Multiple projects within one overall programme | MS-Project forum

Hi David

It is possible to share the same team of resources across multiple projects. Let me know if this would help. To set this up you will need to create a Resource pool which is a central pool containing the resources that will be shared across the projects. To create this make a new Project file, go straight to the resource sheet and add your resources. The Resource Pool is not used for recording tasks. Save the Resource Pool and keep it open.

Next open one of the project files that needs to connect to the pool in order to use the shared resources. On the Resource ribbon click Resource Pool > Share Resources and from the dialog box choose to use resources from the resource pool file (which you left open in the background) and click on OK.

Now you will be able assign resources from the central pool.

Repeat this process with the remaining plans that should share the resources in the pool. If the plans you add already have resources then they will be added to the entries in the Resource Pool.

Save and close all files.

Once a project has been connected to the resource pool however it will only be possible to add new resources and share them from the pool.

The next time you open the resource pool you will be offered three options. The last option opens the resource pool in read / write mode and also creates a merged file with all the sharer files already inserted. This combined plan shows the all the projects using resources from the pool.

I hope this is helpful - if you have any questions please do let me know.

Kind regards,
Andrew