Help on Project Server Performance

[RL \(Bob\) Coppedge, MCSE/MCT]

Ok, I'm not bright, and I need some help.

A client recently moved from MS Project desktop to the Project Server 2003.
I was brought in because of performance issues. The client has a "master"
project that contains references to about 200 small projects.

He wants to be able to filter on only uncompleted tasks for each project.
So what he does is select all of them (Ctrl+A) and selects "Expand." This
takes a long time (5-10 minutes). I put some performance monitors on, and
it's just going back and forth between the server and the workstation, over
and over again. I assume it's opening each project individually and
returning the results to the workstation.

Is there a way in Project to request all projects be expanded in one fell
swoop? I want to move them over the Sharepoint and web access, but they're
not ready for that yet.

thanks in advance;

 

[Gary L. Chefetz \(MVP\)]

RL:

The processor speed and RAM on the client is very likely the culprit in this
case, however this is not going to be a fast operation under any
circumstance. You should make sure that the Project Server instance is
properly patched and that external links are used as judiciously as
possible. These are general recommendations based on the limited information
you're providing. Tuning a Project Server implementation shouldn't be your
first task in learning the technology.

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
"We wrote the book on Project Server
http://www.msprojectexperts.com

-

 

[RL \(Bob\) Coppedge, MCSE/MCT]

Thanks for the reply. I've already recommended that they upgrade the
client, for other issues. I'm quite familiar with the infrastructure
technology (SQL, the network Windows, etc.). And I've used Project a lot
over the years. But there's no question that I need to learn more about the
Project Server product.

 

[Bob]

Project Server does not work well with 'Master'
schedules. Remember that inorder to view the detials,
the master schedule is opening and closing all 200
projects before it can show you the 'Master' details.
Weather these are large or small projects there will be a
definate impact on performance...

 

[RL \(Bob\) Coppedge, MCSE/MCT]

Yeah, I saw that through PerfMon. My question is whether there's an easier
way to quickly see all open tasks through multiple (200) small (5-10 tasks)
projects?

thanks!