Microsoft KB Archive/831611

= Description of the Resource Breakdown Structure and how to use it in Microsoft Project Server 2002 =

Article ID: 831611

Article Last Modified on 1/7/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Project Server 2002

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SUMMARY
This article describes the Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS), and how it is used in Microsoft Project Server.



MORE INFORMATION
The RBS is the reserved Enterprise Resource Outline Code 30 that is used for Resource Management. RBS helps to determine the resources and the assignments that a user can view in the Resource Center when they are using Microsoft Project Web Access.

RBS offers the following advantages:
 * A user can view all resources that are less than the user's RBS value in a category where the Allow users in this category to view information for all resources that they manage option is turned on.
 * RBS filters the output in the Portfolio Modeler, the Portfolio Analyzer, and the Resource Substitution Wizard to show only those resources that are less than or equal to the RBS value of the user. The filter reduces the time that it takes to display the information.

Note By default, the My Resource category will display the filter level.

RBS Example 1
Max Benson, as the Junior Vice President of Finance, can access Level 2 through Level 5 of Finance resources--for example:
 * Level 1 - Senior Vice President
 * Level 2 - Junior Vice President
 * Level 3 - Middle Manager
 * Level 4 - Team Manager
 * Level 5 - Resource A
 * Level 6 - Resource B

To create the RBS Lookup Table for this example, follow these steps:  Read the Enterprise Implementation Framework (EIF) to help you plan the RBS structure.

For additional information about the Enterprise Implementation Framework (EIF), click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

325956 PSRV2002: Overview of Microsoft Project Professional Enterprise Implementation Framework (EIF)

The value of the RBS field cannot be more than 255 characters. When the RBS value is assigned to a resource, the value at each level is concatenated to the value before it. In this example, the RBS value for Max Benson is &quot;SR VP Finance.JR VP&quot;, assuming that the period is used as the separator. The following list is an example of the values that may appear in an RBS Lookup Table:

 Log on to Microsoft Project Professional as an administrator. On the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options, and then click Open Enterprise Global. Create the outline code. To do this, follow these steps:  On the Tools menu, point to Customize, and then click Enterprise Fields. Click the Custom Outline Code tab. Click to turn on the Resource option button.</li> Scroll down the list, and then click RBS.</li> Click define code mask.</li> Click Characters Any, and then click a separator from the list.</li> Repeat Step f for each level of the RBS structure.</li> Click OK.</li> Click the Edit Lookup Table button.</li> Type the value for the different levels of the RBS.

Make sure that you use the Indent button to set the level of the value in the Lookup Table.</li></ol>

Note Sr.VP Development is Level 1 with only one level below it. There are four levels under the other Sr. VP levels.</li> Save the Enterprise Global File.</li> Quit Project Professional.</li> Restart Project Professional.

The modified Enterprise Global file is loaded and displays the new RBS field.</li> Log on to Project Professional as an administrator.</li> Open the Enterprise Resource Pool. To do this, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> On the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options, and then click Open Enterprise Resource Pool.</li> Click the Select All button, and then click Add/Open.</li></ol> </li> Insert the RBS code into the Resource Sheet. To do this, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Right-click a column heading, and then click RBS.</li> <li>Click OK.</li></ol> </li> <li>Select a value from the list for each resource.</li> <li>Save, and then close the Enterprise Resource Pool.</li></ol>

RBS Example 2
If you do not use the default My Resources category, you must configure a new category with the Allow users in this category to view information for all resources that they manage option turned on. Create a new category that will allow filter resources that are based on RBS.

To create a new category, follow these steps:
 * 1) Log on to Project Web Access (PWA) as an administrator.
 * 2) Click the Admin tab, and then click Manage Security.
 * 3) Click Add Category.
 * 4) Type the Name and Description.

The Description text box is optional.
 * 1) Add the users or groups to this category, and then click the Projects that this category will have permissions to view.
 * 2) In the Resources: Select the resources whose information can be viewed by users in this category area, click to turn on the Allow users in this category to view information for all resources that they manage option.
 * 3) Make sure that the views (Assignment Views, Resource Center views) that you want to view are also included in the new category.

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