ProChain Project Scheduling FAQs

1. Is ProChain compatible with Microsoft Project 2007?
   Version 9.1 and later support Microsoft Project 2007.
   
   
2. My ProChain Software won’t install. What is the problem?
   Most likely the security settings are blocking the ProChain installation, although there could be other reasons for an installation to fail. First try setting the security to “Low” then retry the installation. To change the security setting, open MS Project. Go to “Tools | Macro | Macro Security”. Use the menu there to change the setting to “Low”. Close MS Project and retry the install.
   
   If this still fails, do a manual install. Directions are in the ProChain User’s Guide but are repeated here in a brief description. First open MS Project. Open the file “pc2000.mpp” for ProChain or “pcp2000.mpp” for ProChain Pipeline. This file will be located in whatever directory you have chosen to install ProChain. The default is C:\Program Files\ProChain Solutions\ProChain x.0. Once this file is open, run the macro “ProChain Install” from Tools | Macro | Macros… After this macro is run you should see the ProChain toolbars appear. Close the file.
   
   If neither of the above methods is successful, please contact ProChain Technical Support at support@prochain.com.
   
   
3. ProChain won't install on my version of Microsoft Project. I'm using Project 98. What is the problem?
   ProChain version 9 does not support Microsoft Project 98 and earlier versions. In order to use Project 98, you will need to used an earlier version of ProChain.



4. When I add and link new tasks in the Gantt view they appear at the Start Date rather than in the correct position relative to the predecessor. This only started happening after I installed ProChain. Why?
   A successful ProChain installation will turn off the automatic calculation function of MS Project. Therefore, new tasks will not be automatically placed according to their links. Simply pressing “F9” will rearrange tasks according to link order.
   
   ProChain does this so that all calculations are done through ProChain, not Microsoft Project. However, pressing F9 after ProChain scheduling has been done will not cause problems in the project file.
   
   
5. What parts of Microsoft Project does ProChain use and what parts does it replace? Are there any functions and features that it is incompatible with or does not support?
   ProChain is an add-on to Microsoft Project. Installing ProChain will add the functionality required for Critical Chain project scheduling and management—none of the MS Project functionality is disabled. ProChain comes with a project scheduler (the MS Project scheduler and resource leveler is no longer used), a task update interface, analysis tools, views, and reports. Project networks and data are modeled, entered, stored, and exported just as they are when using MS Project without ProChain. The only modeling features that currently are not supported by the ProChain scheduler are split tasks, assignment delays, resource contours, recurring tasks, embedded projects, and task links between projects.
   
   
6. Why am I being asked to save my project file each time I try to use a ProChain function?
   ProChain needs to save temporary files in order to execute it’s functions. A “PCTemp” file will be created for this purpose. It will be saved in a database format. A default filename will appear in the dialog box and can be changed, if desired.
   
   
7. I’m upgrading to a new version of ProChain. Do I need to Uninstall first?
   No. Uninstalling will clean up old files and registry entries, but if left, won’t adversely affect anything other than adding clutter. For the most part, ProChain overwrites the files and MS Project components of the previous version, so that only the most recently installed version can be run. If you are reinstalling the same version to the same directory, then uninstalling is unnecessary.
   
   
8. I’m saving my projects in the Microsoft Project Database (.mpd) format. My file is very large, even though my projects aren’t that big. How can I reduce this file size?
   Open the file in a database program (such as Microsoft Access) and use that program’s Clean and Repair function. In Microsoft Access, you can find this in Tools | Database Utilities | Compact and Repair Database.
   
   
9. Does ProChain support summary task links? What’s wrong with using them?
   Yes, ProChain supports summary task links. In other words, the predecessors of the summary task will get scheduled before any of the summary’s detailed tasks, and the successors of the summary task won’t be scheduled until after all of the detail tasks. Note that the critical chain that ProChain identifies will not include summary tasks. If the CC does go through the summary task link, ProChain will identify only the relevant detail tasks.
   
   There are some downsides with using summary task links. One is that it can hide the true relationships between the detail tasks. This can make it harder to analyze the network and can preclude finding some overlap that can shorten the schedule.
   
   Another issue is that of feeding buffer creation. In some cases, ProChain will create a whole lot of buffers to or from the detailed tasks rather then creating a buffer associated directly with the summary task.
   
   
10. I have a long vendor task in my project that has padding built into it, yet they are unlikely to deliver early. In other words, their 50/50 duration is pretty close to their low-risk or worst-case duration. How do I get ProChain to take this into account so that it doesn’t create a huge buffer to protect it?
    ProChain sizes the buffer based on the amount of variability in the tasks it is protecting against—it’s a function of the variability in the tasks not the duration of the tasks. For example, if the tasks are guaranteed to be delivered on schedule, no buffering would be needed. ProChain calculates the variability of a task as the difference between the low-risk duration (the Duration1 field is the default) and the Focus duration (the Duration field). If you do not enter a low-risk duration (or you enter an invalid one such as one that is less than the Focus duration) then ProChain will assume that the low-risk duration is twice the duration.
    
    Lets look at an example. If you have a 10w duration task and you leave the low-risk duration at 0, then ProChain will use 20w as the low-risk duration. The variability will be 20w – 10w or 10w. 50% buffers (using the percentage sizing method) will result in 5w of buffering. Now if you are pretty sure that the vendor won’t slip by more than 2w, you would set the Duration1 field to 12w. The variability is 2w and the result will be 1w of buffering—a savings of 4w.
    
    
11. How do I use ProChain to schedule a project from the finish date backward (to meet a due date)?
    To tell ProChain to schedule from a date backward, you need to put an FNLT constraint on the last task and set the Project Start Date early enough so as not to influence the schedule. By using this method, ProChain also allows you to put more than one end date in the project file. Note: ProChain always schedules the project from the Project Start Date no matter which Schedule From option you have selected in Project Information.
    
    
12. Why do I have more than one project buffer?
    ProChain considers any task that does not have a successor as a deliverable that needs to be protected by a project buffer. If you go to the Network Data box on the Control Panel, there is a line that shows the number of tasks without successors.
    
    
13. Why does the ProChain Update Tasks window use Remaining Duration instead of % Complete?
    This is done to get more accurate estimates. Remaining duration is what is needed to calculate new projected times and buffer consumption. Trying to factor in your effort so far only complicates the estimate, and % Complete is subject to different interpretations. There is also a human tendency to say that you are 90% complete very quickly, and then spend just as long or longer finishing up the last 10%.
    
    
14. What is the difference between the Gantt View and the ProChain Gantt View?
    The ProChain Gantt shows everything that the regular Gantt chart shows plus 2 additional things: the projected times of each task (the half-height pink bars) and the project’s status dates (a vertical line). The projected times indicate when a task is projected to be available for work based on the latest project status update. Not only do the projected times provide more up-to-date task status than the baseline times (the full height bars), but they make it easy to see what is causing buffer consumption. Therefore, when using ProChain, the regular Gantt chart does not provide enough information about the project. You should always use the ProChain Gantt Chart.
    
    
15. If I send a ProChain-scheduled project file to somebody that has Microsoft Project but doesn’t have ProChain, will they be able to open the file, or use the views and reports that come with ProChain?
    They will be able to open the file. They can use any views and reports that have previously been used with that file. This is because Microsoft Project components like ProChain views and reports get automatically copied from the GLOBAL.MPT file into the individual project file when they are referenced.
    
    One exception is ProChain Resource Report. This report has to be run from the ProChain toolbar because it runs custom code before calling the associated MSP report. This code is what allows you to select one or more resources from a standard Windows selection list. It then creates a filter on the fly based on this selection.
    
    
16. How can I undo ProChain functions?
    There is no “undo” function for ProChain steps that have been executed. It is recommended that users frequently save backup copies of their files.
    
    
17. Can I get training at my company location on ProChain software?
    No. ProChain Solutions does not offer onsite training. We do offer open courses at our Lake Ridge, Virginia location. For the current schedule, please visit the training section of our website.



18. Can I get PMI credits for attending a ProChain Course?
    Yes. You must apply through the PMI Certification website for Category 4 course credits.



19. How do I uninstall ProChain?
    The best way to uninstall ProChain is to run the Installation program and choose the "Remove" option from the first screen. This will remove all elements of the software. If this is not possible, ProChain can also be removed using the Control Panel option for "Add/Remove Programs". Simply find ProChain in the list and select it for removal.