multi-level linking

[JulieD]

hi all

was discussing linking project files or creating larger projects today and
was wondering what your experience has been with mult-level linking e.g.

lowest level: "blocks" - approx 100-150 tasks
next level: "countries" - consisting of between 1 & 5 "blocks"
next level: "combined" - consisting of three "countries"

all "blocks" using a combined resource pool.

My feeling is that this is possibly "asking for trouble" and that it would
be best to dispense with the "lowest level" and have the blocks as outline
level 1 in the "countries" project file and then just combine the countries
into the "combined" one - but are interested in other's options and
comments.

 

[John]

hi all

was discussing linking project files or creating larger projects today and
was wondering what your experience has been with mult-level linking e.g.

lowest level: "blocks" - approx 100-150 tasks
next level: "countries" - consisting of between 1 & 5 "blocks"
next level: "combined" - consisting of three "countries"

all "blocks" using a combined resource pool.

My feeling is that this is possibly "asking for trouble" and that it would
be best to dispense with the "lowest level" and have the blocks as outline
level 1 in the "countries" project file and then just combine the countries
into the "combined" one - but are interested in other's options and
comments.

Julie,
I'm not sure if this relates to your question but the main test file I
use for answering newsgroup posts and developing macros is a multi-level
master file. It consists of a master file which also holds the resource
pool. Inserted into the master are two subprojects (level 1), one of
which has a subproject (level 2) which has a subproject (level 3). This
particular setup does not have external links between files - not
because there is a problem necessarily - I just never had the need to
set any up. Off hand, I don't foresee any problems if external links
were added to the mix. The same care and diligence would apply to any
file structure with external links.

Bottom line, I have been using this master test file for a couple of
years with no issues.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[DonL]

Julie,

I use many "production" grade sub-plans (15 - 20) that are inserted into a
Master plan, and wouldn't be surprised if there were several hundred links
between these sub-plans. There are sub-sub-plans, also. The only difficulty I
have occaisionally is when one of the Project Managers or myself (I only
maintain the Master) are not careful and create a "circular relationship"
when linking. I find these a bit harder to track down at times than if it
happened within a single project plan (although the gray hair I pull out is
not considered a total loss at this point .

 

[Ron]

Julie,
I do this sort of thing all the time using a Master project plan with
inserted sub-projects. Typically, my Master plan will consist of approx 15
sub-projects and I'll establish link tasks between the sub-projects. In some
cases, the sub-projects will consist of well over 500 tasks. All of the
sub-projects use a common resource pool so that I have a complete picture of
how my resources are being used across the various sub-projects. I've
successfully used this approach on a number of large projects over the past
5 years. And by the way, if you want to make a sub-project part of another
sub-project, you can do this through simple indenting.

Hope this helps,
Ron

 

[JulieD]

Hi John, DonL & Ron

thanks for the input ... i was expecting stories of resource pool & master
file corruptions so i am very pleased to hear that this type of linking has
been working well for you all for a long time.