Using a Master Project as a Template

Question

Hi,

We've been using Project Online for sometime now and are looking to deploy to our product development life-cycle. This is quite well structured and involves a number of different teams. 

What we would like to do is use a Master Project with different sub projects (and dependencies between them) for each team. This works well and gives us what we want. 

The challenge we have is that we would like to save that master project, with it's sub projects and their dependencies as a Project Online Template. We will then be able to quickly establish the correct structure and plans for each team. When I have tried to do this the Template saves fine into Project Online and I can assign to a new Enterprise Project Type however when I create a new Project based on that Enterprise Project Type I get a blank plan, no master project or sub projects.   

Has anyone else experienced similar issues?

Thanks,

Ashok

Answer 1

Ashok --

Thanks for the reply with screenshots.  However, my answer is still the same.  You cannot do what you want to do with Project Online.  Sorry.  Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi James,

I've included some screenshots that might help explain the situation a bit better. 

• I created a master project in 'Project' and added three sub-projects (that had already been saved into PWA). I then saved this master Project into PWA as a 'Template'. The Template name I gave it was 'MasterProject01_Oct2017'.

• I then went to Enterprise Types in PWA and opened up the Enterprise Type I had created earlier called 'Master Project Testing'

• In the settings for 'Master Project Testing' I assigned 'MasterProject01_Oct2017' as the template for that Enterprise type.

• I then went back into Project Centre and created a new project based on 'Master Project Testing'. I was expecting to have a plan(s) created off the template. Instead no schedule exists at all.

Thanks,

Ashok

Answer 3

Ashok --

You cannot save a master project with its subprojects as a enterprise project template.  This is simply not possible in Project Online.  Although the system WILL allow you to save the master project as an enterprise template, it WILL NOT include the subprojects as part of the template, as you now know.

Because of this limitation, you will need to save each subproject as its own enterprise project template, but you WILL NOT be able to save the external links to other subprojects.  Each time you want to create a new master project, you will need to create each of the individual subprojects from their project template, then create the master project and set the links.

I realize this is a bit of work, but it is simply how the system works.  Sorry for the bad news.  Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Ashok,

If I may interject. Although it may seem easy and convenient, it is a really bad idea to create a master file as a template. Unfortunately master files with inserted subprojects have always been, and continue to be, prone to corruption. The link structure is simply not robust. The best practice rules are, never move, rename, overwrite or save off to another location any of the files in the structure. Ideally all files should reside in a single directory on a local drive and not be operated over a network.

John

Answer 5

Hi Ashok,

Can you provide us with the detailed steps about "When I have tried to do this the Template saves fine into Project Online and I can assign to a new Enterprise Project Type however when I create a new Project based on that Enterprise Project Type" ?

Regards,

James