Resource Leveller dialog
You use the Resource Leveller dialog to flatten out any over-allocation of permanent resources in your project. You can also use the dialog to undo all of part of a resource levelling operation that you have just performed.
How to access the Resource Leveller dialog
To access the Resource Leveller dialog, on the Allocation tab, in the Tools group, click Level Resources.
Explanation of the fields and buttons on the dialog
| Field/Button | Description |
|---|---|
| All | Click this radio button to level allocations throughout the entire programme of projects. |
| Branch | Click this radio button to level allocations in the current branch (ie the current view and all subordinate tasks). |
| View | Click this radio button to level allocations in the current view. |
| Selection | Click this radio button to level allocations on the tasks that are currently selected in the bar chart. |
| Granularity |
Specify the time unit over which allocations should be levelled. The smaller the time unit, the more detailed and accurate the resource levelling will be.
For example, you might be scheduled to complete two 1 day tasks in the same day, but have no other tasks scheduled for the rest of the week. With granularity set to Week by Week, the resource leveller does not move either task because you have plenty of free capacity within the whole week, but with granularity set to Day by Day, the resource leveller moves one task into the following day. |
| Resources to level | Select the resources whose allocations you want to level. If you are about to undo a resource levelling operation, select the resources whose levelling you want to undo in this field. |
| Treat folders as normal resources |
Select this check box if you have chosen to level both a resource folder and the resources that it contains and you do not want demand allocations of the resource folder to be taken into account when the resource leveller calculates whether the allocation of resources in the project exceeds the available number of resources within the folder, or clear the check box if you do want demand allocations to be taken into account in this calculation. Clearing this check box can force scheduled allocations of individual resources to be moved in an undesirable way.
|
| Level all | Click this radio button to level across the whole programme of projects, regardless of dates (within the selected scope). |
| Level from | Click this radio button to level only those allocations that fall within a range of dates. |
| From | If you choose to level resources between a range of dates, enter the date at which resource levelling should begin. |
| To | If you choose to level resources between a range of dates, enter the date at which resource levelling should finish. |
| Extend finish |
Select this check box to enable the project finish date to be extended as a result of resource levelling, or clear the check box to force the finish date to remain as it is.
Forcing the finish date to remain as it is may result in some over-allocation remaining, but resources will be levelled as much as possible within the confines of the project start and finish date. This check box always relates to the finish date of the latest task in the entire programme of projects, even if you only level the resources in part of a project, for example the current view or branch. |
| Scheduled allocations |
Click this radio button to level scheduled allocations only.
|
| Demand allocations |
Click this radio button to level demand allocations only.
|
| Both types | Click this radio button to level both scheduled and demand allocations. |
| Levelling priority |
Use these fields to specify the way in which you want tasks to be prioritised for resource levelling. For example, if you choose Total Float from the first dropdown and Task Start Date from the second, the tasks will be levelled first according to the amount of total float they have and second according to their start date.
Levelling on total float gives the best results, as the tasks with the most leeway are adjusted first. |
| Levelling progress | Gives a graphical representation of how much of the levelling process is completed. |
| Level Now | Click this button to start levelling the specified resource allocations. |
| Undo Level |
Click this button to undo any resource levelling operation that you have just performed on the resources that are currently selected in the Resources to level field.
Undoing resource levelling using this button differs from undoing the operation using the Undo command from the Edit menu: if you use the Edit - Undo command, the entire resource levelling operation is undone, whereas using this button, you can undo the levelling of selected resources. |
How do I...
... level the permanent resources in the current project?
- Specify the part of the project in which you want to level resources in the Levelling scope group.
- Select the time unit over which you want to level resources in the Granularity field. The smaller the time unit, the more detailed and accurate the resource levelling will be.
- Select the resource folders or individual resources that you want to level in the Resources to level field.
- Select the Treat folders as normal resources check box if you have chosen to level both a resource folder and the resources that it contains and you do not want demand allocations of the resource folder to be taken into account when the resource leveller calculates whether the allocation of resources in the project exceeds the available number of resources within the folder, or clear the check box if you do want demand allocations to be taken into account in this calculation.
- From the Levelling range group, specify whether you want to level across the whole project or across a specific time period.
- Select the Extend project finish check box if you are happy for the project finish date to be moved forward as a result of the resource levelling, or clear the check box if you do not want the project finish date to be delayed.
- Specify the types of resource allocation you want to level using the radio buttons in the Levelling options group.
- Specify the way in which you want tasks to be prioritised for resource levelling in the Levelling priority group. Choose a different field from one or more of the dropdowns.
- Click Level Now to proceed with the resource levelling.
... undo a resource levelling operation I have just performed
- Select the resource folders or individual resources whose levelling you want to undo in the Resources to level field.
- Click Undo Level.