MSP 2000 Master Portfolio Project Issues?

[Steve Scott]

I am about to consolidate upto 300 individual MSP2000 plans across approx 15
programmes from individual programme shared drives. Some of these plans will
be consolidated up through programme level plans and then into my Portfolio
level plan. So far so good, we have been approaching this point for over a
year now (ie getting standard templates agreed) and I have had no
problems/errors to date with limited consolidation. The project level plans
to be consolidated will be the ones sent into programme offices by project
managers as "published" copies, so they will not be working on them directly.
There is a chance though that the programme offices may have to have their
programme level plans open at certain times.

On the basis that MSP 2000 supposedly can consolidate upto 998 plans, does
anyone have any experience/last minute advice they can offer me regarding
what I am attempting to do ie reasons for caution /not doing doing
it/precautions to be taken etc?

By the way - Yes I am am trying to get my directors to spend upgrade to
project server but that will be a year down the line at least.

 

[John]

I am about to consolidate upto 300 individual MSP2000 plans across approx 15
programmes from individual programme shared drives. Some of these plans will
be consolidated up through programme level plans and then into my Portfolio
level plan. So far so good, we have been approaching this point for over a
year now (ie getting standard templates agreed) and I have had no
problems/errors to date with limited consolidation. The project level plans
to be consolidated will be the ones sent into programme offices by project
managers as "published" copies, so they will not be working on them directly.
There is a chance though that the programme offices may have to have their
programme level plans open at certain times.

On the basis that MSP 2000 supposedly can consolidate upto 998 plans, does
anyone have any experience/last minute advice they can offer me regarding
what I am attempting to do ie reasons for caution /not doing doing
it/precautions to be taken etc?

By the way - Yes I am am trying to get my directors to spend upgrade to
project server but that will be a year down the line at least.

Steve,
That's potentially a whole lotta tasks in one huge consolidation. Yes,
theoretically Project can accommodate up to 1,000 consolidated project
files but even if each of those files is only a hundred tasks, the end
result will be very difficult to manage. I've dealt with a couple large
consolidated files people have sent me (to troubleshoot) and in each
case one or more of the files were corrupt.

Here's an alternate suggestion. Don't try to consolidate the whole
shebang, instead maybe just consolidate the subprojects relevant to each
of the 15 programs. Then for the overall view of all programs, create a
separate management review file that is made up of strategic tasks
linked in from each program. After all, at the top level, all the
corporate managers are interested in is the critical information.

At least that's my opinion.

John
Project MVP