Project 2007 - Visual Reports - Problem

[BF2K]

I have a problem with MS Project 2007 visual reports when using a
consolidated project. In brief, it seems that the excel report double-counts
the work effort when using visual reports on a consolidated project. Here’s
the details:

1. Create a resource pool with 4 resources: bob, joe, frank, tom
2. Create Project #1 with 3 tasks by: Bob, Joe, Tom (using resources from
pool): Each with say fulltime work for 6 weeks
3. Create Project #2 with 3 resources: Bob, Joe, Frank (using resources from
pool): Each with say 50% work for 6 weeks
4. Create new consolidated project by inserting projects 1 & 2
5. In the consolidated project, run visual reports: I used the original
template assignment (Budgeted work)
6. Problem: The resulting excel report shows resources getting 2-3 times the
total effort for the projects.

Has anyone seen this problem? Any suggestions?

 

[Jack Dahlgren]

The way you describe it, the resources should have 200% work. Are they
getting more than that? If so, are any resources assigned to summary tasks?

-Jack

 

[BF2K]

Consider resource bob: According to the entries into Project, he should have
a loading of 1.5 (100% from project #1, and 50% from project #2). The
resource usage view in the master project shows this correctly (1.5w of work
every week).

However, the exported excel pivot resulting from the Visual Reports shows
bob to have a loading of 3: 2 from project #1 plus 1 from Project #2.

No resources are assigned to summary tasks; in fact the project has none. I
created these two simple projects, each with 3 tasks, just to remove any
complexities.

 

[JulieS]

Hello BF2K,

I'm sorry to say this, but I can reproduce what you report. The work
showing is incorrect in consolidated projects. Sorry, I don't have a
fix -- just a verification.

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

 

[BF2K]

Julie,

Thanks for the verification. Never having discovered an apparently real bug
in MS Project before, I don't know how to proceed. Do you (anyone?) know how
one goes about reporting this to get it into the queue for resolution by MS?

Bob

 

[JulieS]

Hi Bob,

Sorry for the delay in replying. I will log the issue you report (and I
can reproduce) to the connect site for Project. I will also pass it by
my fellow MVPs to see if they can reproduce as well.

Thanks very much,
Julie

 

[BF2K]

Julie,

That's great. Any suggestions for an interim walk-around would also be
appreciated. .... The visual reports feature is of limited usage if it
provides wrong numbers.

Bob

 

[JulieS]

Hello Bob,

Unfortunately, there isn't a work around as far as I know. You can
certainly print the Resource Usage view or copy/paste the data to excel,
but no other "automated" way of getting the data out to Excel. Some VBA
code could be used, but sadly I'm not the person to assist. If you are
interested in that avenue, and you have some back ground in VBA, try
posting to the developer newsgroup.


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

 

[John Garay - DecisionEdge]

Hi Bob -

I would (humbly) suggest taking a look at DecisionEdge resource charts and
reports.

We have already created lots of charts and reports for resource management -
these charts and reports are multi-project and take resource pools into
account. I would be happy to work with you to make sure our resource
reports and charts show the right information (it's what we do!)

Here's more specific information about our resource reporting:
http://www.decisionedge.com/landing_microsoft_resources.html

Regards,
John Garay
DecisionEdge, Inc.
www.decisionedge.com