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  #1  
Old 02-14-2017, 08:56 AM
OTPM OTPM is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Default Manage external task dependencies

Hi All

I have a large number of projects with external dependencies. However the challenge I have is how to ensure all those links always link to the correct activity in the dependent plan.



For example I have an external dependency in Plan 2 from Plan 1. However after creating the dependency Plan 2 has 10 new activities added "before" the dependent task ID in Plan 2. This makes my original external dependency link point to the wrong Task ID in Plan 2. I would be interested to hear how others manage this issue.
I have a potential VBA solution to this but would welcome views from other users before I go down this road.

Look forward to receiving responses.

Thanks

Tony
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  #2  
Old 02-16-2017, 02:56 AM
Mattias Mattias is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Do you have all plans collected in a master plan?
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Old 02-16-2017, 02:58 AM
OTPM OTPM is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Hi Mattias
All plans are submitted at irregular intervals with various updates and additional tasks added.
They are not contained in a master plan.
kind regards
Tony
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Old 02-16-2017, 03:15 AM
OTPM OTPM is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Hi Mattias
I have just found out that as long as plan names do not change and you open all plans up at the same time then any changes appear to update external links.
Still testing but I think we have an answer.
Thanks
Tony
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Old 02-16-2017, 06:09 AM
Mattias Mattias is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Hello Tony, the thing you describe is what the purpose of a master plan is.
Instead of opening all plans, consolidate them into a master plan and do your work there.

Could be worth a try for you to explore this function. New plans can be added as sub plans into the master plan.

If you also have the need for a view of allocated resources shared between the plans this is a nice way to get there.

But on the other hand, if you have a way of working that works for you, roll with it!
If its not broken, dont fix it.

Cheers
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Old 02-16-2017, 06:53 AM
OTPM OTPM is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Hi Mattias
Many thanks for your response. I agree the way to go is the Master Plan approach. However we have over 100 plans all managed and maintained by different plan owners/project managers. So working on one master plan will not work in our situation.
Thanks for the feedback anyway.
Kind regards
Tony
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  #7  
Old 02-16-2017, 07:30 AM
Mattias Mattias is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Seems like you should put a Project server on your wish-list for christmas
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Old 02-16-2017, 07:42 AM
OTPM OTPM is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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I truly wish we could :-) :-).
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  #9  
Old 02-17-2017, 09:43 AM
JulieS JulieS is offline Manage external task dependencies Windows 10 Manage external task dependencies Office 2016
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Just to chime in. Linked master projects, particularly with 100 subprojects, are very prone to corruption. Renaming a file or moving a file is a quick way to create hours of grief. Tony - stick with what you have and I'm glad you discovered that they should update as long as the files are not renamed or moved.
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