MS Project 2007 Bug

[lms]

Hope someone can help, because my IT manager claims my problems stem from the Rag formula I'm using.

Basically, my problem arose when I took the 9 projects I managed all linked to a resource pool and moved them to a new spot on our server. After moving them I unlinked each file to the existing resource pool and created a new resource pool. Then I linked each project to this new resource pool and created a master project file with all 9 projects. Once this master was created I noticed that tasks within each project file were being duplicated and some tasks from one project file showed up on another project file. In other words, Project A had duplicated tasks and Project C tasks showed up in Project B. However, these occurances only happened within the master project file and not in each individual project file when opened independent of the master file. Also, in one of my weekly meetings, when reviewing a project file using our projector equipment, the Rag column would not completely display. Some Rag bullets were not showing, but an error showed in its place, when I removed the projector everything worked correctly again.

You should also note, that each file has a custom calendar and has been baselined a number of times. I've never seen this happen before using a master, so I'm wondering if Rag formulas are unique to software versions - remember I'm using 2007 (not server). Also, none of these problems started happening until after I moved all these files to another part of our server. I provided the Rag below:

Rag Formula (Number Field)
IIf([% Work Complete]=100,10000,DateValue([Finish])-DateValue([Current Date]))

Graphical
Is greater than or equal to 10,000 Blue
Is greater than or equal to 30 Dark Green
Is greater than or equal to 6 Light Green
Is greater than or equal to 0 Yellow
Is less than or equal to (1) Red

Thanks for.

[JulieS]

I'm not seeing any immediate problem with your formula. I would have likely used a DateDiff or ProjectDateDiff function to calculate the difference between the Finish and Current date, but I don't see a particular issue there.

When you created the master, it sounds as though the issue is in the master. If you create a "static" master (do not link to subprojects) do the issues ago away?

How are you creating the master project -- using the pool file?

[lms]

I need a linked master file, so no I didn't try it without the linkage. Ultimately, I had wanted to link many of the tasks within these 9 subprojects to another project which I was going to imbed underneath or at the end of these subprojects within the master. While I could create a 10th project linked back to each of the 9 projects, I also needed to be able to resource level all 10 projects and thought this might be the best solution to that challenge. All my projects utilize the same resource pool.

Regarding your pool file question, each subproject does contain the same resource pool file within it. Now I didn't try linking this pool file after creating the master - would this be a better option?

Also, are there any master file limitations with MS Project 2007 Standard. Maybe I'm asking a master file to do more than it’s capable of - each of these projects has between 300-1000 tasks.

Finally, if you have a better formula then I will surely like to try that as well.

[lms]

I just linked the resource pool to one of the projects that were duplicating tasks, but unlinked the subproject as it was importing to the master. It works - no more task duplications, but I'm not going to be able to utilize it this way. Any idea why this is happening - ever heard of this duplicating like this?

[JulieS]

Sorry I was clearer. If you have a resource pool and sharer files -- which it sounds like you do -- you should be able to create the master using the resource pool.

With all other files closed, open the pool file and in the dialog choose the 3rd option "Open the resource pool read/write and all other sharer files into a consolidate master."

Does that fix the repeating task issue?

You don't mention what SP level you are with Project 2007 -- you should be at SP-2.

[JulieS]

I've also just re-read one of your earlier posts and question your comment:

Regarding your pool file question, each subproject does contain the same resource pool file within it. Now I didn't try linking this pool file after creating the master - would this be a better option?

Did you actually create a separate file with only resources in the file and then through Tools > Resource Sharing > Share resources, attached the sharer files?

[lms]

I do have a separate resource pool file and I do link each file through Tools> Resource Sharing> Share Resources. I also have SP2 installed.

However, your earlier comment is interesting, because I've never created a master file by opening the pool file and in the dialog choose the 3rd option. I've always created a master by creating a new file, and importing each project (already linked to a resource pool) through Insert> Project>. Is the functionality the same - can I update via either the individual project files or the master file and have everything cross update? Are there any challenges I should be aware when using this to create the master?

As subprojects are completed, I will need to remove them from the master and unlink the resource pool since the pool has linking limitations, but I will continue to add more projects to the master. How, do I add future new projects - my way (Insert> Project>) or your way (open pool and in the dialog choose the 3rd option).

[JulieS]

I think you will find the opening the pool file with option 3 is faster. You can create a master project "on the fly" as needed and it will always include the files attached to the pool. So as you detach and attach files, you should be all set.

When working with pools, I personally never save the master file. Changes made to the master are reflected in the sharer files and changes made to sharers are reflected in the master.