Resource Usage View - adding columns only available in Task Views

[Pam]

I'm doing exactly what "Exporting of Data through Resource Usage View" post
is doing. I'm using the Resource Usage View to move tasks by resource to
Excel.

However, I've been asked for additional information for each Resource View
in Excel by the PM. That information is on the Task Views and is total
"resources" on task, total "work" hours estimated, the "Notes" and a "Text"
field from the Task View - all on one line by task in Excel. It would be
useful to get that Summary task line too, but can't figure out how to get it
in the Resource Usage view (only a Summary task column).

This will enable each resource to see what they've been assigned and how
many hours, plus who else is working on it with them and total number of work
hours (and any notes we've added, etc.).

I want to know if there's a way to do this in or out of project without
painful manual labor. It's the combination of the Resource Usage view and
the Tracking Gantt (plus some fields) that's causing me grief. The final goal
is an Excel tab for each resource with all the above information. Thanks in
advance!!!

 

[John]

I'm doing exactly what "Exporting of Data through Resource Usage View" post
is doing. I'm using the Resource Usage View to move tasks by resource to
Excel.

However, I've been asked for additional information for each Resource View
in Excel by the PM. That information is on the Task Views and is total
"resources" on task, total "work" hours estimated, the "Notes" and a "Text"
field from the Task View - all on one line by task in Excel. It would be
useful to get that Summary task line too, but can't figure out how to get it
in the Resource Usage view (only a Summary task column).

This will enable each resource to see what they've been assigned and how
many hours, plus who else is working on it with them and total number of work
hours (and any notes we've added, etc.).

I want to know if there's a way to do this in or out of project without
painful manual labor. It's the combination of the Resource Usage view and
the Tracking Gantt (plus some fields) that's causing me grief. The final goal
is an Excel tab for each resource with all the above information. Thanks in
advance!!!

Pam,
I assume you are not using Project 2007 since that version has expanded
capability for getting Project data into Excel via Visual Reports.

First of all I suggest you go to our MVP website at,
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm, and take a look at FAQ 51. That
will help you to understand what types of data are contained in various
Project views.

The best way to create the report that you want is with VBA. If you
don't have any VBA experience, you can learn (and just like Home Deport,
we can help), or you could find somebody to write the code for you.
Short of that, you could try a combination of exports, (using "Analyze
timescaled data in Excel"), from the Resource Usage and Task Usage views
(for timescaled data) and an export map for static data (i.e.
non-timescaled). Then combine the data into your report once it is in
Excel. Be aware however, that when copying (even with an export map) the
Notes field, the notes text will be truncated at the first line feed or
255 characters, whichever occurs first. That limitation is avoided when
using VBA.

Of course there is always the manual copy and paste approach but as you
say, that's painful and inefficient.

Probably not the answer you wanted. It can be done, but it isn't a
simple procedure.

John
Project MVP

 

[Pam]

I am using Project 2003, as you guessed. I did review the faq, but am
familiar with the fields each view offers. My problem was understanding
whether there was some amazing feature I'd missed providing combination
views. I'm now using the Task Usage view to get all the data I want, but I
had to color it so the resource can focus in on only their tasks and it looks
like a zebra. It's awful.

I was combining the data before (resource view+task usage view and sorting
and filtering to remove stuff we didn't need twice) - but with 100 or so
resources that I have to redo every other week, it's tedious.

I don't know how to use VBA. Guess it's time to get a new skill.

 

[John]

I am using Project 2003, as you guessed. I did review the faq, but am
familiar with the fields each view offers. My problem was understanding
whether there was some amazing feature I'd missed providing combination
views. I'm now using the Task Usage view to get all the data I want, but I
had to color it so the resource can focus in on only their tasks and it looks
like a zebra. It's awful.

I was combining the data before (resource view+task usage view and sorting
and filtering to remove stuff we didn't need twice) - but with 100 or so
resources that I have to redo every other week, it's tedious.

I don't know how to use VBA. Guess it's time to get a new skill.

Pam,
Fellow MVP, Rod Gill has an excellent book on Project VBA. For more
information go to, http://www.projectvbabook.com.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[JoeBindeman]

I saw the response to Pam, have a similar challenge, and didn't find he
solution posted. I want to add custom text to the Resource Usage field
Are there commands to make text appear in the resource report? If so
what are they

 

[JulieS]

Hi JoeBindeman,

We cannot see Pam's question nor any responses. So, try explaining
to us what you need. Please include information about what version
(2002? 2003? 2007?) plus service pack information.

If you add a field to the Resource Sheet and populate it with
values, you should be able to add the exact field to the Resource
Usage view (left side) and see the same values. What resource
report to you want to see the data in?

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

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[JoeBindeman]

Julie, I don't know why you can't see it. Pam's question is on this same
page: http://forums.techarena.in/microsoft-project/925338.htm
I am trying to add custom text fields to the Resource Usage Report
table. The Usage report however doesn't recognize Task fields. Is there
some way to redirect the usage table to accept Tasks fields? John
referenced using VBA. What commands/format and where would they be used?

 

[JulieS]

Hi Joe,

The techarena forum is actually "slurping" from the Microsoft news
newsgroup -- the techarena forum reads from the MS newsgroup but the
MS newsgroup doesn't show the posts in the same manner. As you
didn't quote Pam's question in yours, I can't see it.

None the less -- the Resource Usage view does not contain any
tasks -- only resources and assignments and therefore doesn't
contain any task fields. The closest you can come is to show the
Task Usage view, add a spare custom field (Text1, Number2 etc.) and
enter data. Then through code, copy the value from the task
assignment field into the resource assignment field.

Jack Dahlgren generously made available some code to copy values
from task fields to assignment fields. Look for the macro "Copy
Task Fields" at Jack's page:

http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm

Please note, the structure of Project 2007 has changed. So if you
are using 2007, you'll need to refer to the code captured at FAQ 51
& 37 at:
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm


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

Julie
Project MVP

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