Resource Assignment and Levelling

[Marie-Pier]

Hi,
I've been using MS Project for only a little while, and used to do all
levelling manually. Since my current project involves too many resources,
I'd like to find better ways. I have a few questions...

1) Can MS Project assign resources from a group of resources?
For example, I have 3 PLSQL programmers and 8 Java programmers. The PLSQL
tasks can be completed by either one of the PLSQL developers. Is there a way
to tell MS Project to select the best resource to optimize the result?

2) Our company uses multiple project plans, all linked to a master plan and
a single master resource file. If I decide to use automatic levelling of my
plan, will it affect the dates on the other plans? If yes, is there a way to
prevent it? I don't believe the owners of the other plans would like it very
much. --> Most of the resources on my plan are mine alone, but a few are
shared.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Marie-Pier,

Question 1: No. Bluntly, definitely, loud and clear No.
Question 2: Leveling will only work with the files that are open, and
consider the tasks in the other projects as fixed (but thus it does take
into account the load of the resources generated in these other projects).
So, open the pool and only the projects you intend to level (leave the
master closed); then level.
HTH

 

[Catfish Hunter]

Jan has helped me a great deal in the past and knows a lot about how MS
Projects works. I went through some of the same problems you are going
through now. One thing I need to bring up is you can prioritize your task
prior to leveling. If you use priority of 1,000 MS Projects will not level
that task. Priority numbers are from 1 to 999. You can insert a column -
"Priority"
You can also tell MS Projects to not level resource by going to Resource
Sheet and inserting a "Can Level" column.
Good Luck