Customised fields

[Gary D]

I am a relatively new user of Microsoft Project (5 months) having used CS
Projects for 12 years. and currently have 4 questions. 1 - Is there a way of
adding additional custom cost and number fields? 2 - Is there a way of
viewing resource histograms without the scale changing as you scroll? 3 - Is
there a way of viewing the gantt chart and resource histogram screens
together such that i am able to scroll through the gantt chart and see how
the esource histogram is affected? 4 - Using custom fields i am able to
produce a cost forecast formula. Is it possible to automatically populate the
fixed cost field with a value derived from a custom cost field?

GDD

 

[Rob Schneider]

Gary,

re your questions, see embedded below:

--rms

www.rmschneider.com

I am a relatively new user of Microsoft Project (5 months) having used CS
Projects for 12 years. and currently have 4 questions. 1 - Is there a way of
adding additional custom cost and number fields?

Yes. See Menu: Tools/Customise/Fields... See the Help button on that
dialog box to read more. You'll notice not only cost and number fields,
but these type of fields can be connected to tasks and resources. You'll
also see other custom field types

2 - Is there a way of

viewing resource histograms without the scale changing as you scroll?

Don't understand. What scale (time scale?) changes? how are you
scrolling? I don't see scales changing as I move, but I probably am not
getting at what you are saying. Sorry.

3 - Is

there a way of viewing the gantt chart and resource histogram screens
together such that i am able to scroll through the gantt chart and see how
the esource histogram is affected?

Don't understand. How can you "affect" the resource histogram? What do
you mean "affect"?

What you can easily do is have a split screen. See Menu: Windows/Split.
Click into the top and Menu: View/Gantt. Click into the bottom and
Menu: View/Resource Graph. Right mouse click on bottom resourse graphs
and see that you can modify bar styles and what gets displayed. See if
that gets close to what you are seeking.

4 - Using custom fields i am able to

produce a cost forecast formula. Is it possible to automatically populate the
fixed cost field with a value derived from a custom cost field?

Far as I know you cannot via a custom field define a value for [Fixed
Cost] since [Fixed Cost] is not a custom field. It is a standard field
that is entered (see in Help where the field is documented). Probably
can use VBA to put data into that [Fixed Cost]. However, with Custom
Fields you can define your own custom cost field that you can put your
own forumula Menu: Tools/Customize/Fields..., Button: Forumula.

 

[Gary D]

Thanks for the info. Rob. I will try and clarify the questions if i may.

1 - With regard to custom fields, can you add additional customer cost and
number fields to the 10 & 20 that already exist?

2 - As i use the horizontal scroll bar at the foot of the resource graph the
y axis value alters depending upon the level of resource allocated. In CSP
the y axis value remained the same, showing me the single the maximum value
at all times as i scrolled along. Is this possible with MPP?

3 - On CSP i was able to view the gantt chart in the top half of the screen
and the resource graph in the rear. As i scrolled through the gantt chart
horizontally the resource graph for any selected resource would scroll along
over the same time period allowing me to see tasks and resource together. Is
this possible?

GDD

Gary,

re your questions, see embedded below:

--rms

www.rmschneider.com

I am a relatively new user of Microsoft Project (5 months) having used CS
Projects for 12 years. and currently have 4 questions. 1 - Is there a way of
adding additional custom cost and number fields?

Yes. See Menu: Tools/Customise/Fields... See the Help button on that
dialog box to read more. You'll notice not only cost and number fields,
but these type of fields can be connected to tasks and resources. You'll
also see other custom field types

2 - Is there a way of

viewing resource histograms without the scale changing as you scroll?

Don't understand. What scale (time scale?) changes? how are you
scrolling? I don't see scales changing as I move, but I probably am not
getting at what you are saying. Sorry.

3 - Is

there a way of viewing the gantt chart and resource histogram screens
together such that i am able to scroll through the gantt chart and see how
the esource histogram is affected?

Don't understand. How can you "affect" the resource histogram? What do
you mean "affect"?

What you can easily do is have a split screen. See Menu: Windows/Split.
Click into the top and Menu: View/Gantt. Click into the bottom and
Menu: View/Resource Graph. Right mouse click on bottom resourse graphs
and see that you can modify bar styles and what gets displayed. See if
that gets close to what you are seeking.

4 - Using custom fields i am able to

produce a cost forecast formula. Is it possible to automatically populate the
fixed cost field with a value derived from a custom cost field?

Far as I know you cannot via a custom field define a value for [Fixed
Cost] since [Fixed Cost] is not a custom field. It is a standard field
that is entered (see in Help where the field is documented). Probably
can use VBA to put data into that [Fixed Cost]. However, with Custom
Fields you can define your own custom cost field that you can put your
own forumula Menu: Tools/Customize/Fields..., Button: Forumula.

GDD

 

[Jim Aksel]

In line...
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

Thanks for the info. Rob. I will try and clarify the questions if i may.

1 - With regard to custom fields, can you add additional customer cost and
number fields to the 10 & 20 that already exist?

*No. You can use some other custom fields such as number, text, flag, date,
finish, start, duration. They all have custom counterparts. Still not
enough? If there is still more room needed, you may have to split the file.

2 - As i use the horizontal scroll bar at the foot of the resource graph the
y axis value alters depending upon the level of resource allocated. In CSP
the y axis value remained the same, showing me the single the maximum value
at all times as i scrolled along. Is this possible with MPP?

*No. You could create a custom view and try to force the scale with VBA.

3 - On CSP i was able to view the gantt chart in the top half of the screen
and the resource graph in the rear. As i scrolled through the gantt chart
horizontally the resource graph for any selected resource would scroll along
over the same time period allowing me to see tasks and resource together. Is
this possible?

*Try using the Gannt view on the top and the Resource Usage View on the
bottom. It is not a histogram, but the resources can be collapsed so you see
the total manhours of each resource as you scroll along horizontally.

If you use a resource graph at the bottom, you will see only the one
resoucre at a time.

If you are looking for man loading curves you can try exporting the data to
Excel. In P2003 this is the "Analyze Time Phased Data in Excel" on the
Analysis toolbar. If you are using P2007 then try using a visual report and
pivot table - "Report, Viaual Reports..." on the main menu.

GDD

Gary,

re your questions, see embedded below:

--rms

www.rmschneider.com

I am a relatively new user of Microsoft Project (5 months) having used CS
Projects for 12 years. and currently have 4 questions. 1 - Is there a way of
adding additional custom cost and number fields?

Yes. See Menu: Tools/Customise/Fields... See the Help button on that
dialog box to read more. You'll notice not only cost and number fields,
but these type of fields can be connected to tasks and resources. You'll
also see other custom field types

2 - Is there a way of

viewing resource histograms without the scale changing as you scroll?

Don't understand. What scale (time scale?) changes? how are you
scrolling? I don't see scales changing as I move, but I probably am not
getting at what you are saying. Sorry.

3 - Is

there a way of viewing the gantt chart and resource histogram screens
together such that i am able to scroll through the gantt chart and see how
the esource histogram is affected?

Don't understand. How can you "affect" the resource histogram? What do
you mean "affect"?

What you can easily do is have a split screen. See Menu: Windows/Split.
Click into the top and Menu: View/Gantt. Click into the bottom and
Menu: View/Resource Graph. Right mouse click on bottom resourse graphs
and see that you can modify bar styles and what gets displayed. See if
that gets close to what you are seeking.

4 - Using custom fields i am able to

produce a cost forecast formula. Is it possible to automatically populate the
fixed cost field with a value derived from a custom cost field?

Far as I know you cannot via a custom field define a value for [Fixed
Cost] since [Fixed Cost] is not a custom field. It is a standard field
that is entered (see in Help where the field is documented). Probably
can use VBA to put data into that [Fixed Cost]. However, with Custom
Fields you can define your own custom cost field that you can put your
own forumula Menu: Tools/Customize/Fields..., Button: Forumula.

GDD

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Gary,

Yes, but you can select each resource in turn assigned to the one task by
scrolling underneath the resource name section. You can also select to show
"Selected Tasks" - right-click in the graph area on the left and select as
you wish. You can also scroll through the calendar and zoom as required.
There's a lot more available for selection than meets the eye - explore.


Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials