Filter / Analysis Timescale Data in Excel

[Verossa]

Hi all

I have two almost identical project plans. Many of the tasks / resources are the same - durations / dates differ. I've merged both projects into one plan (insert > project) for cost analysis purposes and created a basic cost filter: Summary equals No AND Baseline Cost is greater than £0.00 (show related summary rows: checked)

The aim of the filter was to develop a graph with two data series for baseline cost i.e. one for each of my projects. This would enable a comparative view of both projects on the same graph. However, the actual output provides one data series with no demarcation by project. Is there a method / technique I can use to develop this

Any advise would be appreciated

TIA - Vers

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hello Verossa,
If you have only two projects, I think that the easiest way is to add a
project identifier on the first task or milestone and one another on the
last task/milestone of each project.
When you export data toward Excel via the Analyse Timescaled Data Wizard,
answer "No, thanks" (very important the "thanks" ;-) ... to the question "Do
you want to graph the timescaled data..."

In Excel, you create yourself the graph by selecting the series you want.

Hope this help,

Gérard Ducouret [MVP Project]
PragmaSoft ® - Paris

Hi all,

I have two almost identical project plans. Many of the tasks / resources

are the same - durations / dates differ. I've merged both projects into one
plan (insert > project) for cost analysis purposes and created a basic cost
filter: Summary equals No AND Baseline Cost is greater than £0.00 (show
related summary rows: checked).

The aim of the filter was to develop a graph with two data series for

baseline cost i.e. one for each of my projects. This would enable a
comparative view of both projects on the same graph. However, the actual
output provides one data series with no demarcation by project. Is there a
method / technique I can use to develop this?

 

[Verossa]

Hi Gerard

Thanks for responding, hope your well.

At present moment I have two projects but this will be expanding as more similar projects come on board. Moreover, my filter would remove the start and end tasks because there are no cost associated with them

If I have a master plan with 12 embedded projects what would be the best method. I have setup my project plan on an individual level, and am not realising I should have been considerate :-

Cheers - Vers

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hi Verossa,

If you have to manage more than 2 projects that way, I think that you may
consider programming a VBA procedure to do that. You could adapt the Analyse
Timescaled Data in Excel to do what you want.
Microsoft put a dowloadable example at disposal :
http://tinylink.com/?oBZvKP1C2U

Hope this helps,

Gérard Ducouret [MVP Project]
PragmaSoft ® - Paris

Hi Gerard,

Thanks for responding, hope your well.

At present moment I have two projects but this will be expanding as more

similar projects come on board. Moreover, my filter would remove the start
and end tasks because there are no cost associated with them.

If I have a master plan with 12 embedded projects what would be the best

method. I have setup my project plan on an individual level, and am not
realising I should have been considerate :-(

 

[Verossa]

Hey Gerard

Thanks for responding (again). I have no idea how to accomplish this even having quickly read the documentation for the download. Programming is not my thing. I may have to manage this separately but thats life

I'm surprised individual projects cannot be reported on when incorporated into one plan, but its I'll think of way to slicken things out

Hope you are having a good day
Vers

 

[John]

Verosa,
I followed the posting between you and Gerard. Did you try the "Analyze
timescaled data in Excel" add-in as is (i.e. without modification)?
Although I agree that a custom VBA macro would be much more efficient,
even to the point of doing the plotting for you, the add-in by itself
should be able to get the Baseline Cost timescaled data to Excel for a
master projects with any number of subprojects. Depending on the
structure of your master file (i.e. are subprojects inserted
individually or are some subprojects inserted within other subprojects),
you may have to do a couple of extra steps to make the data in Excel
easier to segregate for plotting. First, ensure each Task Name has some
type of identifier indicating which subproject it is part of. In a
normal Project view this can be accomplished simply by showing the
"Subproject File" field, however this field is not available for export
when using the add-in. The second thing you will need to do is rearrange
the data once it is in Excel so it is easier to plot.

Give this a try (hint: run the add-in from the Task Usage view) and see
if it fits your needs. If not and you really want a custom VBA macro,
write me direct.

Hope this helps.
John

 

[verossa]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the comments John. I was going to post regarding the link to the
exe you provided because the documentation wasn't clear (to me) on how to
run the add-in. Because I saw no noticeable difference I assumed it was a
VBA add-in only accessible from the code view.

I don't understand what you mean by "hint: run the add-in from the Task
Usage view" - when I'm in the view where do I go next ./ what do I do? It
may sound like silly question but I cannot see anything different having run
the add-in.

Thanks for the assistance - hope you get time to respond.

Vers

 

[Sarah]

Verossa,

You have to have the Analysis toolbar visible in Project. If it is,
there is a button on it called "Analyze Timescaled Data in Excel".
Click the button, and a five screen wizard walks you through the
process.

Sarah