Remove Resource Pool File

[RDU]

I'm working on a Project 2003 file offline. It has a resource pool file
associated with it that I want to delete. Can I do this offline or must I
first disconnect the link online? Thanks.

 

[John]

I'm working on a Project 2003 file offline. It has a resource pool file
associated with it that I want to delete. Can I do this offline or must I
first disconnect the link online? Thanks.

RDU,
I assume the resource pool is on a central server. The only way to
effectively break links (including those to a resource pool), is to do
it with both files active and then save them. Otherwise, you will end up
with "dangling" link parts in one file or the other and this is a prime
suspect for corruption.

John
Project MVP

 

[RDU]

Thanks John. I thought that would be the case.

I'm trying to straighten out a mess that another individual created by
copying different portions of Project files into a master file with little,
if any, regard of the consequences. The resource pool in question is an
artifact from other Project files that this individual copy and pasted into
the master master file. I am being told that the resource pool that was
contained in his Project files do not reside on the server.

Any further thoughts?

Thanks.

--Randy

 

[John]

Thanks John. I thought that would be the case.

I'm trying to straighten out a mess that another individual created by
copying different portions of Project files into a master file with little,
if any, regard of the consequences. The resource pool in question is an
artifact from other Project files that this individual copy and pasted into
the master master file. I am being told that the resource pool that was
contained in his Project files do not reside on the server.

Any further thoughts?

Thanks.

--Randy

Randy,
It sounds like you've got a royal mess - I sympathize. However, the
later description you gave sounds like the individual just pasted
resources into the master, it doesn't sound like there is a linked
resource pool at all, but maybe I'm not quite following what you are
trying to say. If you go to Tools/Resource Sharing/Share resources, what
does the Share Resources window show for its various options?

I hate to say this but if the file you are working with has been
"jerry-rigged" from many pieces, it is likely some corruption already
exists. How large is the file and what is the basic structure?

John
Project MVP

 

[RDU]

John--
Believe me, you didn't need to tell me I've got a royal mess! I've
already had to re-baseline the entire schedule.

When I go to Tools/Resource Sharing/Share resources, the Share Resources
window shows me the name of the Project file & "Use resources
From...<resource pool name>.

The file is 1.5M with 1,023 tasks!

--Randy

 

[John]

John--
Believe me, you didn't need to tell me I've got a royal mess! I've
already had to re-baseline the entire schedule.

When I go to Tools/Resource Sharing/Share resources, the Share Resources
window shows me the name of the Project file & "Use resources
From...<resource pool name>.

The file is 1.5M with 1,023 tasks!

Randy,
Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. I had some errands to run.

It isn't clear to me whether the resource pool file is available to you
or not but I will assume that you no longer want it. It is a little
difficult to tell exactly what you have in the way of file structure
since its been basterdized so maybe this approach is the best to take.

1. Just for safety I would save or print a hard copy of the file so the
resources and their assignments are captured
2. I would then disconnect the resource pool via Tools/Resource
Sharing/Share resources. As I stated earlier this may leave a "dangling"
link in the resource pool file but I gather you don't really care.
3. If you are lucky the resources will still show up on the Resource
Sheet of your file. If so, you are probably OK. If they don't (i.e. they
disappeared with the pool connection disappeared), you will probably
have to re-enter the resource names and associated data (step 1 should
help with that).

One and a half megabytes for a 1000+ task file doesn't sound all that
bad but just for safety, you might want to re-fresh the whole file in
case there is some corruption. Go to our MVP website at:
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
and take a look at FAQ 43 - File Bloat? Might be corruption

Hopefully this will help get you on track with your "inherited" Project
file. Let us know how it works.

John
Project MVP

 

[RDU]

John--
No problem. I'm just now picking your response up as the system did not
notify me that someone (you) had replied!

Anyway, no, the resource file is not available to me. It's not even on the
server where the file originally resided. The individual who, as you rightly
state, bastardized the file had used another Project file and used it as a
template then copied it into the file I'm working on. His original file did
have a resource pool and that's where the fun began.

Long story short, I did remove the offending file and just selected use my
own pool so that's fixed. The resources that were added 'after the fact'
remain intact but I'm dubious as to their validity.

I'll check out FAQ 43. Thanks for the tip.

Of course, I now have an entirely new and different problem. They sent me a
similar file that is eaten up with circular reference problems. I'm going to
post that problem separately under the subject heading "Circular
Relationships." I would really appreciate your taking a look at it as well.

Thanks for all of your help thus far. It has been very helpful and helping
me learn a few tricks as well!

--Randy

 

[John]

John--
No problem. I'm just now picking your response up as the system did not
notify me that someone (you) had replied!

Anyway, no, the resource file is not available to me. It's not even on the
server where the file originally resided. The individual who, as you rightly
state, bastardized the file had used another Project file and used it as a
template then copied it into the file I'm working on. His original file did
have a resource pool and that's where the fun began.

Long story short, I did remove the offending file and just selected use my
own pool so that's fixed. The resources that were added 'after the fact'
remain intact but I'm dubious as to their validity.

I'll check out FAQ 43. Thanks for the tip.

Of course, I now have an entirely new and different problem. They sent me a
similar file that is eaten up with circular reference problems. I'm going to
post that problem separately under the subject heading "Circular
Relationships." I would really appreciate your taking a look at it as well.

Thanks for all of your help thus far. It has been very helpful and helping
me learn a few tricks as well!

--Randy

Randy,
I would definitely follow the steps to clear corruption from your file.
Even though it may appear to be acting ok, from the history you describe
I can't believe it isn't "hosed up" in some strange way that is gonna
bite you where the sun don't shine when you least expect it ... so to
speak.

With regard to the file with circular relationships. There have been
many posts in this newsgroup on this issue. The most common offender for
circular relationships is links on summary lines. The biggest problem
with finding and resolving circular relationships is trying to get the
file open. Sometimes you can turn calculation off and it will let the
file open, but not always. If you can't open the file, you are outta
luck. If you can open the file, I would first look at summary lines for
links - get rid of those and then see what happens.

John
Project MVP

 

[RDU]

John--

Thanks for the additional information.

I started following the steps to clear corruption from my file but ran into
a problem. The instructions refer to saving the .mpp file as a project
database file (.mpd). I happen to use another program called Marketing Plan
Pro that just happens to use the .mpd file extension for its files. When I
save the .mpp file as an .mpd file it defaults to the MPP program.

I'm working on the circular relationships problem now. It does appear there
was a summary line issue.

The bo0ttom line is that one of my recommendations is going to be to start
the schedule over from scratch with guidance on how to correctly handle
merging files going forward.

--Randy

 

[John]

John--

Thanks for the additional information.

I started following the steps to clear corruption from my file but ran into
a problem. The instructions refer to saving the .mpp file as a project
database file (.mpd). I happen to use another program called Marketing Plan
Pro that just happens to use the .mpd file extension for its files. When I
save the .mpp file as an .mpd file it defaults to the MPP program.

I'm working on the circular relationships problem now. It does appear there
was a summary line issue.

The bo0ttom line is that one of my recommendations is going to be to start
the schedule over from scratch with guidance on how to correctly handle
merging files going forward.

--Randy

Randy,
The .mpd file extension is not unique to Project. Consider a .txt
extension, many types of applications save files in that format. If the
..mpd is defaulting to your Marketing Plan Pro application then I suggest
you find out how to redirect it. I am not a Windows expert so I can't
offer any advice on the specifics. Maybe someone else will chime in on
this thread or you could try posting to a Windows newsgroup.

It sounds like you are able to open the file with the link problem. You
are lucky, I hope you can get it cleared.

I agree that the best way to create a plan in Project is either from
scratch (bottom up or top down - both methods work fine) or by editing
an existing similar file. The former is the preferred approach - less
chance of error. Files can be created successfully using cut and paste
from other files but doing so is asking for trouble. I would never use
that method.

John
Project MVP