Customizing a master project report

[braden]

I have a simple report that I want to run in a master project for al
sub projects, but can't figure out how.

I have a master project that currently has 7 sub-projects (and will hav
more in the future). All subproject tasks are exactly identical. I woul
like to have have a report with the subproject tasks down the left sid
(y-axis) and each sub-project title along the top (x-axis). Where tas
and sub-project title meet would simply be the percent complete the tas
is.

Is this possible to run and how so?

Thanks for all the help

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

Save As > Excel Pivot Table.

When the export wizard kicks off, create a new map using the following fields
from the Task Table:

1) ID
2) Name
3) Project
4) % Complete

Manipulate the results in the Pivot Table. You may have to turn off the
Grand Totals, the Subtotals, and filter out the master project.

- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

 

[braden]

amazing. THank you.

Second question - is there any way to have the pivot table autoupdat
(i.e. when I make a change to the project file in terms of % complete
how can I make the pivot table also update)

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

This is one of those things where it would be easier using Project Server
and Excel - as then you could tie it back to a SQL database.

That being said, here're a couple of options:

1) VBA dump from MPP to XLS
2) Do a Copy/Paste Special Link to XLS. That makes the XLS sheet a bit unstable,
and will break if you ever change the name of the MPP file, but if you're
cool with periodically rebuilding your XLS sheet, that may work. If that
were the case, I wouldn't use a Pivot Table, but just create a table manually,
then do the copy/paste by hand.
3) Some sort of save to Access option, then surfacing the data through Access
- or via Access into Excel. Here's how to get the data into Access: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/ep...-and-tricks-saving-an-mpp-file-to-access.aspx


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

 

[braden]

I know I'm getting a little off topic (and thanks for your help)
Everytime I do a paste special, link from MP to an XLS sheet, all value
come up as errors. I am doing solely between files on my own compute
(because aorn I can't open MP directly from the cloud, I have to dl i
and open it locally. Is there away to fix these errors, or did you sa
'MPP' because I need Project Professional to use this feature

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

I just tried it in Windows Vista, with MS Project 2007 > Excel 2010, and
was able to paste a link no problem. I did have to format the field in Excel
to show up as a date, but that was it.

I'll play with it tomorrow on another laptop that's running XP and Office
2007 to see if I can recreate your issue.

MS Project Pro or Standard shouldn't matter.


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

 

[braden]

I just tried it in Windows Vista, with MS Project 2007 > Excel 2010
and
was able to paste a link no problem. I did have to format the field i
Excel
to show up as a date, but that was it.

I'll play with it tomorrow on another laptop that's running XP an
Office
2007 to see if I can recreate your issue.

MS Project Pro or Standard shouldn't matter.

I'm on Windows 7 and am using project and excel '10 beta - if tha
changes anything. Sorry - probably should have mentioned that before

 

[JulieS]

Hi Braden,

Pardon me for bumping in. I believe there was a problem as you
describe with one of the early Project 2010 Betas. However, I
believe it has been fixed in the final version.

There was a few conversations about this on the Project 2010
site. See:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/projectprofessional2010general/threads

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[braden]

Thank you Julie

I think I've actually figured out a work around. After pasting linke
information in Excel, go to the data ribbon. Under the connection
section click on 'edit links' then 'update links'. Gives me everything
need. It also allows me to break the link and move the link, should
change the location of the root information

Now I just need to explore MS sharepoint and Project Server to determin
whether or not its worth it to have those two when I'm using Project t
manage tasks and not work hours or budget

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Braden. I'm glad that you found a method
that gets what you need and thanks for the feedback.

Julie
Project MVP

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