Linking Resouce Pools to Sharer Files

[Jackie]

I can't seem to figure out why I am showing duplicate tasks in sharer file
and resource pool which is causing overallocations. When I open the resource
pool alone, there is no overallocations. It will not allow me to remove the
duplicate tasks ---- It gives me a message that it cannot remove because the
project is connected to sharer file.

--Jackie Duncan

 

[JulieS]

Hello Jackie,

One of the most common reasons why duplicate assignments appear is
because there are several copies of the same file attached to the
resource pool file. Open the resource pool file with the second option
"Open the pool read-write so that you can make changes to resource
information...". Once the pool is opened, go to Tools > Resource
Sharing > Share Resources. In the Share Resources dialog box is a list
of all of the project files the pool is providing with resources.
Carefully review the list and if there are project files (sharer) that
should no longer be attached, select the file and click the Break Link
button to break the link between the pool and sharer file.

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

 

[Jackie]

Julie,
I have one more question for you about linking resource pools. I have been
using project for over a year now but I was using my own resources and want
to learn more about resource pools. Your previous reply really did help me
because I wanted to know how I could see which project the resource pool was
linked to. I checked to resource pool as you advised and it was only linked
to that one project file. Could this problem be occurring because the
projected was previously built and was being worked in prior to me linking
the resource pool. I have this question because I previously built two
practice projects and linked them to the same resource pool and everything
worked properly. The only time I show overallocations is when I assign the
same resource to tasks on the same date, and as soon as I remove that person
from one of the locations, the overallocation is cleared up. Please let me
know if you have any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Jackie,

My comments are inline below.

I hope they help.

Julie
Project MVP

Julie,
I have one more question for you about linking resource pools. I have
been
using project for over a year now but I was using my own resources and
want
to learn more about resource pools. Your previous reply really did
help me
because I wanted to know how I could see which project the resource
pool was
linked to. I checked to resource pool as you advised and it was only
linked
to that one project file.

[Julie] Just to clarify -- you have a resource pool file and only one
sharer file?
Are there any tasks in the resource pool file?

Could this problem be occurring because the
projected was previously built and was being worked in prior to me
linking
the resource pool.

[Julie] If I understand your scenario correctly, the idea that the
project file was built before connecting it to the resource pool file
shouldn't be causing the problem. When you attached the sharer file to
the pool file, any resource created in the sharer file should have been
added to the pool.

The most common reason for overallocations, as you note below, when a
resource is assigned to tasks which overlap in time. The other cause is
if a resource is assigned to a task or tasks at above the resource's
maximum units. To help track down where the overallocation(s) are
occuring, open the sharer file and the pool file read-only. Show the
Resource Management toolbar and click the Resource Allocation view
button on the toolbar. That should display the resource allocation view
which is the resource usage view in the top pane and the leveling gantt
view at the bottom. Use the Go To Next Overallocation button to view
each overallocation for each resource. With luck, that will help track
down what specific assignments are causing the overallocation.

With only one project attached to the pool, you most likely won't need
it, but another helpful hint is to add the Project field to the table
(left side) in the Resource Usage view (top pane). The Project field
will display the file name of the project that the assignment comes
from.