If you wish to observe and manage multiple projects in one Gantt chart, you can combine them into one, Master, project. To do so in Merlin you can either use drag & drop or a menu command:
Once you have combined your projects we suggest you focus onto the ‘Utilization‘ view for detecting over-allocations. Â All resources together with their assignments on all combined projects will be listed there.
Although the projects are combined now into one master file, the following issues need to be kept in mind.
- Changes to each file will be saved back to the individual file
- Each project has it own calendar, settings, resources and resources calendars
- Dependencies that cross projects can not be created
- If resources are used across multiple combined projects, you will see multiple instances of the same resource in the Resources View. This is expected behavior. Resources having the same name will be considered as ‘Master’ resources and their utilization for all assignments on all combined projects will be accumulated in Utilization view.
How to access Project Settings for Combined Projects?
When you call up the project settings for combined projects you will notice a small triangle in the title row of the Project Settings window:
When the title of such a project is clicked, all contained projects are displayed in a menu. To access the settings for a project contained in the combined project, select the desired project in the menu.
This way it is possible to manage individual project settings even for linked/combined projects.
You may want to check attached screencast
When you combine projects is there a way to identify which tasks are assigned to which projects when reporting? I’ve successfully combined projects but when I run a ‘classic’ report to see overdue and next tasks they do not mention the projects they are from.
For example if I have two projects both with tasks ‘prepare charter’ in the reports I just see two tasks called ‘prepare charter’ but I have no idea what projects they are from. I am looking for a combined project reporting view as well as a combined project Gantt view.
Is there a way to do this?
Thank you Antony for your comment.
You would need the column “project” on the report, which is indeed not listed in the ‘classic’ or other reports right now.
I forward this feature request to the management, thanks for mentioning 🙂
In Merlin’s outline you will need to enable the display of the column “project”, just call View > Show View Options > Columns and search for “project”.
Best regards, Vicky
Vicky,
Did we ever get a resolution for this issue? I would love to use this software for multiple projects but I’m unable to report on upcoming tasks.
Thank you,
Gene
Hello Gene,
I have added the “project” column in the 3 areas of the “classic report”: overdue, next tasks, deadlines and made an option on showing “project” column on master projects.
I can send it to your email address if you like, just send me a short note.
Best regards, Vicky
Hello Vicky,
I’m in need of the same thing. I would like to show ‘Project’ in my classic reports for combined projects. Can you help me out? I see your comment to Gene that you have added this column. If you are able to send it to me, that would be great.
Thanks,
Braden
Hello there, I am also in need of a “project” column. Thanks in advance if you can send this to me!
Tonaya
Hello Braden
Have I sent you the report? I cannot recall. Sorry if I missed to read this comment on time.
Hello Tonaya,
the report template will arrive by email.
Best regards, Vicky
Dear Vicky,
I am also looking for a “project†column for the ‘classic’ report.
I hope you can send me this shortly.
Many thanks in advance!
Greetings,
Dan
Hi Daniel,
and thanks for your comment. Have you already installed the latest update? Merlin 2.9.1
If so, just call Classic Report, and check its options.
You will find a checkbox for outputting ‘Project’ column, which is per default disabled and you can enable if you like.
Best regards, Vicky
Hi Vicky,
Got it! Thank you so much!
Cheers!
Dan