Creating a central Microsoft Project Resource Pool

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Creating a central resource pool

You can use any project files as a central resource pool. This would be a project file with no tasks, just with all the human and non-human resources.

First, select the Resource Sheet view.

If you select the Gantt view, note that you will NOT created any tasks.

First, select the Resource Sheet view.

select the Resource tab, Resource Pool, and Share Resources…
The Share Resources dialog box will open
Select conflict with calendar or resource information
Pool takes precedence. This radio button should normally be left on since that allows any resource conflicts are managed by making changes to the resource pool file, and such changes are reflected in the sharer files
Sharer takes precedence. As you might imagine, this is the reverse of the above. Any changes made to the sharer files, changes the resource pool. This is fine if the resource pool is only made available to your projects, so you should be free to make the resource decisions
Once you have selected to use the resources from the resource pool, you will want to then add all the human and non-human resources. These ca include materials, equipment, and facilities.
If you wish for example, to use the Resource Usage view then you can see which project is using which resources, either from the central pool or from within a particular project using the pool.
Simply add an extra column to the table and select the ‘Project’ field. This will allow you view which projects or pool is using which resources and from where!
Note. Upon opening a sharer file and the resource pool is not open, Project asks if you want to open it, you will want to say yes of course!

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