Auto-assign Resources

This form allows you to easily bulk-assign resources to tasks based on selected task filters. It automates the process of manually applying a filter, assigning one or more resources to the filtered tasks, and repeating this process. Furthermore, if you wish to un-assign resources and repeat this process, you would already have a template to do this.

You can define any number of auto-assignment layouts by clicking the button on the toolbar in the dialog.

Each layout in the left-hand list has one or more rules according to which assignments a created (or removed or replaced). Each rule has the following settings.

Field Description
Apply to Tasks Select a filter from the drop-down list which classifies tasks to which this particular assignment rule will apply. This is a required field.
ID The unique identifier of the resource which will be assigned as part of this rule.

This ID is assigned to the resource when the resource is created. For more information, see Creating Resources.
Name The name of the resource. which will be assigned as part of this rule.

This name is assigned to the resource when the resource is created. For more information, see Creating Resources.
Units The number of resources assigned to the task.

The number of units cannot be modified for Effort Driven tasks (as this is a calculated value).
Type The type of the resource assignment. Assignments can be defined as:
  • Driving - the task duration depends on this resource. Effectively the rate of the resource is used to drive the task.
  • Required - a set number of resources is required for the duration of the task.
  • Effort Driven - the number of resources required is calculated from the task and the resource rates.

The default Assignment Options for resources is set in the Advanced option of the Project Settings screen.
Rate The rate at which the resource will be assigned to the task. The default value is taken from the resource definition.

This rate is set when you create the resource. For more information, see Creating Resources.
Use Production Rate Table This option specifies whether to use the production rate table specified in the resource definition or not. The default value depends on whether the resource has a production rate table specified or not.

If a production rate table is used, then the effect of adding resource assignments through this rule will be the following: all tasks that conform to the production rate table filters AS WELL AS the rule filter (specified in the Apply to Tasks column) will get the relevant rate specified in the relevant production rate table. All other tasks conforming to the filter for this rule will get the default production rate specified in the resource definition.
Assign to subtasks The default value is TRUE. If you have manually created a task structure (WBS) with summaries and sub-tasks, or a grouping selected (which will also have summaries and sub-tasks), then the scenario may occur whereby the filter specified in Apply to Tasks selects only a summary and not its sub-tasks. With this option switched on, the assignments will be made to the sub-tasks.

Note that assignments are never made to summary tasks.
Function ID/Function Name If the resource specified in the ID column has the function/skill of a replaceable resource, then this Function ID represents that replaceable resource.
Add Pressing this button creates all assignments for the currently selected template based on the rules specified in the grid.
Remove Pressing this button removes all assignments for the currently selected template based on the rules specified in the grid. Other assignments that do not conform to these rules will remain untouched.
Clear and Add Pressing this button will first remove all assignments for the currently selected template based on the rules specified in the grid. Thereafter is will add new resource assignments based on the rules specified in the grid.