Linking Tasks to a Summary Project (master)

[Richard Parsons]

I have used the command "paste special" to link tasks from other projects
into one project to be used as a summary project. For some reason the links
are not able to hold their reference connection and the link is lost and
project can't find it even though it's path is pointing in the right place.

I don't want to use project server, but the OLE database would have been
much better if it hadn't been removed.

Any "work around" suggestions?

Thanks,
RP

 

[Jim Aksel]

We use a Master Project and insert the subprojects. Links between
subprojects are then just like linking to any other tasks.
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If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

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

 

[JulieS]

Hi Richard,

As you have discovered Paste Link is fragile at best. Can you create a
master project by inserting the project files (Insert>Project) into a
consolidated master and then just filter out the tasks you don't need?

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

Julie
Project MVP

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Richard,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project in the
TechTrax ezine, particularly #17 & 18 on multiple projects, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the articles before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP

 

[Richard Parsons]

Thanks Mike for the tips.

I have done it that way before, but upper management (there should be a new
word developed for this) want to only see summary information, they don't
want all the detail, nor want to "hide" rows. It's a laziness / convenience
thing on their part.

I only want to link the summary task in the "Master Summary Project" file.

There's an oxy-moron.

Appreciate the assistance though.

Richard

 

[Richard Parsons]

Hi JulieS,

Paste Link should be removed from this version of project as it serves no
useful purpose other than the original link, it can't even maintain the link
when all the project files are in the same directory (and locally to boot).

If you read my response to Mike Glen's suggestion, you will understand why I
don't want a Master Schedule with all projects inserted.

Appreciate your time for a response.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Richard Parsons]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your time to write the reply to my post, please see my response
to Mike's suggestion. If there isn't any other work around, I'm going to
have to tell them to revert back to Project 2003. Most of our customers
aren't beyond Project 2000 anyways, and backward compatibility is becoming an
issue.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Mike Glen]

Richard,

Paste Special is a useful device if kept within a project, for example it is
the only way to create a hammock task (see FAQ Item: 19. Hammock Tasks.)
They do work externally, but as we've all said they are somewhat flaky and
lead to the sort of problems you've been facing.

Why not create a master project filtered for summary tasks. If they only
want to see each project's summary task and nothing else, then use a Flag
field and insert Yes into the project summary tasks and filter on that Flag.
Any linking between projects can be done between milestones in one to
milestones in the other irrespective of any filtering.

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[Jim Aksel]

When we deal with those who breath the thin air (higher management), we place
a group of key milestones at the top of the project file.

Then, using the Copy Picture Wizard, we create a nice jpeg and paste it to a
PowerPoint Slide.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

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

 

[JulieS]

Hello Richard,

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback. I see both Mike and Jim
have weighed in with some further information that you may find useful.
Do let us know if you have further questions.

Julie
Project MVP

Hi JulieS,

Paste Link should be removed from this version of project as it serves
no
useful purpose other than the original link, it can't even maintain
the link
when all the project files are in the same directory (and locally to
boot).

If you read my response to Mike Glen's suggestion, you will understand
why I
don't want a Master Schedule with all projects inserted.

Appreciate your time for a response.

Cheers,
Richard

<snip> "JulieS" wrote: