Merging/Extracting Milestones from different project schedules

[Rajula]

Hi,

I want to create a MS project file which will have milestones from 5-6
different project schedules merged into one project.

Is there a way to do this?

Rajula

 

[John]

Hi,

I want to create a MS project file which will have milestones from 5-6
different project schedules merged into one project.

Is there a way to do this?

Rajula

Rajula,
Sure there are a couple of ways to do it. One is to create a
consolidated master by first opening a new blank project file and then
going to Insert/Project. Select the individual projects you want to
include. Once you have the master there are several techniques to
isolate the desired milestones. One is to filter for them. Another might
be to use Project's grouping function (Project/Group By).

You could also create a separate new file and list the desired
milestones. Then use external Predecessors to link those milestones to
the appropriate tasks in the individual projects. You can read more
about setting up external links in the Project Help file.

Personally, I would probably opt for the first approach (i.e.
consolidated master).

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Rajula]

Thanx John. Its gonna help.

Rajula,
Sure there are a couple of ways to do it. One is to create a
consolidated master by first opening a new blank project file and then
going to Insert/Project. Select the individual projects you want to
include. Once you have the master there are several techniques to
isolate the desired milestones. One is to filter for them. Another might
be to use Project's grouping function (Project/Group By).

You could also create a separate new file and list the desired
milestones. Then use external Predecessors to link those milestones to
the appropriate tasks in the individual projects. You can read more
about setting up external links in the Project Help file.

Personally, I would probably opt for the first approach (i.e.
consolidated master).

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[John]

Thanx John. Its gonna help.

Rajula,
You're welcome.

John

 

[Rajula]

Hi,

On the same topic.
I insert the project schedules of 5 projects into 1 MPP file. But when the
project makes changes to the plans, how can i reflect it in my master mpp. Is
there a way to do this?
I mean keeping it current without me having to make changes as and when the
project change their MPP.

Regards

 

[John]

Hi,

On the same topic.
I insert the project schedules of 5 projects into 1 MPP file. But when the
project makes changes to the plans, how can i reflect it in my master mpp. Is
there a way to do this?
I mean keeping it current without me having to make changes as and when the
project change their MPP.

Regards

Rajula,
That should be automatic. The default option for creating a consolidated
master is a dynamically linked master. That is, the subprojects are
dynamically linked to the master and changes made in either the master
or the subprojects will be reflected in the other. Of course, you do
need to have Tools/Options/Calculation tab set for automatic and if you
make the changes in the master, you do need to insure you have write
access (i.e. the owner of the subproject doesn't have it open for
editing).

Just for reference, a dynamically linked master does NOT have the actual
subproject inserted into it, rather, there is a pointer to the actual
subproject inserted into the master. This is best evidenced by the fact
that the Task IDs in a dynamic master are not contiguous, they renumber
starting with each subproject.

Also for reference, there is also something called a static master. It
is created in the same way except that the option "Link to project" on
the Insert Project window is not checked. In that case a completely
independent master is created and the contents of the subprojects ARE
inserted directly into it. It is however "static" and changes in a
static master, or the original subprojects, will have no effect on each
other.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP