on when (a sort of reference card for their next job and when it is expected to be completed by). The only problem is that each project that I have in are very similar and many of the tasks are called the same thing (i.e. all the tasks in one project will be called something different, but a second project can be put in that is identical to the first, but on slighlty different dates).
The trouble I am having is that a resource, for instance, knows they have to "manufacture part" on a certian day, but they will not be able to see which project that relates to (useless, of course).
Can anyone shed any light on this??
- Thread starter
- #5
I have the same issue with duplicate tasks but, following the directions provided previously I now see each assignment under each project.
Developer
Project
Task
I do not use the resource pool any more except in the initial project set up. I originally thought that was the best way to track my resource but instead I am using the master project with each project using its own resources. I use the resource pool to set up the project just to insure consistency in the resource name and atrributes. I use resource usuage for the master project to create the tracking report I need.
Developer
Project
Task
I do not use the resource pool any more except in the initial project set up. I originally thought that was the best way to track my resource but instead I am using the master project with each project using its own resources. I use the resource pool to set up the project just to insure consistency in the resource name and atrributes. I use resource usuage for the master project to create the tracking report I need.
Open your master project (and, during the open process, open the resource pool)
Window > ResourcePoolFile (I don't know what you called it)
View > Resource Usage
Insert the Project column
Project > Group by > More groups... click on the New button
Name: PDQBachTwo
Group by: Name, Resource, Ascending
Then by: Project, Resource, Ascending
Click on OK, click on Apply
On the Formatting bar, click on Show and set to Outline Level to:
Level 1. You'll see a summary for each resource
Level 2. You'll see a not particularly useful display
Level 3. You'll see the resource name again but, if in red, then there is a possible overallocation.
Level 4. (I had some mixed experiences ... sometimes I could get the tasks to display by selecting Level 4, sometimes I had to click the little "+" sign to get the underlying data to display, sometimes I had to select all rows and then click on the show/hide resources button.) You'll see the tasks and, in the project column, the project file name.
There is one caveat: if you have tasks in the Master Project file then you will not see these tasks in this display.
Window > ResourcePoolFile (I don't know what you called it)
View > Resource Usage
Insert the Project column
Project > Group by > More groups... click on the New button
Name: PDQBachTwo
Group by: Name, Resource, Ascending
Then by: Project, Resource, Ascending
Click on OK, click on Apply
On the Formatting bar, click on Show and set to Outline Level to:
Level 1. You'll see a summary for each resource
Level 2. You'll see a not particularly useful display
Level 3. You'll see the resource name again but, if in red, then there is a possible overallocation.
Level 4. (I had some mixed experiences ... sometimes I could get the tasks to display by selecting Level 4, sometimes I had to click the little "+" sign to get the underlying data to display, sometimes I had to select all rows and then click on the show/hide resources button.) You'll see the tasks and, in the project column, the project file name.
There is one caveat: if you have tasks in the Master Project file then you will not see these tasks in this display.
Hi all,
Thanks for the input but it still is not quite what I wanted. IS it possible to have some view / report that has the resource down one side, a timline along the top and the task name appearing on the day that it should be run (I know I may be asking for a bit too much here!!!)?
I basically want something very simple that shows a resource what they have to do when. I began playin about with the what yo to do when report but, again it's not quite what I wanted (don't really want the hours worked on the sheet and I cannot seem specify a time frame)
Thanks,
Thanks for the input but it still is not quite what I wanted. IS it possible to have some view / report that has the resource down one side, a timline along the top and the task name appearing on the day that it should be run (I know I may be asking for a bit too much here!!!)?
I basically want something very simple that shows a resource what they have to do when. I began playin about with the what yo to do when report but, again it's not quite what I wanted (don't really want the hours worked on the sheet and I cannot seem specify a time frame)
Thanks,
Ok, so i'll have to live with it! The closest that I have got to what I want is to use the "Who Does WHat When Report" and then put a filter on each resource group that I want to generate the report for.
However, is there a way of narrowing the time frame that the report takes the data from. Ideally I would like to run the report every week and have 2 weeks worth of data reporting - is this possible?
Thanks
However, is there a way of narrowing the time frame that the report takes the data from. Ideally I would like to run the report every week and have 2 weeks worth of data reporting - is this possible?
Thanks
When you are viewing the report:
Click on the Print button
In the lower left of the Print dialog
Click on "dates"
Click on the From date and select a start date
Click on the To date and select a finish date
Note: If you have selected "months" then selecting a date in the middle of the month will have that date overridden so that, if it's the from date, the report begins at the beginning of the month or, if it's the to date, the report will finish at the end of the month.
Click on the Print button
In the lower left of the Print dialog
Click on "dates"
Click on the From date and select a start date
Click on the To date and select a finish date
Note: If you have selected "months" then selecting a date in the middle of the month will have that date overridden so that, if it's the from date, the report begins at the beginning of the month or, if it's the to date, the report will finish at the end of the month.
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