Macro?: Stripping Cost Information from MS Project File

[metaldogo70]

I have a Project file that is resource loaded. However, I need to send
it to someone who I do not want to see the following: resource data
(names, rates, etc.) and any cost data (actual, baseline, etc.)

(A) I've been told that simply deleting the resources from the resource
table causes some of the task dates to shift or percent completes to
change. Is this true? If so, what causes this to happen and what can be
done to prevent it?

(B) Assuming that deleting resources from the resource sheet is NOT the
best way to remove resource and cost data, is there a macro available
that removes this data from the file. Would this involve altering
resource assignments? clearing time-phased values?

(C) Could someone clarify the relationships between task/resources and
the following: assignments, time-phased values. I have problems
understanding the relationships, the hierarchy, and how task
assignments/time-phased values are the same or different from resources
assignments/time-phased values.

I know this is a lot of information to ask, so I hope someone will be
able to give me mos, if not all, of the answers.

Thanks!
JR

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi The simplest solution is:

In the Resource Sheet enter generic skills or roles for each resource and
save your project.

Before sending the project file:
1) Copy the roles and over-write resource names. This maintains all
assignment data.
2) Over-write all rates with $0
3) Insert the Baseline cost column and over-write the Baseline cost with $0
(so they can't calculate rates from baseline data.
4) Repeat 3) with any other saved baselines.

The copy of one column to another is simple: select all the data to copy and
simply drag it with the Ctrl key held down (to copy) or no Ctrl key to move.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Just want to add some to Rod's excellent comments.
There is no such thing as task Assignment data vs. Resource Assignment data.
There are Assignment data, that's it.
In the task Usage View they are sorted and presented in Task Sequence, in
the Resource Usage View they are sorted and presented in Resource order.

Hope this helps,

 

[John]

I have a Project file that is resource loaded. However, I need to send
it to someone who I do not want to see the following: resource data
(names, rates, etc.) and any cost data (actual, baseline, etc.)

(A) I've been told that simply deleting the resources from the resource
table causes some of the task dates to shift or percent completes to
change. Is this true? If so, what causes this to happen and what can be
done to prevent it?

(B) Assuming that deleting resources from the resource sheet is NOT the
best way to remove resource and cost data, is there a macro available
that removes this data from the file. Would this involve altering
resource assignments? clearing time-phased values?

(C) Could someone clarify the relationships between task/resources and
the following: assignments, time-phased values. I have problems
understanding the relationships, the hierarchy, and how task
assignments/time-phased values are the same or different from resources
assignments/time-phased values.

I know this is a lot of information to ask, so I hope someone will be
able to give me mos, if not all, of the answers.

Thanks!
JR

JR,
Just for reference, I have a macro that basically does this sanitizing.
My macro goes one step farther however in that it also sanitizes task
names but the code is easily modifiable to cover just the resources.
Fellow MVP, Jack Dahlgren has a similar macro but Jack's macro does not
sanitize the resource rate and does not address baseline data so some
modification would be necessary.

To see Jack's macro, go to his website at:
http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm
and look for the macro called "scrub".

If you are interested in my macro, I don't have a website but you can
contact me via the below e-mail address. If you tell me exactly what you
want (e.g. do you need all baseline fields sanitized or just the
standard one), I could modify the code to meet your needs - no charge.

John
Project MVP
jensenj6atatcomcastdotdotnet
(remove obvious redundancies)