Level Resources across Projects

B

BAndrews

Is there a way to level resources across projects effectively (manually or
automotically) from within project with an Enterprise Resource Pool?
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

BAndrews --

To level overallocated resources effectively across multiple projects, you
must open each project before you can use the built-in leveling tool in
Microsoft Project Professional (Tools - Level Resources). You cannot level
from within the Enterprise Resource Pool. Concerning the built-in leveling
tool in Microsoft Project, I want to warn you in advance that you will
probably not be happy with the results, as Microsoft Project can only level
overallocated resources in two ways:

1. Delaying tasks
2. Splitting tasks

It cannot do anything else. Because of its limitations, I generally
recommend using one or more manual methods of leveling that tap your
expertise and knowledge as a project manager. Some of these methods
include:

- Replace an overallocated resource with an available resource
- Reduce the Units value on task assignments involving the overallocated
resource
- Manually delay tasks/assignments to resolve the overallocation

Just some thoughts. Hope this helps.
 
B

BAndrews

I have never actually used the auto leveling for that reason - but had not
yet tried with 2003. Thanks for the heads up.

Now for doing it manually - what i am really looking for would be a way to
look at all the tasks for a particular resource (across projects) so i can
see over allocations and level the tasks manually.

Is there a way to do this from within project?

Thanks!
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

BAndrews --

Open one project containing the overallocated resource, then click View -
Resource Usage. This view will show you all of the projects to which the
overallocated resource is assigned. Open each of the other projects to
which the resource is assigned. Once all of the projects are open, click
Window - New Windows. Select all of the open projects, select the Gantt
Chart view, and then click the OK button.

Microsoft Project will create a temporary master project with all of the
open projects as subprojects. Apply the Using Resource... filter in this
master project and then select the resource whose task assignments you wish
to see. While in this view, you can also use any of the various manual
methods at your disposal for leveling the resource's overallocation. Hope
this helps.
 
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