1. Microsoft Project 2003 The Integrated Master Schedule Conundrum MPA DC Metro Chapter Meeting September 27, 2005

2. Using Master Projects in Microsoft Project What is the Conundrum? Not a puzzle … a feature!

3. What are Master Projects? Small project schedules: –Increased computing speed –File sharing less hassle –Faster printing Large project schedules: –One file / schedule for entire program –Master project schedules can be multi-tiered Consolidated related projects

4. How are master projects created? Two Methods: –Window … New Window Open all the files to be included in the master project –Insert … Project Select files one at-a-time to create a master schedule Task Information becomes Inserted Project Information …Advanced Tab

5. Things to consider Who “owns” the master project / getting organized Linked vs. unlinked Read-only vs. Read-Write Saving master schedule on Project Server vs. offline (e.g. laptop hard drive) … or not saving master schedules at all Using master schedule to create task dependencies between projects Using the Subproject Read Only, Subproject File, and External Task fields

6. Saving and Publishing to Project Server

7. Let’s take a quick look … Demonstration 1.Creating a master schedule (linked, not linked, R-O, R-W) 2.Publishing task assignments/reviewing resource allocations 3.Unlinking a schedule 4.Creating task dependencies between schedules 5.Using “master schedule” fields