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How to Fix Blank or Duplicate Resource Lines in Microsoft Project

Huda Qurayshi Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is seeking a way to resolve an issue in Microsoft Project where duplicate or blank resource assignment lines appear unexpectedly.

How to Fix Blank or Duplicate Resource Lines in Microsoft Project

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Assigning and managing resources across a single project file, linked subprojects, or a shared resource pool.
Observed behavior: Duplicate or blank resource lines appear in the view. In some instances, the blank rows temporarily disappear after the project file is saved and reopened.

Before you start

Before altering project links or resource pools, save a backup copy of your Microsoft Project file to prevent accidental data loss during troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Linked Projects and Shared Resource Pools

Check your project's structure to ensure resources aren't being duplicated via linked subprojects or improper resource pool connections.

Blank or duplicate resource lines often occur when multiple project files share the same resource pool, or when resources are improperly assigned across master and subprojects.

Check Resource Pool Settings

Navigate to the Resource tab, click on 'Resource Pool', and select 'Share Resources' to verify if your file is pulling from an external resource pool.

Review Master and Subprojects

If you are working in a master project file, expand all linked subprojects to check if the same resource was created locally in multiple files instead of being pulled from a central pool.

Consolidate Resources

Unlink unnecessary shared files or consolidate local resources into a single enterprise or shared pool to eliminate duplicates.

Verify Linked Projects and Shared Resource Pools

Version Consistency: Ensure all linked files and resource pools are created and saved in the same version of Microsoft Project to avoid metadata conflicts.

Solution 2

Manually Delete Blank Assignments and Refresh Data

Remove any accidentally created blank resource assignments and force the application to refresh the view.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do blank rows disappear after saving and reopening Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project often cleans up uncommitted or temporary blank assignment rows during the file saving process. Closing and reopening the file forces a data refresh, which removes these visual anomalies from the view.

How do shared resource pools cause duplicate resources?

If a local resource is created in a project file with the exact same name as an existing resource in a connected shared pool, Project may display both entries, resulting in duplicates. You should always link to the central pool before adding resource names manually.

Can I prevent duplicate resources when using linked subprojects?

Yes. To prevent duplicates, use a centralized shared resource pool file for all your linked subprojects. Avoid creating local resources directly within each individual subproject, as consolidating them into a master project will cause duplicates to appear.

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