removing resources from customer copy

[jag]

I have created a schedule by entering tasks, resources, units of work per
task and per resource, and task dependencies, then allowing Project to level
the workload to determine schedule. My customer wants a copy for tracking
the progress on a time-line basis. I do not want to give him access to the
details of work/resource, but if i modify or delete these items, the time
line changes. How do I delete these items and yet keep the existing
timeline/gantt chart??

Thanks.

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

Try selecting the Resource names column then in Project 2000 or earlier
press Ctrl+Delete or in Project 2003 (and I think 2002) just press Delete to
clear the column of all Resource data. Dates should remain untouched.

 

[jag]

Thanks - That solved a part of the problem. I was able to remove the
resource name and the work hours associated with that resource while keeping
the original timeline. However, I am still showing total work hours for the
tasks. Is there any way to remove these work hours and still keep the
timeline?

JAG

 

[Rod Gill]

Try Deleting the contents of the Work column (you'll need to insert it or
select the Work Table)?

 

[jag]

When I delete the contents of the work column the timeline changes. I have
also tried turning the calculations to manual and marking all tasks as Fixed
Duration. Neither worked - both changed the timeline.

Any other suggestions?

 

[John]

When I delete the contents of the work column the timeline changes. I have
also tried turning the calculations to manual and marking all tasks as Fixed
Duration. Neither worked - both changed the timeline.

Any other suggestions?

JAG,
I tried this on a simple sample file and it seemed to work. After
resources are leveled and the timeline is set do the following:
1. Set calculation to manual
2. Add two fields to the current view - Leveling Delay and Constraint
Type
3. Zero out all values in the Leveling Delay field
4. Set all tasks to have a Constraint Type of "start no earlier than"
5. Delete all resources (Work should automatically go to zero)
6. Save the file under a new name and give to your customer

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Why zero out leveling delay? I understand he wants to transfer the leveled
dates?

 

[jag]

Everyone - Thanks for the help so far. Your recommendations have solved most
of the problems. One problem left. What I have done so far is:
1. turn off automatic calculation
2. Delete Resource names as suggested by Rod
3. Delete work as suggested by Rod

This works well, but the work amounts in the summary tasks remain unchanged
(I can't delete or mark as zero). I believe this is because the work amount
in the summary tasks is a calculated value and I have calculations turned
off. If I recalculate to change the summary values the timeline is modified
as well.

Any ideas on how to change the work value of the summary task to zero?

Thanks

 

[jag]

Persistance pays off.

1. Set Calculation for Automatic
2. Set Constraints for all tasks as "Start no earlier than"
3. Delete Resource Names
4. Delete Work

Dates and durations remain unchanged. Work for all tasks and summary tasks
goes to zero.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[John]

Why zero out leveling delay? I understand he wants to transfer the leveled
dates?

Jan,
I don't have a ready explanation other than I had to zero leveling delay
or the leveling function went nuts each time I made a change. Rather
than pursue why it was happening, it was just easier zeroing it out.
Further, since the delay was introduced by the leveling function to
spread out the tasks, setting a constraint compensates so the delay can
be removed. It also allows calculation to be turned back on. And as JAG
notes in his/her latest post, a calculation is needed to finally zero
out Work values on Summary Lines.

John

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

OK, just that in the process you described you zeroed out leveling delay
before putting the constraint.

 

[John]

OK, just that in the process you described you zeroed out leveling delay
before putting the constraint.

Jan,
Yes, actually I did, but since I had calculation off, everything "stayed
put" until all the changes were made. I wouldn't guarantee the method I
described works 100% for all situations (sometimes Project has a mind of
its own), but my intent was to alert jag to the idea of constraining
tasks so he could "lock in" the timeline generated by leveling.

John