Website Upgrade Incoming - we're working on a new look (and speed!) standby while we deliver the project

Tips on using this forum..

(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?

(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.

HISTOGRAMS

14 replies [Last post]
Mon, 2008-06-23 07:54
Jon Ward
User offline. Last seen 10 years 6 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 60
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas, TURNAROUND & SHUTDOWN (T/A & S/D)
Hello all,
Once again, any help that anyone could be would be very much appreciated, I am a dedicated P3 user who has very recent;y moved over to Project (and I quite like what I’m finding – happy days!)
The issue I am having is this,, I have schedule that has only about 10 activities on it,, most of the activities have recourses allocated,, what I’m basically after is a Histo that gives me all of the resourses (or in this case disciplines) that have been allocated for the entire duration of the schedule.
So far I have worked out that by hitting, view| Resource Graph I can see the individual discipline/resources, the only way I have of seeing each resource/discipline is to scroll up or down thus revelling the next resource/discipline in line.. so in a nut shell is there a method of showing all?
Once again
Many thanks
Top

Replies

Wed, 2008-07-02 07:03
#1
Sreejith Nair
User offline. Last seen 13 years 30 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 63
Groups: GPC Qatar, Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
Yep,
Brad ,but it was good idea , isnt it?

Customization is the best, when its is done by experts !
For each job we execute (200-300 ongoing), we produce a weekly report containing the following:
1) Progress summary with key issues & risks
2) Detailed tabular report
3) S-curve (site, shope, overall)-(Planned , actual, forecast)
4) Manhour histogram (site, shope, overall)-(Planned , actual, forecast)
5) Productivity report , curves (Weekly & overall)
6) Updated schedule (baseline , actual)

We start our update on Saturday and finish it by Monday morning.(We have Friday holiday)
This wont be possible , if we dont have the software solution !

Yes buddy , new age planners need to have the edge of s/w expertise too apart from mugging PMBOK !

Cheers !
Top
Wed, 2008-07-02 01:51
#2
Brad Lord
User offline. Last seen 10 years 32 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 256
Groups: None
well done for advertising yourself!!!!!
Top
Wed, 2008-07-02 00:28
#3
Sreejith Nair
User offline. Last seen 13 years 30 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 63
Groups: GPC Qatar, Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
Hi All!
The P3 V/s MSP debate will go on for ever !
I see MSP as a bar charting software only.
It may be offering facility to enter resource , cost ..etc
But using those feature in our projects will be like ’Fitting elephant into bottle’ because we have got a bottle with us !

But Primavera enterprice V5 /V6 is complete project management package rather than a scheduling software. It is highly customizable and with add on tools like chart maker , it stands out as the prettiest babe in town !

How ever , medium enterprises cant afford maintaining such high end data and tools. P3E V5 is almost an ERP by itself.

When there are more and more features , data entry and maintenance increases. This will force people to compromise, assume and skip data , which will inturn kill the original intention of the additional feature.

I have achieved great success in oil/gas/petrochemical projects (dur <6 months) using a combination of MS project and a custom made progress/manhour/productivity tracker.
We have more than 300 small / medium scale projects running simultaneously and some of the jobs include shop fabrication & site erection.
The tracker uses the programming and formula features of excel extensively and leverage on the excellent charting and graphical capabilities of excel.
All of our clients (TOTAL , MAESRK OIL ..ect)like these reports very much since it just give them what they want.. and not just adjusting to the features given by MSP / P3.
I have got repeated appreciation from clients that , this tracker gives "Most realistic" progress reporting.

I have standardized the template , and now all my subordinates are experts in creating such trackers for our projects.
The tracker stores activities exactly as shown in the MSP schedule. Planned % for each activities & sub groups are shown against each week, when ever an activity records 100% completion , the corresponding week is entered in the "actual completion’ column.
We are able to enter weightings for each activities based on estimated manhour (effort) and s-curves are generated on the fly!
since the weightings are based on manhours , its very easy for us to calculate productivity on a weekly basis and plot the trend on a graph.
Certain activities are linked with a sub tracker , which provides facility to enter "step-by-step" progress.

I can send screen shots of the tracker , to those who are interested.
E-mail me at : sreejith.gce@gmail.com

Regards,

Sreejith Nair
Manager-Planning
MG WLL

{I am a mechanical engineer by education and writes professional quality software apart from my usual job as a planning manager for an Oil & Gas contracting firm}
Top
Sun, 2008-06-29 07:08
#4
Brad Lord
User offline. Last seen 10 years 32 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 256
Groups: None
oh yeah

msp snnnnnnooooooooooorrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee. am using it on current role, thk god is only a 3 week job, hopefully going to middle east for decent job money etc.

makes me larf when people who use MSP and nothing else think they know everything. bore bore bore

anyway back to the pub and get pissed like a good contract planner

Top
Fri, 2008-06-27 20:17
#5
Raphael M. Dua
User offline. Last seen 23 weeks 5 days ago. Offline
Joined: 20 Jan 2001
Posts: 136
Groups: Accreditation Editors, Board of Advisors, Civil Engineering, GPCCAR Editors, Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
Brad

I almost thought you were with us no go MSP folk
But then you spoilt it by mentioning Primavera

Oh Dear

Raf

PS Why don’t you try X-Pert for Windows from www.microplanning.co.uk

Raf
Top
Tue, 2008-06-24 05:32
#6
Paul Smith
User offline. Last seen 13 years 15 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Posts: 26
Groups: None
Guys,

I think it is possible to show graphs for all resources.

You need resource sheet open in the top pane and resource graph in the bottom.

You need to alter bar properties to show bar for selected resources and don’t show for resource. Then select resouces as required in the resource sheet and the graph shows work for the selected resources.
Top
Tue, 2008-06-24 04:53
#7
Brad Lord
User offline. Last seen 10 years 32 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 256
Groups: None
trevor

i decided yrs ago project was a bucket of fucking shite, you may be a msp freak but i prefer proper planning tools like primavera
Top
Tue, 2008-06-24 04:52
#8
Trevor Rabey
User offline. Last seen 2 years 7 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 530
Groups: None
This is not a work-around. It’s how it should be done. Have you tried it?
Top
Tue, 2008-06-24 01:53
#9
Brad Lord
User offline. Last seen 10 years 32 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 256
Groups: None
theres always around but i find putting it staright into excel is easier as you can create a much better graphe etc
Top
Mon, 2008-06-23 21:14
#10
Trevor Rabey
User offline. Last seen 2 years 7 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 530
Groups: None
When you use the Resource Graph view you get to see the Work or Cumulative Work for all of the resources one at a time.

For a graph (histogram) of the Work or a graph of Cumulative Work for all Resources, or a selected set of Resources, use the Analyse Timescaled Data In Excel Button on the Analysis Toolbar. Just make sure you are in the Resource Sheet View and select the Resources before you run the wizard, then when it asks if you want the entire project or just the selected resources, click on just the selected resources.
Top
Mon, 2008-06-23 08:21
#11
Brad Lord
User offline. Last seen 10 years 32 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 256
Groups: None
dont like to boast but i am the best!!!!!!!!!
Top
Mon, 2008-06-23 08:11
#12
Jon Ward
User offline. Last seen 10 years 6 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 60
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas, TURNAROUND & SHUTDOWN (T/A & S/D)
Brad Lord = LEGEND!!!
Top
Mon, 2008-06-23 08:00
#13
Brad Lord
User offline. Last seen 10 years 32 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 256
Groups: None
welcome to the wacky world of msproject, it is a bucket of shit i would stick to p3 anyway, give me a call on 07929 642107 and will talk you through it

regards

bradley
Top