Shared Resource Pool Shows deleted tasks

[Katrina]

Hi,

I have set up one Resource pool which is currently being shared by 42 small
Projects. These projects all have individual Project files.

I also have another project file that provides me with a consolidated view
of all 42 projects.

My problem is that I recently added the 42nd Project. After I added it to
the resource pool and to the consolidated view I renamed and deleted some
subtasks.

These subtasks no longer show in the individual Project or on the
consolidated view. The resource Pool however is another matter. The deleted
tasks are still showing up and are still tying up a resource.

I have tried disconnecting project 42 from the resource pool but this has
had no effect.

Any suggestions?
Katrina

 

[John]

Hi,

I have set up one Resource pool which is currently being shared by 42 small
Projects. These projects all have individual Project files.

I also have another project file that provides me with a consolidated view
of all 42 projects.

My problem is that I recently added the 42nd Project. After I added it to
the resource pool and to the consolidated view I renamed and deleted some
subtasks.

These subtasks no longer show in the individual Project or on the
consolidated view. The resource Pool however is another matter. The deleted
tasks are still showing up and are still tying up a resource.

I have tried disconnecting project 42 from the resource pool but this has
had no effect.

Any suggestions?
Katrina

Katrina,
I'm trying to understand your file structure. Does the resource pool
have tasks or is it a pure resource pool (i.e. resources only, no
tasks)? The reason I ask is because you said you added the 42n project
TO the resource pool.

Normally, a resource pool is an separate file with resources only and no
tasks. Those resource are then linked to the sharer files where common
resources are assigned to tasks. If a task is deleted in one of the
sharer files, that task will not only disappear from the sharer file but
will also disappear from the Resource or Task Usage views in the
resource pool.

One last thought. Do you have calculation set to automatic
(Tools/Options/Calculation tab)?

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Katrina]

John,

Sorry I wasn't clear. Firstly the Resource Pool is a stand a lone project
with no tasks - just a resource pool.

I took the following steps.

1.I set up the 42nd project as an individual project.
2. I then shared resources from the Resource pool.
3. I then added the 42 project to the project file that has the consolidated
view of all projects.
4. After this I deleted / renamed some tasks.
5 The ones I deleted / renamed are still showing in the resource pool but
not the other two project files.

I have calculation Mode set to Automatic anf Calculate - all open projects.

Katrina

 

[davegb]

I've seen this behavior several times in Resource Pooled projects.
You're starting to get corruption. My experience is that it will
gradually get worse, until the RP locks up and/or won't open. I hate to
suggest it, but you may have to recreate your RP. Otherwise, you'll
probably just keep having more and more problems. Be sure to do
frequent back-ups of all the files!
When you dis-connected the old project, did you dis-connect from the
project file or the RP? I'm not sure if this matters, but I'd keep
track of it for future reference.
If you don't want to recreate the RP just yet, you can try
re-connecting the project that you dis-connected. Then dis-connect
again, this time from the opposite end that you did it before.
Unfortunately, this doesn't always work, but it's worth a try.
When I've seen this happen on client's files, I've set up rigorous
procedures for adding projects and removing projects from the RP. I
can't honestly say if it helped or not. But it was the best thing I
could think of at the time.
Best of luck. Keep us posted. I'd definitely like to know more about
what causes this and what the possible solutions are. I hope others who
have seen this happen will contribute.

 

[John]

John,

Sorry I wasn't clear. Firstly the Resource Pool is a stand a lone project
with no tasks - just a resource pool.

I took the following steps.

1.I set up the 42nd project as an individual project.
2. I then shared resources from the Resource pool.
3. I then added the 42 project to the project file that has the consolidated
view of all projects.
4. After this I deleted / renamed some tasks.
5 The ones I deleted / renamed are still showing in the resource pool but
not the other two project files.

I have calculation Mode set to Automatic anf Calculate - all open projects.

Katrina

Katrina,
Thanks for the clarification. The only potential problem area I see in
the process you describe is steps 4 & 5 - deleting/renaming some tasks.
Ordinarily this should not be a problem but linking between files,
including a master resource pool to sharer files, is sometimes prone to
corruption as Davegb noted in his response. In my experience when links
are broken, I found the safest way to avoid corruption is to save the
destination file first, (in this case the sharer file), and then the
source file, (in this case the resource pool). I also always do a "Save
As" instead of a straight "Save". Like Dave, I don't have hard evidence
to explain why and even if this disciplined process is necessary, but it
always worked (i.e. no corruption) so I didn't really question it.

Since you already have an anomaly in your files, I suggest you try
Dave's suggestions. If that clears it up, great. Then follow a
disciplined process for all future actions with the files.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP