Saving a Master Project of Milestones on Project Server 2003

[Linda]

I was wondering if it was dangerous (or even possible) to set up a master
project on MS Project Server 2003 if the master project consisted strictly of
milestones that are linked to other milestones from within other projects on
the same server.

I want the milestones in the other projects, as they are completed, to
update the milestones in the master project.

Or--am I making this too complicated? Should I make the master project
consist of the milestones from the other projects? In doing so would I be
causing issues if I published the Master Project on the server since the
master would consist strictly of milestones that do not have assigned
resources?

Would I be making issues worse if the milestones in the other projects were
themselves updated from "sub" projects (knowing that I would have to open and
update each project plan in the correct order, lower to higher, to be sure
the high-level plan is accurate?)

I have already referenced the "How to link tasks in a project across
projects." My projects would all be linked in one direction, from lowest
detail plan to highest level plan. The lowest of detailed plans would be
updated by timesheet. The remainder would be updated strictly by milestone
links.

Although I ask about three levels of plans, I believe I can successfully
keep the entire project (or program--collection of projects sharing the same
resources) to two levels.

I'd rather save time by asking before I spend too many hours setting it up
and having it blow up miserably.

Thanks!

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Linda,

I think that the architecture you want is feasable, and not especially
dangerous. Just a problem: the milestones in the subprojects, as they are
completed, are not able to update automatically the milestones in the master
project without some VBA programming (not too difficult in fact).

Gérard Ducouret

 

[Linda]

Can you suggest a hyperlink to start researching the VBA?

--
Linda Lawler
Project Admin
Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Linda,

I think that the architecture you want is feasable, and not especially
dangerous. Just a problem: the milestones in the subprojects, as they are
completed, are not able to update automatically the milestones in the master
project without some VBA programming (not too difficult in fact).

Gérard Ducouret

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Linda,

Look at th excellent book from Rod Gill:
https://projectserverbooks.com/shopexd.asp?id=71&bc=no
There is also the Help in the VB Editor of Project Pro: Alt + F11 then Help
on Visual Basic

Gérard Ducouret

Can you suggest a hyperlink to start researching the VBA?

 

[james.m.peters]

Linda,

My usual answer is to create a report in Reporting Services or Crystal
that displays the key milestones of a set of projects based on some
selection enterprise outline code value, for example "Program". But
since you are asking to see this in Project Pro, here is an alternative
to use of a master project.

The simple solution is:
1. Create a new schedule - to display milestones -
For example - Create a "Program Milestones" Project schedule with one
milestone for each milestone you would like to report on from the
projects that make up the program. You could insert a "project" level
as the first level of your Program Milestones Project. For example,
Program Milestones
.. Project 1
.. . Milestone 1.1
.. . Milestone 1.2
.. Project 2
.. . Milestone 2.1
.. . Milestone 2.2


2. Open all of the projects, including the new milestone project (I
suggest using a consolidated project to simplify the linking but you
will not save the condolidated project either to project server or to
an MPP file)
3. Link each milestone from the subprojects to a corresponding
milestone task in the new milestone project
4. Save and close all of the projects. If you used a consolidated
project to simplify the linking, you do not need to save it.
5. Open the new milestone schedule - you will now see all of the
milestone pluse you will see a shadow milestone for each milestone you
linked to a one of the subprojects.

You can now use a filter to only show the subproject milestone shadow
tasks (for example, you could choose to display only tasks where the
predecessor is blank to show any group levels plus the shadow tasks.)
The result will be a Program schedule showing the detailed milestones.
Just make sure not to place any constraints on the milestone tasks and
let them float dynamically with the subprojects.

Sincerely,
Jim Peters

 

[Linda]

Thanks! This is what I was thinking I could do but I didn't consider
creating the consolidation project. Great idea!

I'll give it a shot and see how it looks.

L.
--
Linda Lawler
Project Admin
Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Linda,

My usual answer is to create a report in Reporting Services or Crystal
that displays the key milestones of a set of projects based on some
selection enterprise outline code value, for example "Program". But
since you are asking to see this in Project Pro, here is an alternative
to use of a master project.

The simple solution is:
1. Create a new schedule - to display milestones -
For example - Create a "Program Milestones" Project schedule with one
milestone for each milestone you would like to report on from the
projects that make up the program. You could insert a "project" level
as the first level of your Program Milestones Project. For example,
Program Milestones
.. Project 1
.. . Milestone 1.1
.. . Milestone 1.2
.. Project 2
.. . Milestone 2.1
.. . Milestone 2.2


2. Open all of the projects, including the new milestone project (I
suggest using a consolidated project to simplify the linking but you
will not save the condolidated project either to project server or to
an MPP file)
3. Link each milestone from the subprojects to a corresponding
milestone task in the new milestone project
4. Save and close all of the projects. If you used a consolidated
project to simplify the linking, you do not need to save it.
5. Open the new milestone schedule - you will now see all of the
milestone pluse you will see a shadow milestone for each milestone you
linked to a one of the subprojects.

You can now use a filter to only show the subproject milestone shadow
tasks (for example, you could choose to display only tasks where the
predecessor is blank to show any group levels plus the shadow tasks.)
The result will be a Program schedule showing the detailed milestones.
Just make sure not to place any constraints on the milestone tasks and
let them float dynamically with the subprojects.

Sincerely,
Jim Peters