Help with Project

[george99]

We just downloaded Microsoft Project trial for our company, but it i
very complex, and we don't need half the features in it.

We would just like to be able to almost use it like a schedulin
software.
When we get a new project from a client, we want to be able to have i
automatically scheduled, and we want to be able to tell the client whe
it will be done. So for example, if I get a new project that shoul
take 4 days, and my schedule is full till September 4th, then I want i
to automatically schedule the new project to start on September 4th, an
I can instantly see that the project should be ready on September 8th.
Also, I want to be able to give some projects a higher priority, an
have them push every other project back in the schedule.
I think I figured out how to accomplish this basic stuff using M
Project.

Now for what I need help with.
We want to be able to keep the MS Project file in one of our computer
in our office, and allow LAN access to it from the other computers i
the office.
I was able to do that too, but only the first one in the file gets t
write, and the others are read only.
How can I make it so that everyone can have write ability at the sam
time, and always keep the file synced?

I see that there is MS Project servers, and things like that. Bu
those are all way over our head, and too expensive, and much more tha
what we need. We are only 6 people in the office.

Please advise.
Thanks

 

[Jim Aksel]

There is no version of Project that allows more than one person with Write
access at the same time.

Think about what that would mean if it was allowed. It is called a "race
condition" ... last one there wins.

Suppose Fred decided to add a task for Sept 8-12. Then you want the same
thing. Who wins? YO might argue priority, but remember your version of the
schedule does not contain Fred's task. His version lacks your task.

Sorry, it's just one at a time.

As for you other comments, consider turning on Automatic Resource Leveling.
(tools/resource leveling, select Automatic). You can set priorities for
tasks on the General Tab of the task information dialog box.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[george99]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I know about the read/write scenario, but
thought that maybe it could work like a database where information i
pulled on the fly.