Project 2000. Using Multiple Projects, страница 2

Figure 1 - Links could not be found

When opening a consolidated file in which an inserted project cannot be located, the following dialog box is offered to locate the missing file. Notice the title of the window “ Cannot find inserted project -…..”

 

Figure 2 - Cannot find inserted project

Try This: Move Linked Files

Experiment with moving linked files to see how Microsoft Project 2000 behaves.

1. Create a Master Project with two inserted projects. Insert one project that is stored in the same directory as the master project, and insert the other from a location at the root.
2. Save all projects and close Microsoft Project 2000.
3. Save all projects to a floppy disk.
4. Choose a partner and exchange floppy disks.
5. Copy the files from the disk you received to the desktop.
6. Open the master project.

Was Microsoft Project 2000 able to find both inserted projects?  What happens if you move the inserted projects to other locations?

Resource Pools

On the surface, Resource Pools have not changed in Microsoft Project 2000. The user interface and overall usage remains the same. Below the surface, however, there are a few significant changes in the way Resource Pools work. Let’s take a look at dialog box changes first.

Opening a File Attached to a Resource Pool

In Microsoft Project 98, opening a file attached to a resource pool causes a dialog box with three options to be displayed. In Microsoft Project 2000, this has been reduced to two options as shown in the following figure:

Figure 3 - Open Resource Pool Information

The first option, “Open resource pool to see assignments across all sharer files” opens the resource pool read only, along with the file. The second option, “Do not open other files” corresponds to the third option in the Microsoft Project 98 dialog box, which reads, “Do not open resource pool.” It opens only the file being opened.

Opening Master Projects with Multiple Inserted Projects Attached to a Resource Pool

In Microsoft Project 98, when you open a master project with multiple inserted projects, each attached to a resource pool, you would receive the following dialog box for each inserted project.

Figure 4 - File shares resources

In Microsoft Project 2000, you receive the new dialog with only two options as shown below.

Figure 5 - Opening Projects attached to Pool

This dialog appears only once and the selection will be applied to all inserted projects attached to a resource pool, even if each is attached to a different resource pool.

Similarly, you will no longer be prompted to update the resource pool multiple times when saving or closing a master project.  Instead you will receive the following dialog only once and the selection will apply to all inserted projects.

Figure 6- Update Resource Pool

The Link (not the file) Takes Precedence

Dialog boxes are not the only change to Resource Pools. In Microsoft Project 98, sharing resources made your project dependent on that particular file. In Microsoft Project 2000, it is the link (not the file) that takes precedence. Because of this, you can replace the resource pool file with another file, simply by putting it directly where the old pool resided.

Writing to the Resource Pool When It’s Opened Read Only

Another change is the way in which Microsoft Project 2000 treats the resource pool when it is opened read only. In Microsoft Project 98, any update to the Resource Pool, whether editing assignment information or adding new resources, caused Microsoft Project to re-open the resource pool as read write.