Most project managers handle several projects at the same time, often with the same people working on different projects.

This presents several problems to a project manager...

1.      Nobody likes to have to type the same information over and over with each project

2.      Some people may have different schedules and different calendar

3.      Some people may already be overload so assigning them more work could be a big mistake!

These problems are all solved by JCVGantt PRO 2's unique Resource pool feature.

Using pools can reduce typing while also improving accuracy when examining how loaded or under-loaded each person is, as the Resource Usage report uses the pool information to show you resource usage in all the projects in a particular pool

Resource pools allow you to group resource information into so that all the resource name and cost information you typed into one project is automatically duplicated in any other project.

It also allows you to track the work being done by each resource to prevent people from being underloaded or overloaded with work.

JCVGantt assigns each project a file called a "Resource Pool" which lists which projects are part of the pool.

Any project that is a "member" of the pool shares resource information with other projects.

By default, JCVGantt has one default pool called "Resource.pool".

As you create projects, the same pool will be re-used each time, so the same people will be part of it. If you create a new project and add resources to that project, those resources will be added to the pool, and thus shared by all projects that share the same pool.

You are free to create specific pools with specific resource. To edit Resource pools on the menu item View->Parameters

Open Button
Allows you to open a new .pool file and use it and it's resource in the current project

Merge Button
Allows you to merge the projects contained within a pool file into the current pool

Save Button
Allows you to save the current pool file in order to rename it or share it with other users.

Create new Button
Allows you to create a blank "new" pool. Use this when you want to start a new pool, specifically for the current project

Remove Project Button

Can remove a project from a pool. Use this if one of the projects has resources you've decided not to use in the currrent project

Resource usage sheet

The Resource usage sheet is a report. It shows you how resources have been allocated for all of the projects in the current resource pool.

You cannot edit this report, but you may use the information contained in it to copy/paste to another spreadsheet.

Learning to Read the Report

Learning how to read this report, will enable to to easily control how resources are used.

Admittedly, this report provides a LOT of information and at first glance, you might be a bit overwhelmed.

Once you get the gist, you'll realize that it's actually quite intuitive.

The easiest way to explain is by example.

8,000 bottles of oil on the wall

This Gantt chart shows the steps required to produce a run of 8,000 bottles of an essential oil product.

Notice the resources are Tracy, Charles, Setup Charge (a flat fee), and technicians fee (an hourly rate)

The first thing you'll note on the Resource usage report is that it shows on the left column a list of each resource and the tasks that have been assigned to each resource.

(Note: These tasks include ALL the tasks in the Resource Pool, including tasks that may be in other projects)

Note that Tracy has a red color code which indicates she's been over-allocated since TWO full-day tasks were assigned on the Friday!

The proper "Project manager" response would be to divide the time spent purchasing labels and the time spent mixing oil, or find another resource to take some load off of her.

Gray rows show resources of the current resource pool.

White rows show tasks using the resource.

There are two types of color codes

Resource color codes - i.e. what percentage of a resource is being used

on a particular day

Task codes - i.e. what percent of the resource is being used for a specific task

The Resource usage report tells you instantly whether resources are overloaded or under-loaded.

It's intelligent enough to examine other projects in a project pool to determine if other projects are using resources in your current project!