Sharing Complex Projects with Others

[tommcbrny]

Hello,

I manage multiple projects and have set up MS project plans (Project
Standard 2003, SP1) for each project.

I have links between some of the projects due to dependencies.
I also set up a resource pool shared by all projects since all team members
ultimately role up to the same senior manager.
Finally, I set up a master plan by creating a new project and using the
project insert method with projects linked.

Is there a way to share this master project plan with others without
including the individual plans that are linked and the resource pool? Can I
create a locked or read only version of the master?

One of the development managers I work with wants an MS MPP file that shows
his resources and projects (spans several of the individual projects but not
all) so that he can view resources, timelines, etc. I do not want to send
all of my files, and would prefer that he have a read only version of the
master that he can manipulate with views, filters, groups, etc without having
the supporting source files. Is this possible in Project?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

Firstly, FYI, if you install Project 2003 SP3 you can open Project 2007
files if you get any.

When you create linked masters lie this, you get these types of problems,
and if you move, rename or over-write any of the sub projects you will
corrupt one or more files sooner or later.

I always recommend that you never insert files linked. I usually record and
then run a simple macro to create a new master each week from sub-projects
by doing an insert project command then de-select the Link option. This
copies all tasks into the master (a read only snapshot) and consolidates all
resources (provide they are spelt the same). I archive the snapshot each
week for audit purposes. The only thing I lose is the ability for immediate
updates of the master when a sub-project is updated.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com