Project summary tasks - testing for links or resources

[JRCB]

I'm trying to create simple health checks for projects and want to detect
1) links to/from summary tasks and
2) resources allocated to summary tasks
I appreciate the summary tasks are 'virtual tasks' but it IS possible to add
links to them and allocate resources to them, both practices I want to detect
and discourage.
I would like to count instances and had envisaged using custom number fields
with formulae like
iif([resource name]<>"",1,0) or iif(Predecessor]<>"",1,0) to id resource /
links
but the values in resource name / predecessors aren't detected in this sort
of formula. Can anyone tell me a way round this please? (I have no vba
knowledge and would like a simple 'user interface' solution if possible thta
I can then use on Proj Svr 2007 environment.
Thanks in anticipation

 

[JulieS]

Hello JRGB,

I just did a quick test in two Flag fields:

IIf([Predecessors]<>"",Yes,No)

and

IIf([Resource Names]<>" ",Yes,No)

They both show what I think you are trying to test. The first
formula shows "Yes" if the task has a predecessor. The second
formula shows "Yes" if there are resources assigned.

I think the problem with your scenario is that you may not have
set the summary tasks to use the formula. Double check the
Customize Fields dialog and ensure you have set the option for
"Calculation for task group or summary rows" to use formula.

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]

I'm trying to create simple health checks for projects and want to detect
1) links to/from summary tasks and
2) resources allocated to summary tasks
I appreciate the summary tasks are 'virtual tasks' but it IS possible to add
links to them and allocate resources to them, both practices I want to detect
and discourage.
I would like to count instances and had envisaged using custom number fields
with formulae like
iif([resource name]<>"",1,0) or iif(Predecessor]<>"",1,0) to id resource /
links
but the values in resource name / predecessors aren't detected in this sort
of formula. Can anyone tell me a way round this please? (I have no vba
knowledge and would like a simple 'user interface' solution if possible thta
I can then use on Proj Svr 2007 environment.
Thanks in anticipation

JRCB,
Does it really matter how many there are? Any is to many, right? So
instead of messing around with customized fields why not set your view
to show the Predecessor, Successor and Resource Names fields and then
apply the built-in Summary Tasks filter. If there are any entries in
those fields, have a chat with the user responsible for the file.

That's my two cents.

John
Project MVP