Cross-Project Links Report

Madison MPUG Chapter Meeting

April 13, 2011

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 Background

 Project Sponsors want a clear high-level

view of dependencies between projects

 Communicate early on how schedule

changes within one project impact
dependent projects

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 Current Process

 Report is updated and published monthly

 As new cross-project dependencies are identified,

these projects are being added to the report

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 Milestones Professional
 Software recommended by a co-member of the
Madison MPUG (Microsoft Project Users Group)
Chapter

 Produced by KIDASA Software, Austin, TX

 Contains numerous templates that can be used to

create custom reports with MS Project data

 Provides more flexibility than Visio for this type of

reporting

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 Sample Report

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 MS Project Server
 Some setup needed in project server –
 External predecessor logic:

AMI-RCDM\28

Example: AMI-MDMS schedule:

• External predecessor is Task ID # 28 in the AMI-RCDM schedule
• In the MDMS schedule, enter “AMI-RCDM\28” in Predecessor ID
field to set up the link

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 MS Project Server

 AE uses the Text 30 field in MS Project

 Populate Portfolio ID with PM initials +
number scheme
 Must be unique across all projects on server

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 MS Project Server

Another option is to create a formula to populate

the Portfolio ID field – ensures ID is unique:

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 MS Project Server

When viewing the schedule in project server, the

predecessor task from the external project appears in gray
(disabled) above the dependent task

Note: We are currently viewing the AMI-MDM schedule

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 MS Project Server
Vice-versa when viewing the schedule with the
predecessor milestone (successor task in external
project appears in gray)

Note: We are currently viewing the DMS

Upgrade schedule

We’ve found this functionality to be useful – makes it clear to the PM

that there is an external project dependency, and which task is impacted.

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 Milestones Professional

Can set up
smart symbol
tags to track
project
milestones and
timelines

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 Milestones Professional

 Refresh report with updated project schedule

with the push of a button – automatically updates
timeline/milestones

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 Milestones Professional

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 Milestones Professional - Tips
 Timing: Consider how you will sync timing of report
creation to when PMs update schedules (might require
expectation setting with report recipients)

 User Interface: This is not a Microsoft product – different

user interface – there is a bit of a learning curve

 Refresh Process: When refreshing, first open the project

schedule in MS Project before selecting “refresh” in
Milestone Professional – speeds up refresh process

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 Questions:

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