Creating reusable components

[MT]

I am trying to find a better way to manage a repeatable project process.

Each time we implement a project, we may or may not use every element of a
master project plan.

For sake of establishing a common communications framework, let's say a
full-blown project consists of level 1 elements A,B,C,D,E,F and G.

A short project might only consist of elements A, D and G. Some projects
might add element B or C.

It seems that there would be a way to create A through G in a palette that I
could drag and drop onto the canvas (Visio?) to create the individual project
plans. Then I could fill in the details for resources, costs, etc. with the
resultant output.

Otherwise, I have to take the 650 line item master project plan I've created
and delete everything that I don't need for each project.

Task view seems to be the only way to really do this. I've looked at Network
view, but it doesn't seem geared to do what I'm looking for, but it might
just be inexperience with Network view.

I'm currently working with Project 2003, but I can get 2007 if this is
better fleshed out.

Worse case scenario is to get one of my programmers to create a Visio <->
Project interface. (If that's possible.)

Thanks!

 

[Jim Aksel]

Might you consider separate Macros for each element. Then you could execute
the macro to generate the sub sections of the project. It then would become
a linking exercise between the created areas.
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[MT]

That's an interesting idea. It's not quite what I had in mind, so if anyone
reading this has something better, I'd like to hear about it.

However, It's been over 10 years since I've done macro/VB programming, but I
think I see your solution. I could write a macro-driven menu, complete with
pull-down boxes and selections to allow a pm to create a tailored project
plan in a "wizard" kind of format, and just bury the A,B,C,D,E,F and G level
1 items in the subroutines of the macro.

Interesting. Kludgy from one perspective but elegant from another.

Thanks!