 |
|
Search for
|
|
|
| Frequently Asked Questions: New Users |
|
Can I disable cc-Pulse without un-installing?
Yes, through COM Add-ins.
To display the COM Add-in toolbar button, go to tools...Customize...Toolbars.
Select the Commands tab, and in the Categories field, highlight the Tools selection. In the Commands field, find "COM Add-ins..." and drag it up to your toolbar. Now close the customize dialog box.
Once you have the "Com Add-ins..." toolbar button, you can disable and enable cc-Pulse by selecting the toolbar button. This will bring up the COM Add-ins dialog box. Uncheck cc-Pulse to disable, and check cc-Pulse to enable cc-Pulse.
Disabling cc-Pulse will not hide the cc-Pulse toolbar, to do so right click on any toolbar, and uncheck cc-Pulse.
When I enter a new task and set a predecessor, the start date of the new task is defaulting to the project start date and the predecessor link is being ignored.
This is because automatic calculation is turned off during the installation of cc-Pulse. You can manually calculate at any time by hitting F9. If you turn automatic calculation back on with tools...Options, Calculation Tab, automatic calculation will remain on – until cc-Pulse functions are used that affect the schedule. When the Calculate Buffers function is used, autocalc will be turned off and left off.
In addition, The following options are set when you install cc-Pulse.
Resource Leveling Options:
Automatic Calculation is turned off during installation. If it is turned back on, it will remain on – even during cc-Pulse processing.
Leveling can create splits in remaining work is turned off any time cc-Pulse processing occurs and is NOT turned back on.
At this time, we recommend that the option "Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task" be manually unchecked. This is found in the leveling options screen. (Tools...Resource Leveling)
Project Options: Schedule
Split In-Progress Tasks may be turned off during installation, but if turned back on will remain on.
I used F9 to recalculate, and the task will not move.
This task may have a "fixed" date of some kind. Use the Tasks with Fixed Dates Filter to view only those tasks in a plan that contain fixed dates. You can then remove the fixed dates, if desired.
The software appears to be changing the durations that I enter.
It probably IS changing your durations, if you are changing the resource assignments.
By default, MS Project uses Fixed Units, with Effort
Driven checked.
This means that if you add or remove resources, MS Project will keep the
units fixed, and modify the duration so that the total units remain the
same.
For fixed-unit tasks:
a. If you revise units in a fixed-unit task, Microsoft Project
recalculates duration.
b. If you revise duration, Microsoft Project recalculates work.
c. If you revise the amount of work, Microsoft Project recalculates the
duration.
Set the task to Fixed Duration if you want the task duration to remain
constant, regardless of any change in assignment units or work for the task.
I have an event buffer on the Critical Chain. Why is the event buffer ignored when sizing the project buffer?
If you do not like the calculated buffer duration, it is possible to adjust this duration. Simply edit the duration field before using the "Apply Buffers" feature.
The project buffer size is based on assumptions such as no multi-tasking, instantaneous handoffs between resources, and event driven performance. The calculated project buffer should be considered a MINIMUM size, and is only sufficient if all of these assumptions hold true.
Further, events typically occur at an integration point. Several parallel chains join at an integration point. Feeding buffers are sized based on each chain, and the integration delay caused by multiple parallel chains is not included anywhere in the Critical Chain model.
In the general case, we can not defend deducting anything from the project buffer, so the event buffer is ignored when sizing the project buffer.
Critical Chain theory is to position tasks As Late As
Possible (ALAP) when planning the project. Why does cc-Pulse position tasks As
Soon As Possible (ASAP)?
The default setting for cc-Pulse is to position tasks as soon as possible (ASAP). cc-Pulse 2.2.0.7 (Released 10/30/2006) provides the option to position tasks As late As Possible (ALAP) in planning mode.
Starting ALAP in a multi-project environment does not allow sufficient slack in the feeding chains, since the feeding buffers are sized based on the single project paradigm, and there are often cross-project conflicts for resources.
On the other hand, starting ASAP in a multi-project environment enables any non-contiguous drum tasks in a single project to span a greater duration in some cases. In these cases, it is advantageous to plan the project in ALAP, and when the project is placed in tracking mode, to remove the Start No Earlier Than constraints on non-drum tasks, and re-level the resources. This provides the advantage of a compact drum schedule, and reduced risk for the non-drum feeding chains.
Why is the software adding extra links to my network?
When you ID the Critical Chain, cc-Pulse adds Critical Chain Resource Links. These links are necessary for the proper operation of the software.
When you use the Reset Network feature, the Critical Chain Resource Links will be removed.
During planning, if you do any re-design of the network that will affect the critical chain, please use the Reset Network feature before you re-identify the Critical Chain.
Why is the software adding a VBA module to my files?
The software need to maintain the Custom Document Properties of each project.
These can be seen in the Custom tab of the File...Properties screen. These are mainly the settings in the Project Control Center.
MS Project 2000 can not save custom properties with the project when it is saved to an ODBC data source. Therefore, we store those values as comments in the VBA module, CCPulseParams.
How do I move my resource pool to a new location?
The following was found on the Microsoft Discussion Group:
I believe the only way to accomplish this is to break the links from the
resource pool to all sharer projects, move the resource pool, and then
relink the sharer projects. Sorry for the bad news. I believe you can
simplify the process of breaking the links a little bit by using the
following steps:
1. Open the shared resource pool file in Read/Write mode
2. Click Tools - Resource Sharing - Share Resources
3. In the sharing links pane, select all of the projects and click the Open
button (NOT the Open All button)
4. After all the files open, return to the shared resource pool file
5. Click Tools - Resource Sharing - Share Resources again
6. In the sharing links pane, select all of the projects and click the
Break Link button
7. Save and close the shared resource pool
8. Save and close each project
Step #3 will open every sharing file individually that is connected to the
resource pool. Step #5 will break the link between every project and the
resource pool. After performing these steps, you will need to reestablish
the links between the sharer projects and the resource pool file in its new
location. Hope this helps.
--
Dale A. Howard [MVP]
Enterprise Project Trainer/Consultant
http://www.msprojectexperts.com
http://www.projectserverexperts.com
"We wrote the book on Project Server"
Does cc-Pulse/MPulse manage resource hierarchies?
Yes, using this clever solution offered by Chuck Gauthier,
Alpha West, inc.
and Paul Wogan of Cornerstar:
In the resource pool, identify the resource hierarchy, such as:
| Name | Max Units |
| Builder | 3 |
| Framer | 1 |
| Roofer | 1 |
| Finish Carpenter | 1 |
Everywhere you assign a child resource, assign the parent as well. For example, if you need a finish carpenter, assign both the Finish Carpenter and the Builder to the task. The load will then be properly managed for both the parent and the child resource.
|
|
|
|
| |
