I my experience it is better to make a .mmp file for each of your five projects and work on them separately. MS Project will allow you to make a master .mmp file that is a composite of your five projects. So you can see them combined but can work on them individually. Additionally, you can...
I find the responses to your question interesting. We have made several attempts (and continue to do so) to use MS Project to plan projects with less than satifying results. I feel like I know Project fairly well so am not hindered by trying to use the software. I agree that Project as it is...