Recycle project plan

[crook]

Hi,

I've seen several threads about recycling a project plan. The
consensus is, just say no. Frankly, that's good enough for me.
However, it isn't good enough for one of my users. Please help me
explain why it is a bad idea to recycle a project plan, especially a
project plan from a MS Project Server environment.

This same user also asked about using a template, which I view as a
different question (and one he didn't ask previously).

My user's question is copied below:

What are the pitfalls of using "Save As.." to recycle an existing
project plan? What about using an existing enterprise template, but
deleting several tasks and adding others?

Thanks!
Crook

 

[Rod Gill]

You may get a more complete answer on the server newsgroup, but for
reliability and technical reasons, best results come from creating templates
from scratch or importing from a fresh .mpp file. Copying those templates,
adding or deleting tasks is fine.

As Gary Chefetz said in one post:

Here's a rule to live by: NEVER, EVER, create a new project or project
template form a project plan that has ever lived in a Project Server
database. If you like the structure of the previous plan, then copy only the
text data from one plan to another. IOW - task names, dependencies. Yes you
have to restore your summary task/subtask structure manually, but it's the
only way to get a clean representation. Because we can't address the binary
project record, there's no good way to scrub a plan after it has been saved
to Project Server.

Use only extra-virgin, first-press projects to create new projects and
project templates!


--

Rod Gill
Project MVP
Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more

NEW!! Project VBA Book now in stock, for details visit:
www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Crook:

The reason why it's ill advised with Project Server is that there's no way
to clean up the binary record in the project, which will forever appear to
be Project Server refugee. If we could scrub these, things would be fine.
Enterprise templates are the way to go. You should create these using the
same principle, that only fresh extra-virgin project plans should be used.
Copy text data only from a completed project that you want to mode a new
project from.

 

[crook]

Thanks to you both, Gary and Rod! I appreciate your responses. I have
quoted Gary's response previously to this Project Manager (fresh,
extra-virgin ...). He appreciated the advice, but, as you can see, he
has kept pressing for details.

So I may better explain answer to my collegue, will you please
elaborate on what these binary records are? I appreciate your time and
attention.

Thanks!
Crook

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Project stores all of its data in binary format. Even when a project is
saved to database format, the binary record is tored in the database, and
data is extracted from it. Unfortunately, there is data that can't be
scrubbed out of these files. Some of the data that can't be removed includes
it's memory of being stored on Project Server.

 

[crook]

Gary,

Thank you!

Crook

Project stores all of its data in binary format. Even when a project is
saved to database format, the binary record is tored in the database, and
data is extracted from it. Unfortunately, there is data that can't be
scrubbed out of these files. Some of the data that can't be removed includes
it's memory of being stored on Project Server.