Useing a facility as a resource - problems

[KenWiens]

I have as facility that is used by various tasks. The facility must
not be double booked. I have thus created a resource which is this
facility (as per the MS documentation). I assign this resource to the
task and use resource levelling to ensure it does not get double
booked.

The problem is that with the extra resource assigned, MSProject wants
to either cut the duration in half or double the work effort (depending
upon how I define the task). (which adversely affects a lot of other
reports I generate)

Any experiences in defining a facility as a resource but not having it
change work duration / effort / etc?

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Ken,

Let me summarize this as I understand it.
First, you probably discovered that the halving of the duration can be
easily avoided by making the task not efort driven.
Giving the result you want - you need to level a resource but it shouldn't
show any work - to me seems impossible as leveling's logic is to shift WORK
that cannot be done within the capacity of the resource: no work, no
leveling.

I don't know whether this can be a solution, but if you're not yet using
cost as such, you could put the cost of the "work" resources to 1 and the
cost of the facility to 0: then total cot foields show the work data you
want.

And just in case - in the leveling dialog box, do not forget to cross out
"Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task": if not, Project will
schedule your life resources independently from the facility!

Hope this helps,