Text Box in Consolidated Master Programme - Project 2003 SP3

[pjelliott]

I have a Consolidated Master Programme (CMP) within which I need to place
some text boxes to highlight some issues.
I can place text boxes, attached to tasks, within individual project files
which works fine but, unfortunately, does not transfer into the CMP.
I can insert a text box into the CMP but, when I attempt to link a text box
to a task within the CMP, I have trouble because there may be, for instance,
8 or 9 tasks with the same ID number so Project will not allow me to attach
the text box to a task. I can attach the text box to a date, but this is not
what I require.
Is there a way in which I can either:
a) Make the text box attached to the task in the individual project file
visible in the CMP
or
b) Create the text box in the CMP and attach it to a task rather than a date?
Many thanks
Kind regards
Peter

 

[John]

I have a Consolidated Master Programme (CMP) within which I need to place
some text boxes to highlight some issues.
I can place text boxes, attached to tasks, within individual project files
which works fine but, unfortunately, does not transfer into the CMP.
I can insert a text box into the CMP but, when I attempt to link a text box
to a task within the CMP, I have trouble because there may be, for instance,
8 or 9 tasks with the same ID number so Project will not allow me to attach
the text box to a task. I can attach the text box to a date, but this is not
what I require.
Is there a way in which I can either:
a) Make the text box attached to the task in the individual project file
visible in the CMP
or
b) Create the text box in the CMP and attach it to a task rather than a date?
Many thanks
Kind regards
Peter

Peter,
OK, here's what you need to understand. In a dynamically consolidated
master, (one with links to the subprojects), the subprojects are NOT
actually part of the master, rather, the master contains pointers to the
subprojects. Hence the ID numbers you see for subproject tasks are not
master ID numbers. If a master has 3 subprojects inserted, that master
only has three "tasks" and those are represented as the summary line
insertion points of each subproject.

The answer to your first question is no. Views in the master are unique
to the master and vice versa. View formatting (e.g. font color or text
boxes) does not carry over between master and subprojects.

The answer to your second question is also no. Again, the only tasks
that belong to the master are the subproject summary line insertion
points and any tasks that are actually part of the master.

May I suggest you use the Notes field or one of the spare text fields.
The Notes field was created specifically for auxiliary information about
a task. Or, you could create a statically consolidated master, but then
you will only have a snapshot of the whole project when the static
master was created (i.e. it is no longer linked to the subprojects).

Sorry, not the answer you wanted, but that's the way Project works.

John
Project MVP

 

[John]

I have a Consolidated Master Programme (CMP) within which I need to place
some text boxes to highlight some issues.
I can place text boxes, attached to tasks, within individual project files
which works fine but, unfortunately, does not transfer into the CMP.
I can insert a text box into the CMP but, when I attempt to link a text box
to a task within the CMP, I have trouble because there may be, for instance,
8 or 9 tasks with the same ID number so Project will not allow me to attach
the text box to a task. I can attach the text box to a date, but this is not
what I require.
Is there a way in which I can either:
a) Make the text box attached to the task in the individual project file
visible in the CMP
or
b) Create the text box in the CMP and attach it to a task rather than a date?
Many thanks
Kind regards
Peter

Peter,
One more thought. You can display the Notes field or any task text field
in or around the Gantt bar via Format/Bar Styles. The advantage of this
approach is that you can customize the text format to be different at
the master level than at the subproject level - the actual text will be
the same. The disadvantage of this approach is that it clutters up the
Gantt Chart and only makes sense if the text is a couple of words.

John
Project MVP

 

[pjelliott]

John

As you say, not the answer I was hoping for but many thanks for taking the
time and trouble to respond and explain.

Kind regards

Peter

 

[John]

John

As you say, not the answer I was hoping for but many thanks for taking the
time and trouble to respond and explain.

Kind regards

Peter

Peter,
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

John
Project MVP