Master Project plan - not responding

[aho200]

Hello, I have a test Master project plan locally on my PC with local
subprojects inserted in it. Sometimes when I try to close the master project
plan the application seems to freeze and I get the error message saying that
it is not responding. Using task manager to end it doesn't work either. I
have to reboot. Anyone know what might cause this. This happened on both
my laptop and my PC workstation. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[Rod Gill]

What version of Project and what Service pack level? (Click Help, About to
find out). You need to be on the latest SP levels, especially for Project
2003.

 

[aho200]

Hi Rod,

I am on MS Office Project Professional 2003 (11.1.2004.1707.15) SP1

Thanks

 

[Rod Gill]

I would certainly get the SP2 update and see what happens then.

In addition you need to be very careful with linked consolidations (and
resource pools) not to over-write, rename or move any of the files without
first removing from the consolidated file. If you do then sooner or later
you get file corruption.

 

[aho200]

Is this SP2 for the MS Project 2003 software or for MS Project 2003 server so
that I know whether to contact our server team or application installation
team?
Thanks.

 

[Rod Gill]

If you are connected to Project Server then Project Server needs SP2a and
all Professional users SP2.

So what are you doing with master files locally when you have Project
Server? Project Server reports should be able to show you everything you
need?

 

[aho200]

Thanks for the advice Rod.

If you are connected to Project Server then Project Server needs SP2a and
all Professional users SP2.

So what are you doing with master files locally when you have Project
Server? Project Server reports should be able to show you everything you
need?

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP
Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more

 

[aho200]

The reason I have the master locally but the subprojects on project server is
due to advice in MS Project 2003's help menu that recommends that. It says
that if the master is saved to the Project 2003 server than erroneous reports
can result and recommends the master be saved locally. Thanks.

 

[Rod Gill]

True, but PWA reports can show just about everything you see in a master
project. It is in fact OK to save a master plan in Project Server, but a big
no-no to PUBLISH a master plan in Project Server.

Your best solution may be to talk with the Project Server Administrator and
get some PWA Views created for you that meet your needs without the Master
schedules

 

[aho200]

Yes, I had checked with our Project Server Administrator but he did not know
if there was another way to get the view I wanted. I also thought of
Portfolio Analyzer, but it too would not provide the needed view I believe.
With a master project plan I am hoping to insert subprojects for an $80
million dollar system implementation project. This will allow me to have the
graphical part of the Gantt chart that I will format with dates and names and
in different colors. Putting in the subprojects by hospital campus and
project type such as device strategy, training, implementation, etc. will
provide a great overall graphical picture for our VPs as we explain the major
tasks for the project. Do you know of another method that might provide this
great overall gantt bar chart?