Creating a budget in Project 2007 fails when resources are shared

[Bingo]

Hi,

When implementing the Project 2007 help topic: "Create a budget for your
project" on a collection of projects sharing a resource pool, Project 2007
crashes when assigning budget types to a shared resource pool.

How can I work around this problem?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[JulieS]

Hi Mark,

I've stepped through a fairly simple example following the steps
outlined in the help topic. I have not had any crash problems.

I am using Project 2007 Professional with SP-1. What service pack are
you working with?
Can you be more specific about where the crash occurs and any error
messages you receive?

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

 

[Bingo]

Hi Julie,

Help -> About reveals:

Microsoft Office Project 2007 (12.0.6211.1000) SP1 MSO (12.0.6213.1000)

Stepping through the help topic works if I use a project which is not
sharing a resource pool. However, when I apply the methodology to a my
master project file, which has a shared resource pool as soon as I enter a
budget type in step 4.4 in "Categorize resource costs according to their
budget type" project crashes.

Cheers,

Mark

 

[JulieS]

Hi Mark,

You are attempting to assign the budget resources to the summary task
in the master project not in the sharer project files?

When I create the consolidated master project file by opening the pool
file with the 3rd option (open pool and all other files into a
master.....) I cannot see the list of resources (budget or otherwise)
when I have the summary task for the inserted project selected. If I
add the project summary task to the consolidated master, same holds
true. The only way I can see to assign resources in the master file
is to type the resource name. How are you assigning the budget
resources in the master file?

Have you tried assigning the budget resources to the sharer file?

Julie

 

[Bingo]

Hi JulieS,

When you share resources with another project the master project holds all
the resources. Therefore there is no resource sheet for the individual
project which is sharing resources as that would be very messy.

See for yourself...

* Create an empty project (project 1) with a few resources. Then share this
project.

* Create another empty project (project 2) and share the resources of
project 1 with the sharing rule set to pool takes precedence.

* now try adding or deleting a resource in either project. Because the
resources are shared any additions or removals in either resource sheet is
reflected in the other.

I think it is definitely a bug with project. Does anyone know how I submit
a bug to Microsoft?

 

[JulieS]

Hi Mark,

I'm not sure I follow your statement:

"Therefore there is no resource sheet for the individual project which
is sharing resources as that would be very messy"

When you create a resource pool file and share those resources to
other projects, the names of the resources do show in the resource
sheet of the sharer file if the pool file is opened. The resource
information is stored in the pool file but is visible in the sharer
files.

You are correct, if you add or remove resources from any sharer file,
all sharer files as well as the pool file get that change. I
*strongly* suggest turning off the option "Automatically add new
resources and tasks" on the General tab in Tools > Options on *all*
files connected to a pool. (I actually recommend turning it off in all
projects -- shared or not.) It does not prevent someone from adding
resources but it does flag issue in a message. This is most
definitely a training point if people are going to use a pool file in
your organization.

The ability to add or delete resources from a sharer file is not a
bug -- it's how project has functioned for as long as I recall (16+
years). That is why it is key that every user working with pools and
sharer files understand how to work with the files. One person
merrily adding resources "by accident" causes troubles for all.

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

 

[Bingo]

You are quite right about the finite rules of sharing resources - I
understand and was previously speaking in conceptual terms. However, the
fact still remains that whenever I assign a budget type to a resource from a
resource pool project crashes.

Lets face it if i wasn't allowed to do what I'm trying to do project would
simply tell me that isn't possible and not crash.

Any other suggestions?

 

[JulieS]

Hi Mark,

Okay, I've tried to see if I can reproduce the error again on a new
project. Project 2007 Professional SP-1 not connect to server
running in Windows XP SP-2.

I was unable to get project to crash when I created the budget
resource in the pool and then assigned the budget resource to a sharer
project file. I followed the steps outlined in the help topic,
including the step that crashed for you -- step 4 in grouping 4.
Adding text to a spare text field should not be causing a crash --
you're just populating a text field. I've tried changing resource
type (from work to cost) on an already assigned resource and still
don't get a crash. I do get warnings about the resource already being
assigned and the loss of assignments, but still no crash.

If the files are not too large, you're welcome to zip them all (I'll
need both the pool and all sharer files) and email them to me. My
address is prjng [at] maine.rr.com

Julie

 

[Sharon Mattus]

Mark,

I'm having the same problem that you had. Could you please share with me the solution? I know you posted this in 2008, but I'm hopeful that you could shed some light on what either I'm doing wrong or the bug in Project.

Thank you in advance,

Sharon

Hi,

When implementing the Project 2007 help topic: "Create a budget for your
project" on a collection of projects sharing a resource pool, Project 2007
crashes when assigning budget types to a shared resource pool.

How can I work around this problem?

Cheers,

Mark

On Thursday, July 17, 2008 3:12 PM JulieS wrote:
Hi Mark,

I've stepped through a fairly simple example following the steps
outlined in the help topic. I have not had any crash problems.

I am using Project 2007 Professional with SP-1. What service pack are
you working with?
Can you be more specific about where the crash occurs and any error
messages you receive?

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

news:[email protected]...

On Friday, July 18, 2008 11:37 AM JulieS wrote:
Hi Mark,

Okay, I've tried to see if I can reproduce the error again on a new
project. Project 2007 Professional SP-1 not connect to server
running in Windows XP SP-2.

I was unable to get project to crash when I created the budget
resource in the pool and then assigned the budget resource to a sharer
project file. I followed the steps outlined in the help topic,
including the step that crashed for you -- step 4 in grouping 4.
Adding text to a spare text field should not be causing a crash --
you're just populating a text field. I've tried changing resource
type (from work to cost) on an already assigned resource and still
don't get a crash. I do get warnings about the resource already being
assigned and the loss of assignments, but still no crash.

If the files are not too large, you're welcome to zip them all (I'll
need both the pool and all sharer files) and email them to me. My
address is prjng [at] maine.rr.com

Julie


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