Master Projects

[Té]

I have a master project and I am also inserting subprojects. The problem is
when I insert the subprojects the duration for the master and subprojects are
different. I dont understand why.

 

[John]

I have a master project and I am also inserting subprojects. The problem is
when I insert the subprojects the duration for the master and subprojects are
different. I dont understand why.

Te,
What do you mean you have a master project and you are also inserting
subprojects? Normally, a master project consists of inserted
subprojects. The master project may or may not have tasks of its own. Is
that what you have?

What do you mean when you say the duration for the master and
subprojects are different? Do you mean that the summary line for the
inserted project in the master has a different duration than the Project
Summary Task of the subproject? If so, make sure calculation is set for
automatic.

John
Project MVP

 

[JulieS]

In addition to John's excellent advice, the durations showing at the
summary lines may be different if the definition for day and week are
different between the subproject files and the master. Check Tools >
Options, Calendar tab.

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

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[Té]

Okay I have a master project called Q4 Master that I just put into project.
Next I am inserting a subproject named Unix Training Manual. When I insert
the subproject the duration (summary task) says 57 days, however when I
expand the subproject the duration on the Master Project (summary task) now
says 58 days.
The more projects I insert the summary task duration keeps changing, and it
doesnt equal the total duration for all of the subprojects (summary task).

The Master Project does not have any tasks. It has a start and finish date,
but as soon as I insert the subprojects the start dates change.

I checked the calculation and its set to automatic

 

[JulieS]

Hello Te,

The Master Project summary task duration is calculated on the span in
working time from the start of the earliest of any of the projects to the
finish of the last. The definition of what is a working day to the master
project comes from the working and nonworking time in the master project
calendar.

So, is there a nonworking day in the Unix Training Manual project calendar
that is not a nonworking day in the Master project calendar?

The Project summary task in the Master project will not equal the sum of the
inserted projects unless you link each project to one another. (For example,
link the last task in the Unix Training Manual project to the first task in
the Project Training Manual project.)

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

Julie

 

[Té]

I just checked the working times on the master project and subproject and the
working times are exactly the same. They are M-F 8-5, and there arent any
holidays.

The weird thing is when I insert the subproject the summary task has a
duration of 57 days, but when I expand the subproject to see the tasks, then
my summary task on the Master Project changes to 58 days.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Te,

The only way I can reproduce what you report is to have a nonworking day in
the subproject which is not marked as a nonworking day in the master project.
When that is true, I can reproduce precisely what you report. The project
summary task in the master project changes when I expand the inserted
subproject.

All I can suggest, short of looking at your project myself is to open the
subproject alone and print the working days report. Double check any
nonworking days against the master.

Julie

 

[Té]

Okay I checked the working days on the report for the subproject and master
project and both of them have 1/2 working day, but the master project should
reflect this also.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Te,

I'm sorry, I'm just not following your post.

Are the working and nonworking days in both the master project
calendar and the calendar in the subproject exactly the same? If you
have changed the calendar in the subproject file, you need to either
copy that calendar to the master project file, or manually change the
master project calendar.

Please also post back the version of Project plus service pack
information.

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

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[Té]

Hi Julie. Everything is the same in the master project and the subprojects.
I have checked the working times on both and they are M-F 8-5.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Te,

What version of MS project are you using and what service pack is
installed?

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[Té]

Hi Julie. Sorry I got busy at work. I am using MS Project 2003.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Te,

No worries. We can undoubtedly spend hours guessing. If you would care
to, zip the file and send it to me by email. I'll take a look and see
if I can figure out what is going on. My email address is prjng [at]
maine.rr.com

Place the master and subproject in the same folder and zip the folder
and all should work on my end.

Julie

 

[Té]

Hi Julie. I emailed the file to you. THANK YOU!!! When you expand the
subprojects you'll notice that the days change!

 

[JulieS]

Hello Te,

Yes, I did get your email message.

However, you only sent the master project not the subprojects as well.
In order for me to trouble shoot you'll need to place *all* of the files
(the master, and the 4 training manual files Unix, HTML, CSS. XML) into
a folder and zip all 5 files. Unless you send all files, I cannot open
any of the subproject files to see what is going on.

A couple of things that I could spot without all the data:
The start date of the master project is October 17, 2005. But it
appears that the Unix training project are scheduled to start in August
of 2005. Change your start date in the master project to reflect the
earliest start of any of the subprojects.

There are not any non-workings days in the master project calendar. So,
again, if there are non-working days or half days or *any* variation on
8:00 am to 5:00 pm for every single Monday through Friday that is where
the changes in duration are coming from.

I hope this helps. Again, feel free to send me all the files.

Julie