Skill Profiles and Resource Substitution Wizard

[Eddy]

I am trying to set up "Skills" for the enterprise
resource pool (or could be project template resources).
This is mainly to use the resource substitution wizard to
match the generic resources to the actual ones that are
qualified to perform the given task. I have both tried to
create custom fields in the Enterprise pool and the
template resource pool.

I am perhaps unable to understand thus far when the
wizard runs it shows a column named "skill profiles". How
do I let the wizard recognize my custom fields as the
skill profiles?

Eddy

 

[Dale Howard]

Eddy --

The Skills field you desire needs to be created in the Enterprise Global
(Tools - Enterprise Options - Open Enterprise Global) and needs to be a
custom Enterprise Resource Outline Code field (Tools - Customize -
Enterprise Fields). In this field, you need to click Define Code Mask and
specify the number of levels you desire for the skill, along with the type
of information specified for each level of the outline code. For example,
you might set up the code mask this way:

Sequence Length Separator
Characters Any .
Characters Any .

This would specify a two-level Code Mask for the Skills field. Then you
need to click the Edit Lookup Table... button to specify the skill values in
your field. I might set up the two levels of my Skills field something like
this:

Database Administration
Oracle
SQL Server
Informix
DB2
Software Development
C++
VB
Web
Network Administration
Novell
Microsoft
Cisco Routers

Of course, I would add many more levels of skill types and specific skills
to go with each type. Once the Lookup Table has been created, you also need
to check the "Use this code for matching generic resources" checkbox for
this field in the Customize Enterprise Fields dialog box. Once this Skills
field has been created, you need to save and close the Enterprise Global,
and then close Microsoft Project in order for the changes to take effect.

When you reopen MS Project, you need to open the Enterprise Resource Pool
(Tools - Enterprise Options - Open Enterprise Resource Pool) and apply the
Resource Sheet view. Add your custom Skills field to this view temporarily,
and then specify a skill from the field for EVERY resource in the pool,
inlcuding Generic resources. Make sure that the Skills field value for each
Generic resource exactly matches the Skills value for one or more resources
in the Pool, then save and close the Enterprise Resource Pool. Each new
resource you add to the Pool will need to have the Skills field set for them
as well.

Now, when you run the Resource Substitution Wizard, you should get the
results you seek. Also, remember when you make resource assignments to set
the R/D field value to "Demand" for each human resource, otherwise the
Wizard will substitute for them and well as for the Generic resources. Hope
this helps.

 

[Eddy]

Dale,

That is great information, for some reason I thought I
could do without the Resource Outline Code, but sounds
like this is the way to go. Your info seems very detailed
in instruction and therefore I have hopes this will be
sufficient for what I need. I will post again if I come
across any stumbling blocks. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Eddy

 

[Eddy Recio]

Dale,

I followed your instructions and everything worked except
I am unable to edit the R/D (Request /Demand) field to
demand. I have the Global Ent. pool and project open as
well as my Ent template. Please help

Eddy

 

[Gary Chefetz [MVP]]

Eddy:

The R/D is an attribute to an assignment, not a resource. You can set this
when using the Assign Resources dialog, or by displaying the Resource
Schedule in a split window.

 

[Eddy]

Gary,
Thanks for the clarification, but I am still unable to
change the field in the Assign Resource dialog. Should it
be a combobox? All I can do it click on it. If I double
click it goes into the resource editing.

Eddy

 

[Gary Chefetz [MVP]]

Eddy:

In the assign resources dialog, with a task selected in the Gantt and a
resource assigned in the dialog, you should be able to click once in the R/D
field for the resource in question and pulldown a list with blank, demand,
request.

--
Gary Chefetz [MVP]

*** Remember to look for line breaks in links posted to the news group, use
cut and paste for these.

 

[Eddy]

Gary,

Unfortunately I am using the "Assign Resource" Dialog box
(Tools, Assign Resources or Alt F10 or hit the 2 faces),
but on the "R/D" field it does not do anything, neither
with single or double click, and I tried both on the
Enterprise Gantt and Gantt Chart. So I do not get the
pull down. Is there a perhaps some glitch in Project Pro
2002? And of course I am logged into the server.

Eddy

 

[Gary Chefetz [MVP]]

Eddy:

I'm not aware of any known issues on this. I've never seen it not work.

--
Gary Chefetz [MVP]

*** Remember to look for line breaks in links posted to the news group, use
cut and paste for these.

 

[Eddy]

I have tried and I am able to use the drop down in the
Enterprise Global, however not able to do so in an
Enterprise Template.

Eddy

PS. Should I be able to use the R/D drop down in the an
Enterprise Template? Or does this only work in the
Global? Do I need to have the Global open for it to work
on the Enterprise Template?