Resource Name Issues

[MTechG]

In my project I've got my own resources and it's also linked to a resource
pool for certain items. When ever I type the name for the resource in the
resource column it never looks up what is in the resource field. Is there a
way to do this? IE if Fred is in my project and in a Task I assign it to
Fred by typing his name why doesn't it pick it up?

TIA

D

 

[JulieS]

Hi D,

A couple of points of clarification. Unless you are using Project
Server with "local" resources, I don't believe it is possible to have
resources who are just for your project and have other resources that
come from a resource pool file just for certain tasks. Resource pool
files outside of Project Server contain all resources even if they were
initially added to a single Project file.

To your question of typing resource names and not having the resource
column "look up" the resource, I don't believe Project is designed that
way. By default if you type a resource's name and type it *exactly* as
it appears in the resource sheet or pool file, Project will assign that
resource. However, one of the options that is enabled by default in
Project is "Automatically add new resources and tasks." With that
option enabled, if you mistype a resource's name (for example "Ferd"
instead of "Fred"), Project will automatically create the new resource
"Ferd", and add the resource to the pool file. So, first I suggest
disabling that option on the Tools > Options, General tab.

If you want to be able to type in the first few letters of a resource's
name and have Project "suggest" the resource with matching letters, you
need to open the drop-down list before you start to type. (If you like,
you can use ALT + down arrow to open the list instead of clicking with
the mouse.) Begin to type the resource's name and when Project
highlights the name in the list, press the TAB key to select the name
and enter it.

--
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information about
Microsoft Project.

 

[John]

In my project I've got my own resources and it's also linked to a resource
pool for certain items. When ever I type the name for the resource in the
resource column it never looks up what is in the resource field. Is there a
way to do this? IE if Fred is in my project and in a Task I assign it to
Fred by typing his name why doesn't it pick it up?

TIA

D

MtechG,
If you are using your own resources and also some from a resource pool,
you will have to be very careful, particularly if there duplicate names
in both resource groups (i.e. you have a "Fred" and the pool has a
"Fred")

Although you can directly enter resource names into the Resource Names
field, the preferred method for assigning resources to tasks is via the
Assign Resources window. Just select the task (or tasks) and hit the
toolbar icon with the two little heads on it, or Tools/Resources/Assign
Resources. The Assign Resources window will open and list all available
resources. The nice thing is that this window will stay in the
foreground as you select different tasks thus allowing a quick and
convenient way to make the assignments.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP