Multiple source on single task

[jaime]

Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time. There is a task that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to Start). Now when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources are overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically adjusted? Thank you

-jaime

 

[JulieS]

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to the other task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two tasks, the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max. units of 70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so they do not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units, Project will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

 

[jp]

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply. Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling" would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and subsequent tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment units). I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process which could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more? Thanks Julie.
-jaime

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling" would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the tasks out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task (35% on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've got to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from 70% to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource to do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious? Yes

Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

 

[jp]

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it with a check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation" which took me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the top left window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window (completely new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations, Leveling Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a windows that asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling" would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the tasks out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task (35% on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've got to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from 70% to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource to do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious? Yes

Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

 

[JulieS]

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual (highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected resource and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it with a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation" which took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the top left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window (completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations, Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a windows that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling" would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task (35%
on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've got
to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from 70%
to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource to
do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious? Yes

Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

:

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to the other
task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two tasks, the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max. units
of
70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so they do
not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units, Project
will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time. There is a
task
that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to Start).
Now
when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources are
overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically adjusted?
Thank
you

-jaime

 

[jp]

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under "Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire project" or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled "Level Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but put in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual (highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected resource and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it with a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation" which took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the top left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window (completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations, Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a windows that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling" would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task (35%
on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've got
to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from 70%
to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource to
do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious? Yes


Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

:

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to the other
task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two tasks, the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max. units
of
70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so they do
not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units, Project
will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time. There is a
task
that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to Start).
Now
when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources are
overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically adjusted?
Thank
you

-jaime

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the leveling from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see if that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled "Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual (highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation" which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations, Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the
tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling
command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task
(35%
on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've
got
to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from
70%
to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource
to
do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more
than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious?
Yes


Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

:

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to the
other
task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two tasks,
the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max.
units
of
70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level
Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so they
do
not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units,
Project
will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time. There
is a
task
that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to
Start).
Now
when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources are
overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically adjusted?
Thank
you

-jaime

 

[jp]

Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to the project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours (combined with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over the 70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the leveling from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see if that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled "Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual (highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation" which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations, Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the
tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling
command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task
(35%
on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've
got
to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from
70%
to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource
to
do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more
than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious?
Yes


Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

:

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to the
other
task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two tasks,
the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max.
units
of
70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level
Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so they
do
not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units,
Project
will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time. There
is a
task
that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to
Start).
Now
when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources are
overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically adjusted?
Thank
you

-jaime

 

[jp]

Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went back RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them. Then I unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed it. It seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get it correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling values before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that needed to be fixed?

-jaime

Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to the project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours (combined with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over the 70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the leveling from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see if that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled "Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual (highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation" which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations, Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks. The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of the
tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling
command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to multi-task
(35%
on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically you've
got
to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half (from
70%
to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a resource
to
do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be more
than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues. Laborious?
Yes


Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

:

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to the
other
task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two tasks,
the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max.
units
of
70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level
Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so they
do
not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units,
Project
will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time. There
is a
task
that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to
Start).
Now
when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources are
overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically adjusted?
Thank
you

-jaime

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jamie,



I'm glad you're working your way through resource leveling.



For a quick primer:

Resources names turn red indicating they are overallocated when the
sum of their assignment units (a value called peak units) is greater
than the resource's max. units -- even if their peak is greater than
max. for one minute. Usually overallocations are caused by having
the resource assigned to tasks which overlap in time -- such as with
the start to start relationships you have created. Pretty much a
guarantee, when you create a SS relationship and assign the same
resource(s) to both tasks at max. units -- you're going to create an
overallocation.



Usually when the Resource Leveling command doesn't fix an
overallocation, it's for one of the following reasons:



1) The overallocation is below the threshold set in the "Look for
overallocations on a" basis. The default is "Day by Day". For
example -- Julie is assigned at 70% to a task which begins at 08:00
and finishes at 10:00. She is also assigned at 70% to a task which
begins at 09:45 and finishes at 11:00. From 09:45 to 10:00, her
peak units are 140% -- above her max. If those are the only two
tasks she is assigned to on that day, she is overallocated (name is
red) but she is not overallocated for the day. Therefore the
Resource Leveling command would not attempt to resolve the
overallocation. There will not be a message from Project about the
inability to solve the overallocation -- it didn't even try. See
FAQ 34 "Overallocation Occurring in Less Than One Day" at
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm



2) The overallocation is caused by an assignment above the
resource's max.units. The resource leveling command can only delay
tasks to fix the overallocation - it cannot change assignment units.
The resource leveling command will display a message stating
specifically it cannot resolve the overallocation.



3) The resource leveling command cannot resolve the overallocation
when the option "Level only within available slack" is checked and
that tasks which are in conflict have no slack. Again, the resource
leveling command will display a message when it cannot resolve that
issue.



You may wish to read some of the excellent series of articles by
Mike Glen (Project MVP). I believe he has several articles
addressing resource leveling. You can find a listing of Mike's
tutorials at:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm



I hope this helps.



Julie

Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went back
RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them. Then I
unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed it. It
seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get it
correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling values
before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that needed
to be fixed?

-jaime

Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to the
project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore
overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours (combined
with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over the
70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the leveling
from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see if
that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire
project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled
"Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but
put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource
Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual
(highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button
to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the
Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected
resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it
with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation"
which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the
top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations,
Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a
windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource
leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a
couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management
toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the
problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks.
The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation
view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in
the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the
assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious
process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little
more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem
of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of
the
tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling
command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to
multi-task
(35%
on
this task and 35% on the other) I think realistically
you've
got
to
be careful. Dropping a resource's assignment in half
(from
70%
to
35%) will double the duration. In reality asking a
resource
to
do 2
things at once frequently causes the entire time to be
more
than
double due to ramp down and ramp back up issues.
Laborious?
Yes


Thanks Julie.

[Julie] You're welcome Jamie.

-jaime

:

Hello jaime,

I assume you have the same two resources assigned to
the
other
task
also at 70%. For the period of overlap of the two
tasks,
the
resources are assigned at 140%, which is over the max.
units
of
70%.
You have a couple of choices -
1) Use the resource leveling command (Tools > Level
Resources)
2) Manually edit the assignment units to each task so
they
do
not
exceed 70%. Generally when you drop assignment units,
Project
will
increase the task duration.
3) Change the link type from S to S to Finish to
Start.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and
additional
information about Microsoft Project

message
Hi,

I have 2 resources working at 70% of their time.
There
is a
task
that
requires
to start at the same time as another task (Start to
Start).
Now
when I look
at the resource usage it is telling me the resources
are
overallocated. How
do I fix this issue if it's not automatically
adjusted?
Thank
you

-jaime

 

[jp]

Wow, that surely helped Julie.
;-)
Thank you so much.
Yes, I think I'm on my way with the resources and allocations.
;-)
hehe.
I'm getting my wings, they're slowly coming out...
I will surely visit the site and review your suggestions. This site is so
great July.

-jaime

Hi Jamie,



I'm glad you're working your way through resource leveling.



For a quick primer:

Resources names turn red indicating they are overallocated when the
sum of their assignment units (a value called peak units) is greater
than the resource's max. units -- even if their peak is greater than
max. for one minute. Usually overallocations are caused by having
the resource assigned to tasks which overlap in time -- such as with
the start to start relationships you have created. Pretty much a
guarantee, when you create a SS relationship and assign the same
resource(s) to both tasks at max. units -- you're going to create an
overallocation.



Usually when the Resource Leveling command doesn't fix an
overallocation, it's for one of the following reasons:



1) The overallocation is below the threshold set in the "Look for
overallocations on a" basis. The default is "Day by Day". For
example -- Julie is assigned at 70% to a task which begins at 08:00
and finishes at 10:00. She is also assigned at 70% to a task which
begins at 09:45 and finishes at 11:00. From 09:45 to 10:00, her
peak units are 140% -- above her max. If those are the only two
tasks she is assigned to on that day, she is overallocated (name is
red) but she is not overallocated for the day. Therefore the
Resource Leveling command would not attempt to resolve the
overallocation. There will not be a message from Project about the
inability to solve the overallocation -- it didn't even try. See
FAQ 34 "Overallocation Occurring in Less Than One Day" at
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm



2) The overallocation is caused by an assignment above the
resource's max.units. The resource leveling command can only delay
tasks to fix the overallocation - it cannot change assignment units.
The resource leveling command will display a message stating
specifically it cannot resolve the overallocation.



3) The resource leveling command cannot resolve the overallocation
when the option "Level only within available slack" is checked and
that tasks which are in conflict have no slack. Again, the resource
leveling command will display a message when it cannot resolve that
issue.



You may wish to read some of the excellent series of articles by
Mike Glen (Project MVP). I believe he has several articles
addressing resource leveling. You can find a listing of Mike's
tutorials at:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm



I hope this helps.



Julie

Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went back
RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them. Then I
unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed it. It
seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get it
correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling values
before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that needed
to be fixed?

-jaime

Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to the
project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore
overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours (combined
with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over the
70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the leveling
from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see if
that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire
project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled
"Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but
put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource
Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual
(highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button
to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the
Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected
resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it
with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation"
which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the
top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations,
Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a
windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource
leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a
couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management
toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the
problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks.
The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation
view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in
the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the
assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious
process
which
could end
up messing me up? Can you clarify this one a little
more?

[Julie] Well, this is essentially resolving the problem
of
overallocationg by manually spreading the durations of
the
tasks
out
instead of sliding out tasks which the resource leveling
command
will do. While the idea of asking a resource to

 

[jp]

Sorry, I typed July by mistake.
I meant to type Julie.

-jaime

Wow, that surely helped Julie.
;-)
Thank you so much.
Yes, I think I'm on my way with the resources and allocations.
;-)
hehe.
I'm getting my wings, they're slowly coming out...
I will surely visit the site and review your suggestions. This site is so
great July.

-jaime

Hi Jamie,



I'm glad you're working your way through resource leveling.



For a quick primer:

Resources names turn red indicating they are overallocated when the
sum of their assignment units (a value called peak units) is greater
than the resource's max. units -- even if their peak is greater than
max. for one minute. Usually overallocations are caused by having
the resource assigned to tasks which overlap in time -- such as with
the start to start relationships you have created. Pretty much a
guarantee, when you create a SS relationship and assign the same
resource(s) to both tasks at max. units -- you're going to create an
overallocation.



Usually when the Resource Leveling command doesn't fix an
overallocation, it's for one of the following reasons:



1) The overallocation is below the threshold set in the "Look for
overallocations on a" basis. The default is "Day by Day". For
example -- Julie is assigned at 70% to a task which begins at 08:00
and finishes at 10:00. She is also assigned at 70% to a task which
begins at 09:45 and finishes at 11:00. From 09:45 to 10:00, her
peak units are 140% -- above her max. If those are the only two
tasks she is assigned to on that day, she is overallocated (name is
red) but she is not overallocated for the day. Therefore the
Resource Leveling command would not attempt to resolve the
overallocation. There will not be a message from Project about the
inability to solve the overallocation -- it didn't even try. See
FAQ 34 "Overallocation Occurring in Less Than One Day" at
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm



2) The overallocation is caused by an assignment above the
resource's max.units. The resource leveling command can only delay
tasks to fix the overallocation - it cannot change assignment units.
The resource leveling command will display a message stating
specifically it cannot resolve the overallocation.



3) The resource leveling command cannot resolve the overallocation
when the option "Level only within available slack" is checked and
that tasks which are in conflict have no slack. Again, the resource
leveling command will display a message when it cannot resolve that
issue.



You may wish to read some of the excellent series of articles by
Mike Glen (Project MVP). I believe he has several articles
addressing resource leveling. You can find a listing of Mike's
tutorials at:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm



I hope this helps.



Julie

Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went back
RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them. Then I
unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed it. It
seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get it
correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling values
before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that needed
to be fixed?

-jaime

:


Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to the
project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore
overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours (combined
with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over the
70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the leveling
from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see if
that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling" checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire
project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled
"Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved it but
put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource
Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to Manual
(highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now" button
to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see the
Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected
resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management [selected it
with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4 parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation"
which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on the
top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations,
Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a
windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource
leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a
couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management
toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing the
problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other tasks.
The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource Allocation
view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource in
the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools > Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date, deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the
assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a laborious
process

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Jaime and thanks for the feedback. Don't worry
about the July/Julie mix-up. I was named Julie because I was born
in July

Julie

Sorry, I typed July by mistake.
I meant to type Julie.

-jaime

Wow, that surely helped Julie.
;-)
Thank you so much.
Yes, I think I'm on my way with the resources and allocations.
;-)
hehe.
I'm getting my wings, they're slowly coming out...
I will surely visit the site and review your suggestions. This
site is so
great July.

-jaime

Hi Jamie,



I'm glad you're working your way through resource leveling.



For a quick primer:

Resources names turn red indicating they are overallocated when
the
sum of their assignment units (a value called peak units) is
greater
than the resource's max. units -- even if their peak is greater
than
max. for one minute. Usually overallocations are caused by
having
the resource assigned to tasks which overlap in time -- such as
with
the start to start relationships you have created. Pretty much
a
guarantee, when you create a SS relationship and assign the
same
resource(s) to both tasks at max. units -- you're going to
create an
overallocation.



Usually when the Resource Leveling command doesn't fix an
overallocation, it's for one of the following reasons:



1) The overallocation is below the threshold set in the "Look
for
overallocations on a" basis. The default is "Day by Day". For
example -- Julie is assigned at 70% to a task which begins at
08:00
and finishes at 10:00. She is also assigned at 70% to a task
which
begins at 09:45 and finishes at 11:00. From 09:45 to 10:00,
her
peak units are 140% -- above her max. If those are the only
two
tasks she is assigned to on that day, she is overallocated
(name is
red) but she is not overallocated for the day. Therefore the
Resource Leveling command would not attempt to resolve the
overallocation. There will not be a message from Project about
the
inability to solve the overallocation -- it didn't even try.
See
FAQ 34 "Overallocation Occurring in Less Than One Day" at
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm



2) The overallocation is caused by an assignment above the
resource's max.units. The resource leveling command can only
delay
tasks to fix the overallocation - it cannot change assignment
units.
The resource leveling command will display a message stating
specifically it cannot resolve the overallocation.



3) The resource leveling command cannot resolve the
overallocation
when the option "Level only within available slack" is checked
and
that tasks which are in conflict have no slack. Again, the
resource
leveling command will display a message when it cannot resolve
that
issue.



You may wish to read some of the excellent series of articles
by
Mike Glen (Project MVP). I believe he has several articles
addressing resource leveling. You can find a listing of Mike's
tutorials at:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm



I hope this helps.



Julie




Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went
back
RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them. Then
I
unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed
it. It
seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get it
correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling
values
before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that
needed
to be fixed?

-jaime

:


Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to
the
project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore
overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours
(combined
with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over
the
70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the
leveling
from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see
if
that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual
under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling"
checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire
project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled
"Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource
and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved
it but
put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource
Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to
Manual
(highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now"
button
to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see
the
Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected
resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management
[selected it
with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4
parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation"
which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were
red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on
the
top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations,
Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a
windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime




:

Hi Jamie,

My comments are inline below.


Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.

[Julie] You're welcome.

Here is what I understand so far.
If I choose the first suggestion "Use Resource
leveling"
would
I select the tasks that have (SS) and the
preceding and
subsequent
tasks?
or the entire project? Can you expand on this
one?

[Julie] If you are going to use resource leveling, a
couple of
suggestions:
1) Save your project
2) Use the Resource Allocation view and the "Go to
Next
Overallocation" buttons on the Resource Management
toolbar to
first
get a good handle on what assignments are causing
the
problem
as
well as understand what tasks are linked to other
tasks.
The
Leveling Gantt at the bottom of the Resource
Allocation
view
is
particularly good for that part.
3)After reviewing the overallocations and making a
determination
that you wish to fix them, select a single resource
in
the top
part
of the Resource Allocation view and choose Tools >
Level
Resources.
You will be given an option to level everyone or
just the
selected
resource. Choose just the selected resource and
level.
4) Review the effect on the project (end date,
deadlines
missed,
etc.)

If I chose the 2nd step (Manually editing the
assignment
units).
I didn't
get this one but if I try would this be a
laborious
process

 

[jp]

;-)
No, where you really?
Well, thank you so much. You've been so a great help so far.
I really appreciate it.

You're most welcome Jaime and thanks for the feedback. Don't worry
about the July/Julie mix-up. I was named Julie because I was born
in July

Julie

Sorry, I typed July by mistake.
I meant to type Julie.

-jaime

Wow, that surely helped Julie.
;-)
Thank you so much.
Yes, I think I'm on my way with the resources and allocations.
;-)
hehe.
I'm getting my wings, they're slowly coming out...
I will surely visit the site and review your suggestions. This
site is so
great July.

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,



I'm glad you're working your way through resource leveling.



For a quick primer:

Resources names turn red indicating they are overallocated when
the
sum of their assignment units (a value called peak units) is
greater
than the resource's max. units -- even if their peak is greater
than
max. for one minute. Usually overallocations are caused by
having
the resource assigned to tasks which overlap in time -- such as
with
the start to start relationships you have created. Pretty much
a
guarantee, when you create a SS relationship and assign the
same
resource(s) to both tasks at max. units -- you're going to
create an
overallocation.



Usually when the Resource Leveling command doesn't fix an
overallocation, it's for one of the following reasons:



1) The overallocation is below the threshold set in the "Look
for
overallocations on a" basis. The default is "Day by Day". For
example -- Julie is assigned at 70% to a task which begins at
08:00
and finishes at 10:00. She is also assigned at 70% to a task
which
begins at 09:45 and finishes at 11:00. From 09:45 to 10:00,
her
peak units are 140% -- above her max. If those are the only
two
tasks she is assigned to on that day, she is overallocated
(name is
red) but she is not overallocated for the day. Therefore the
Resource Leveling command would not attempt to resolve the
overallocation. There will not be a message from Project about
the
inability to solve the overallocation -- it didn't even try.
See
FAQ 34 "Overallocation Occurring in Less Than One Day" at
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm



2) The overallocation is caused by an assignment above the
resource's max.units. The resource leveling command can only
delay
tasks to fix the overallocation - it cannot change assignment
units.
The resource leveling command will display a message stating
specifically it cannot resolve the overallocation.



3) The resource leveling command cannot resolve the
overallocation
when the option "Level only within available slack" is checked
and
that tasks which are in conflict have no slack. Again, the
resource
leveling command will display a message when it cannot resolve
that
issue.



You may wish to read some of the excellent series of articles
by
Mike Glen (Project MVP). I believe he has several articles
addressing resource leveling. You can find a listing of Mike's
tutorials at:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm



I hope this helps.



Julie




Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went
back
RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them. Then
I
unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed
it. It
seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get it
correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling
values
before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that
needed
to be fixed?

-jaime

:


Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do to
the
project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore
overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours
(combined
with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go over
the
70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the
leveling
from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and see
if
that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual
under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling"
checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level entire
project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task &
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button labeled
"Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected resource
and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it solved
it but
put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the Resource
Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to
Manual
(highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level now"
button
to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should see
the
Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select, selected
resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management
[selected it
with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4
parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next overallocation"
which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours were
red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name) on
the
top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling calculations,
Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find a
windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Jamie. Feel free to drop by the newsgroup again
should you have further questions.
Julie

;-)
No, where you really?
Well, thank you so much. You've been so a great help so far.
I really appreciate it.

You're most welcome Jaime and thanks for the feedback. Don't
worry
about the July/Julie mix-up. I was named Julie because I was
born
in July

Julie

Sorry, I typed July by mistake.
I meant to type Julie.

-jaime

:


Wow, that surely helped Julie.
;-)
Thank you so much.
Yes, I think I'm on my way with the resources and allocations.
;-)
hehe.
I'm getting my wings, they're slowly coming out...
I will surely visit the site and review your suggestions.
This
site is so
great July.

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,



I'm glad you're working your way through resource leveling.



For a quick primer:

Resources names turn red indicating they are overallocated
when
the
sum of their assignment units (a value called peak units) is
greater
than the resource's max. units -- even if their peak is
greater
than
max. for one minute. Usually overallocations are caused by
having
the resource assigned to tasks which overlap in time -- such
as
with
the start to start relationships you have created. Pretty
much
a
guarantee, when you create a SS relationship and assign the
same
resource(s) to both tasks at max. units -- you're going to
create an
overallocation.



Usually when the Resource Leveling command doesn't fix an
overallocation, it's for one of the following reasons:



1) The overallocation is below the threshold set in the
"Look
for
overallocations on a" basis. The default is "Day by Day".
For
example -- Julie is assigned at 70% to a task which begins
at
08:00
and finishes at 10:00. She is also assigned at 70% to a
task
which
begins at 09:45 and finishes at 11:00. From 09:45 to 10:00,
her
peak units are 140% -- above her max. If those are the only
two
tasks she is assigned to on that day, she is overallocated
(name is
red) but she is not overallocated for the day. Therefore
the
Resource Leveling command would not attempt to resolve the
overallocation. There will not be a message from Project
about
the
inability to solve the overallocation -- it didn't even try.
See
FAQ 34 "Overallocation Occurring in Less Than One Day" at
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm



2) The overallocation is caused by an assignment above the
resource's max.units. The resource leveling command can
only
delay
tasks to fix the overallocation - it cannot change
assignment
units.
The resource leveling command will display a message stating
specifically it cannot resolve the overallocation.



3) The resource leveling command cannot resolve the
overallocation
when the option "Level only within available slack" is
checked
and
that tasks which are in conflict have no slack. Again, the
resource
leveling command will display a message when it cannot
resolve
that
issue.



You may wish to read some of the excellent series of
articles
by
Mike Glen (Project MVP). I believe he has several articles
addressing resource leveling. You can find a listing of
Mike's
tutorials at:

http://project.mvps.org/mike's_tutorials.htm



I hope this helps.



Julie




Ah,

I added another (SS) task and the 2 resources at 70% went
back
RED.
So I did the same procedures and it would not fix them.
Then
I
unchecked
the "Clear leveling values before leveling" and that fixed
it. It
seems
there are
a bunch of little check marks that one needs to try to get
it
correct in the
end.
Do I have it right, that by unchecking the "Clear leveling
values
before
leveling" it left
the leveling applied before and leveled the new tasks that
needed
to be fixed?

-jaime

:


Hi Julie,

That did it!!!
;-)
Ok, what did the "Leveling can adjust" when unchecked do
to
the
project?
Thank you so much. By the way, there isn't anymore
overallocations or Red
hours. Did the leveling simply level out the hours
(combined
with other
task hours) from both tasks to make sure they didn't go
over
the
70%
allocation for that resource?

-jaime

:

Hi Jamie,

It sounds like leveling one resource is undoing the
leveling
from
the other. Try unchecking "leveling can adjust" and
see
if
that
works better.
Julie

Good morning Julie,

Ok, I'm on that window. Ok, I changed it to Manual
under
"Leveling
Calculations"
I have the "Clear leveling values before leveling"
checked

Under "Leveling for "Project Name" do I do "Level
entire
project"
or "Level"
from...

on the "Resolving overallocations"
I only have checked:

Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task
&
Level resources with the proposed booking type.

Then if everything is good I can see the button
labeled
"Level
Now".


I hit the "Level Now" button for the selected
resource
and it
fixed it. I
followed
the same procedure for the next resource and it
solved
it but
put
in Red the
previous resource I had leveled. Is this right?

-jaime

:

Sorry Jaime, I should have been clearer on the
Resource
Leveling
dialog. If you leave the Leveling calculation to
Manual
(highly
recommended), you'll need to click on the "Level
now"
button
to
actually make the leveling occur. Then you should
see
the
Entire
pool or selected resource question. Select,
selected
resource
and
OK to level the selected resource.
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm slowly getting there. So here is what I did.
Was able to find by following the items below.
1) View --> Toolbars--> Resource Management
[selected it
with
a
check mark]
2) Pressed button for "Resource Allocation View"

This gave me a nice window that was divided into 4
parts:
* Resource Name window (top left)
* Task Name windows (Bottom left)
* Days and hours allocation window (Top right)
* Gantt Chart window (tasks and linkage)

4) Click the button named "Go to next
overallocation"
which
took
me
to the day on top right windows where the hours
were
red.
Now I selected the single resource (person name)
on
the
top
left
window
and went Tools--> Level Resources and I got a
window
(completely
new)
that is divided into 3 parts (Leveling
calculations,
Leveling
Range,
Resolving Allocations). However, I could not find
a
windows
that
asks me to
select the selected resource.
;-(

-jaime