Problem using resource sharing in a project portfolio

[Lassi]

We are using MS Project Standard 2002 for project portfolio mgmt in our
organisation.
USAGE:
We have a common .MPP file that includes a list of all human resources. Each
project manager has his own .MPP file for his own project. Each of the
project specific files is linker to the common resource list by the standard
function of MS Project (). The project managers are not to write anything to
the common file. We also have a portfolio file, which collects all the
project files together and we would like to use it among other things to show
summary resource load graphs.
All the files are located on a network drive.

PROBLEM:
MS Project mysteriously "shuffles" the resources, so that if a project
manager has chosen e.g. Smith for a certain task, next time he opens his
file, the resource is now Mr Taylor. It has somehow shifted down a couple of
rows in the resource list. Many project managers have experienced this.
Still, we have not been able to isolate the problem by deliberate testing.
Notice that if the name of the human resource is closer to the beginning of
alphabets the shift is fewer rows than if it is towards the end of the
alphabets.

Does anyone know what causes this problem? Are there work-arounds? Is the
problem due to our version os MS Project or the lack of Project Server?
I hope I get a solution, our resource mgmt is impossible without this tool...

Lassi
Project Office Leader

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I've seen the problem, I know what it comes from, but solving it is an other
matter.
By all means it has nothing to do with Project Server.
Maybe somebody "cleaned" the pool by copying and pasting resources, that
changes the UIDs and the links to the detail files get crooked.
I'm afraid you have to rebuild the structure (that will only take an hour or
so)
Take your resource pool
Open all linked files
Unlink them ("Use own resources")
Delete all "double" resources in the pool (there often are, look at the
bottom of the list or sort to verify)
Open a new file
Copy all the resources (copy as an object by selecting all the IDs) and
paste them into the new file
Save the new file UNDER A NAME DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD POOL NAME
(Sorry people do not like this but it is mandatory)
Now link all the files to this new pool.

Hope this helps,

Off you go.