Sorting Resource Names in Task Views

[Cory Levine]

I assume this is just a bug, but is there a way to sort the resource names in
the pull-down menus when you are assigning a resource to a task? I know how
to sort in the Resource Sheet view and that the Assign Resources dialog-box
sorts correctly, but I often like to make my assignments via a split window
(showing the Gantt Chart and Task Form, for example) and making my
assignments there; in this instance, the resources in the pull-down menu are
sorted by ID, rather than by name. Any suggestions?

 

[John]

I assume this is just a bug, but is there a way to sort the resource names in
the pull-down menus when you are assigning a resource to a task? I know how
to sort in the Resource Sheet view and that the Assign Resources dialog-box
sorts correctly, but I often like to make my assignments via a split window
(showing the Gantt Chart and Task Form, for example) and making my
assignments there; in this instance, the resources in the pull-down menu are
sorted by ID, rather than by name. Any suggestions?

Cory,
It's not a bug ... but then different people have different ways of
defining a bug. An entomologist for example .... oh, forget it.

I think you need to carry the Resource Sheet sort one step farther. In
the Sort window, check the box at the bottom to "permanently renumber
resources", after they have been sorted alphabetically.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Cory Levine]

I tried this, but the check-box is disabled. Any ideas?

 

[John]

I tried this, but the check-box is disabled. Any ideas?

Cory,
The only way I know for the option to be disabled is if the other
option, namely "Sort resources by project", is unchecked. Try checking
that box and then go for the re-numbering.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Cory Levine]

John:

I actually tried that before (enabling the Sort Resources by Project) - no
difference. I probably put thjis into additional context. I am using
MSProject Prof. 2003, but am not using a resource pool - does that make any
difference? Thanks for the help>

 

[Cory Levine]

John:

I just tried the sort in another project and the option is enabled. Two
additional observations about the project where the option is disabled - 1)
The project is baselined 2) I added the resources inserting from the Outlook
Address Book (where in the other project I manually typed the resources in).
Hope this helps.

 

[John]

John:

I just tried the sort in another project and the option is enabled. Two
additional observations about the project where the option is disabled - 1)
The project is baselined 2) I added the resources inserting from the Outlook
Address Book (where in the other project I manually typed the resources in).
Hope this helps.

Cory,
Using a resource pool probably DOES matter but you are not using one so
that is irrelevant. The version of Project is also irrelevant - I am
currently using Project Pro 2003. And having your project baselined is
also irrelevant. Well, at least we know a lot of thing it ain't.

What I don't know about is the Outlook connection. I'm just guessing
here because I don't use Outlook and have never interfaced it with
Project, but my thinking is that if the resources were imported from
Outlook via the "Add resources/From address book" button, they might
actually still be linked to Outlook. If so then that's probably why they
can't be re-ordered - because they don't actually BELONG to Project,
they belong to Outlook.

Since the resources are probably assigned to a gazillion tasks (give or
take) rather than deleting the resources added from Outlook, you might
consider creating a new set of resources manually (slight name
variation) and then do a resource swap. Look up "replace a resource
assignment" in the help file. After the "new" resources are assigned,
delete those imported from Outlook.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP