Is there a way to reorder groups manually other than ascending an.

[Duck]

I have groups set up, but I need to reorder them manually. Example would be
1, 2 and 3 are my groups. I need 3 to be first, then 1 and then 2.

 

[Steve House [MS Project MVP]]

What sort of groups are you talking about? - tasks? resources? What field
are you using to group on?

 

[Duck]

Steve,
I am using task groups keying off of a customized number field.

 

[Duck]

Steve,
I am using task groups keying off of a customized number field.

 

[Duck]

I am using task groups keying off of a customized number field.

 

[Steve House [MVP MS Project]]

What about entering a field that is only used to control the sort order and
then you could group and sort on that field? Otherwise, if I have a
collection of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and I need to structure them, what
possible sequence could exist except ascending or descending? Anything else
is unordered by definition.

My other hat is a database developer and one principles of good design is
that sort orders and indexes whould be based on meaningful attributes of the
data records. Arbitrary sequencing just has no real uses. So why not apply
that principle to the tasks in your project? It makes sense, lets say, to
group tasks together on the resources assigned to them and print a report
alphabetically by resource name, or sort based on the amount of work, or
descending order by cost, or grouped by tasks to be performed in a certain
location, etc etc - all those I can see an application for, but just
arbitrary grouping and ordering, just to group 'em, why bother?

Steve House [MVP]

 

[Duck]

I work in a power plant and I am trying to adapt from Primavera to Microsoft
Project 2003. Primavera allows you to define activity codes and order them
to your liking. Example would be that I have 6 power producing units and
unit 2 is the first one in outage then 4, 3, 1, 6 and 5. The groupings need
to be in the order that the units are being worked. Not ascending or
descending. Then I would sort on early start. I have added a number field
for sorting, but currently I can only sort ascending or descending. Hope
this helps expalin my needs. I do appreciate your efforts in trying to solve
this with me. I am open for any other suggestions.

 

[Steve House [MS Project MVP]]

Hang on- you got a tempest in a teapot here and the answer is right under
your nose - in fact you gave you own answer right in the middle of this
post. The units are to be sorted in the order that they will be worked -
that means if you have set up the outline structure correctly to begin with
they will be sorted on the start date of the summary tasks with the outline
structure preserved. When you build your task list each of the units
becomes a summary task. Indented under each one is the set of activities to
be performed on it. You simply enter the unit's summary tasks in the order
you want to perform them. If you presently have them in a different order,
just collapse the subtasks by clicking on the outline symbol next to the
summary name, click the id number to select the whole line, and use
"click-and-drag" to move the task and its assorted subtasks will move with
it. Perhaps you're trying to have the WBS number equal the Unit number but
that's not really what a WBS is all about - the WBS is a sequence number.
You can define a custom field if you need to associate accounting codes or
something with the task. The result would be:

WBS Task
1 Upgrade Unit 2
1.1 Task 1
1.1.1 Task 2
1.2 Task 3
2 Upgrade Unit 4
2.1 Task 1
2.2 Task 2
2.3 Task 3
3 Upgrade Unit 3
3.1 Task 1
3.2 Task 2
3.3 Task 3
4 Upgrade Unit 1
4.1 Task 1
4.2 Task 2
4.3 Task 3

etc

What's wrong with that?

Another possibility if you really do need to associate a WBS number with a
specifc unit number so the codes are in the pattern where Unit 2 is WBS 2,
Unit 3 is WBS 3 etc - In the Project menu use the Define WBS to set up a
custom code structure. List the units in numerical order and indent their
subtasks under them. The WBS codes will be assigned in numerical order,
same as the outline number. Then use click-and-drag to move the summary
tasks into the order you want them. The Outline numbers will change but
unless you manually trigger a renumbering the custom WBS codes won't.

--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer/Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs