Steve --
No, you don't necessarily need to use a master project for this purpose.
Instead, ask your Project Server administrator to create a custom enterprise
Project outline code field called something like Program, and then to
populate this outline code with the programs your organization is currently
managing. Then your PM's will all need to open all of their current
projects, click Project - Project Information, select the Program for each
project, click OK, and then publish the project. The Project Server
administrator should then create a custom Project Center view that includes
the Program outline code and any fields yo need to analyze, and then he/she
need to apply Grouping on the Program field. This will allow you to anlayze
your program of projects at a high level.
If you need to anlayze your program of projects at a more detailed level
(tasks), then you can open a master project quickly for this purpose by
doing the following:
1. Navigate to the Project Center page in PWA
2. Using the Control key, select the row headers for each project in your
program
3. Click the Open button
The system will launch Microsoft Project, log you into Project Server, and
create a temporary master project from the projects you selected. A couple
of ideas for you. Hope they help.
