Class scheduling?

[Reed]

I'm trying to help a local school use Project to schedule library use,
but I can't figure out how to do this with MS Project.

Here's the problem:

1. The library is available in 30-minute slots from 8:00 am until 2:30 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
2. There are 36 classes that each need to visit the library once during
those three days.
3. Each class must use one of the 30-minute slots.
4. Each class has it's own availability times, with different start and end
times, lunch periods, planning periods and recess periods.
5. I want Project to automatically assign each class to a 30-minute time
slot based on availability of the class.

Can Project do this?

I have assigned the library as a resource that is available Tu-We-Th from
8:00 until 2:30.

I have assigned each class as a resource and set their working times
accordingly (see #4 above).

I can't figure out where to go from here. Am I using the right approach?

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Reed

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

I answered in the other NG.
--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
Project Management Consultancy
Prom+ade BVBA
32-495-300 620

 

[Derrick Robinson]

That was an interesting question. I am sure some list members would like to
see the reply. I would.
Derrick.

 

[Reed]

Jan has given me some ideas to work with. I'll post the results when I get
this working.

Thanks to Jan!

-Reed

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hello All,

Before explaining the actual solution, bear in mind that when a task has two
resources, and one of the resources is absent as indicated in its working
time calendar, Project will always, and inevitable, consider the two
assignments can be executed independently.
In our example, that means that when you start the calendar way, the library
will do "its share of the work" during the classes' lunch pauses...

Now let me be positive, there IS a solution with Project but you need what I
modestly call "Jan's Workaround"

Forget all the calendars made for the classes. They will only break the
simultaneity you so require. All resources (All Classes AND the library)
must have identical working calendars. In this case I would take Tue, Wed,
Thu 8-14:30.
Now all lunch pauses and other times when a class is not available must be
entered as TASKS with subject class as a resource and a Must Start On
Constraint.

Visit times will be 30 min. tasks with the class and the Lib as resource, of
course.

Now level with the options "Leveling can adjust..." and "Leveling can create
splits" OFF.

That will do.
I can send a file showing it should anybody be interested.



--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
Project Management Consultancy
Prom+ade BVBA
32-495-300 620