Different cost rates, one resource pool, cost rate table insuffici

[AntonyS]

As well as planning and scheduling we use Project to calculate the cost of a
project. Our projects will have a number of different resources with
different hourly cost rates. Those same resources work on another project
with a totally different set of hourly costs. This works great when the
projects are on their own but I would like to use the resource pool
functionality for scheduling. Doing so means that I can have only one cost
price unless I use rate tables - rate tables only allow 5 rates I need more.
I will aslo need to change a large number of project plans. Is there an
alternative?

 

[Rod Gill]

Not with a resource pool. Alternative is:

No pool
use separate rates as needed.
Weekly create a new consolidated project but deselect Link when inserting
each project. This copies all info and consolidates resource workload across
all projects. You will only get a single resource rate in the master
project, but I guess you need this for levelling?

Work out what each PM needs to do to adjust their resource usage. Master
provides good snapshot across all projects each week. Can record a macro to
make creating new master each week quick and easy.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Yes.
When connecting the files to the ppol select
Sharer takes precedence
In that case in each project the specific rates for THAT project will be
used;
HTH

 

[AntonyS]

Hi Jan,

This works to an extent - this is what I tried.

I created a new resource pool, put three resources in it. I created a
project file called file A and created some activities and costs, linked to
the resource pool with sharer as presedence. The total cost for File A was
£2800. I created a new File B connected to the resource pool, added some
activities and costs and resourced the activities - again saved with sharer
as presendence. The costs for File B came to £5120. If I open one file, work
with it, close it etc all the cost information is fine - this is great.
However if I open File A, then File B, save and close File B I find that File
B has had File A's costs written to it. Do you know if I would have this same
problem over a network, i.e. If Project ManagerA has File A open and then
Project Manager B opens saves and closes file B?

 

[AntonyS]

Hi Rod,

Thanks for this. Unfortunately there are a number of Project Managers who
require real time access to the resource pool so a weekly update is not
appropriate. Would you know if Project Enterprise handles this better?

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

1. Did you change the unit costs in A and B before saving them again? I
thought that was the point, to have different unit costs for the same
resoruces; you only mention ytotal cost which i can not possibly interpret.

2. If you see A's costs in B and vice versa you somehow messd things up with
a save as; Project would never do that. Working locally or on a server
doesn't change the behaviour.

3. Maybe you mean B shows A's costs AS WELL, on top of its own? Close the
pool and each project only shows its own costs.

Hope this helps,

 

[AntonyS]

Hi Jan,

thanks for the information and your patience, its appreciated!

The unit costs in A and B are different. Here's what I have just tried...

If I open Plan A and the resource pool (the resource pool is in read only
mode), the resource pool / resource sheet / entry view displays the hourly
costs for the resources in Plan A.

Keeping Plan A and the resource pool open, if I then open Plan B and look at
the resource pool / resource sheet / entry view the view updates and displays
the hourly costs for the resources in Plan B.

If I then add a new task line to Plan A using a resource that is in Plan A
and Plan B it uses the cost information from Plan B not Plan A.

Just for fun - if you have all three files open and then tile the view you
can update the hourly cost of a resource in Plan A or Plan B and watch as it
immediately updates the other open files. Closing the resource pool stops
this update from rippling across.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Hi,

I can understand the lmogic of the guy who programmed this - weird but there
is a logic- but the main thoing is you have your solution.
When the pool is closed each project uses its own rates.
Hope this helps,