Filter for 1 specific branch in Project logic

[Dave]

I have a project with 1000+ tasks with a myriad of dependencies.

What I want to do is to isolate 1 task and display all predecessor and
successor tasks related to this 1 task and view it in a Gantt chart. I only
want to see that 1 task and any other tasks dependant on that 1 task.
Basically I want to isolate 1 branch from my project.

I was wondering if there is some way I can do this with a filter?

The other way I was thinking was maybe if I made this task the critical path
somehow I could isolate it this way. So far I can't figure out how to do
this without changing the dates.

Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[JulieS]

Hi Dave,

Take a look at the "Trace Macro" by Jack Dahlgren (Project MVP) at:

http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[John]

I have a project with 1000+ tasks with a myriad of dependencies.

What I want to do is to isolate 1 task and display all predecessor and
successor tasks related to this 1 task and view it in a Gantt chart. I only
want to see that 1 task and any other tasks dependant on that 1 task.
Basically I want to isolate 1 branch from my project.

I was wondering if there is some way I can do this with a filter?

The other way I was thinking was maybe if I made this task the critical path
somehow I could isolate it this way. So far I can't figure out how to do
this without changing the dates.

Any ideas?
Thanks

Dave,
A filter isn't going to get you there and messing with the critical path
won't work either. I think your best bet is to use a macro developed by
fellow MVP, Jack Dahlgren. Go to his website at:
http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm
and take a look at his "Trace" macro.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Dave]

Thanks John

Great link - you and JulieS must have been typing at the same time

Dave

 

[Dave]

Thanks JulieS

The link that you and John posted is very good. The trace utility works
great - I was surprised though that it doesn't show linked summary tasks. I
tend to link my summary tasks as well as individual tasks. I guess this is a
phylosophical question, but can you tell me if this is not recommended (to
link summary tasks)?

I am a relative newbie to MS-Project and want to form as many good habits as
early on as I can.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Dave,

Glad to have helped and thanks for the feedback.

It is *not* recommended to link summary tasks. If you do a quick search on
this newsgroup you'll find several references to the creation of circular
relationships being caused by linking summary tasks to other summary tasks.

I encourage you (as most likely will others) to remove the links between the
summary tasks.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[Dave]

Thanks for the tip!
Dave

Hi Dave,

Glad to have helped and thanks for the feedback.

It is *not* recommended to link summary tasks. If you do a quick search on
this newsgroup you'll find several references to the creation of circular
relationships being caused by linking summary tasks to other summary tasks.

I encourage you (as most likely will others) to remove the links between the
summary tasks.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[JulieS]

You are most welcome Dave and thanks for the feedback. Let us know if we
can help further.

Julie

 

[RobH]

How do I add this macro? Is there a simple way to create the macro in my
global.mpt? I tried copying the text of the trace macro and adding it but
the text keeps truncating.
Rob H.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Rob,

On Jack's page see the information under "Macro Installation" for
instructions on how to insert the macro into your project or into the
global.mpt file.

To your comment about "text truncating" I don't understand what you
mean. What text gets truncated?

--
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information about
Microsoft Project.

 

[RobH]

I am new to macros, so here goes: I recorded a new macro called Trace_Task,
stopped the recorder, edited the macro, pasted the text for the Trace macro
in, and now have 2 new macros in the list, one called Trace and one called
Trace_Task. The two macros look alike. Is this OK? If I try to delete one
they both get deleted. Thanks for your help.

 

[RobH]

Ooops, figured it out. I was copying the macro script in and not removing a
line or two that was already there. Re-did it and it works fine now. Thanks
for your help!

 

[JulieS]

Hi Rob,

No need to record a new macro.
Create a copy of your project file.

Open the copy of your project file.
Go to the Visual Basic Editor (ALT + F11).
In the VBE window, view the Project Explorer if it is not visible (View

Project Explorer.)

In the Project Explorer pane, select either your project or the
ProjectGlobal (Global.mpt).
Choose Insert Module.
Then copy and paste the macro from Jack's Trace Macro into the Module.

Return to your project file.
Select a task and then go to Tools > macros > Macro, you should see the
Trace Macro in the list.
Run the macro by clicking the run button.

--
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information about
Microsoft Project.

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Rob and thanks for the feedback.


Julie

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information about
Microsoft Project.