Problems using "resource pool"

[Andrea Giacomelli]

Hi,

I am using a resource file across projects.

Things work fine, generally, but from time to time some
operations lead the resource file to get corrupted, and/or
MS Project to freeze when accessing the file.

At this point the solution is to restore an older version
of the file. The problem is that at this point I need to
re-synchronize workloads be re-opening all the projects,
which is not exactly what I would expect in terms of
advantage in using a shared resurce file.

Is this a common problem ? Are there limitations in the
number of projects which should share a resource file ?

TIA for any feedback (I would appreciate if you could also
CC a reply to my e-mail).

Andrea

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Andrea,

Resource pools get "hurt" because users make small mistakes.
Generally the problem is that he pool is linked to a file that no longer
exists, or is not accessible because it is on a local PC.

How can this come about?

When you have a pool opened togethre with a sharer file, and you SAVE AS the
sharer file, the address in the pool is replaced by the new address... even
if this is a c:\ or a d:\ address.
Then when later you open the pool and sharers, the pool can't find the
address and takes hours to look for it.

Another frequently made error is to simply move the file offline - obviously
the pool will not find it back, or moving it offline, then opening the new
version with the pool and connecting it - after which the assignments of
this file exist twice in the pool, etc.


Finally, the surest recipe to corrupt a pool is to copy aa the resources,
paste them in a new file and replace the old pool with this one.

There are only two solutions to this pool weakness:

1. You tell all users NOT to move their files, and to physically or
otherwise hurt all offenders...
2. You build a macro that restores the pool's links to the right files and
only these..

Now for the good news.
When you open a pool with the third option "Open Pool and all sharers", it
synchronises teh whole lot in one go, no need to individually update them.

HTH


--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
Project Management Consultancy
Prom+ade BVBA
32-495-300 620