Ordering Enterprise Project Templates

Unfortunately, there is no capability pre SP2 for users to sort/order Enterprise Project Templates either alphabetically or numerically. This is because the file open dialog box shares components with other Microsoft products.

One of the things planned to be introduced in SP2 is the pre-ordering of the Templates before they are brought into the Enterprise Templates view. We will still, however, not be able to sort them after they are displayed. This was the best Microsoft could do without impacting the other office applications.

I have tested this with the beta and is a great step forward. See example screen shot.

 

 

‘Light Weight’ PWA Projects Vs Microsoft Project Plans

Proposals and Activity Plans in PWA are sometime referred to as ‘light weight’ projects. See below some information to clarify the use case of this feature. Hope this helps.

Use Case Scenario

Light Weight Project functionality is used for ‘broad brush’ initial planning which is then promoted to a project pro plan for further detailed planning, if and when required. These ‘simple’ projects can be used for initial planning and also for capturing timesheet actuals say for operational type activities. If when using MOSS, workflow can also be developed to provide some structure for promotion of ‘proposal’ type initial plans (by Business Managers) to Project Pro plans by PMs say.

Once a light weight project is promoted to a Project Professional plan for further development, there is no reverting back to its previous state, i.e. light weight project.

Light Weight Project Limitations

The following Project Professional functionality limitations are observed when using light weight projects (out-of-box functionality);

1. Task level enterprise attributes cannot be assigned. Local Custom Fields are also not supported.
2. Single resource assignment per task
3. Limited dependency management. Only FS dependency supported.
4. Limit of 100 task per project.
5. Calendars. Only Standard Enterprise Calendar is used for Project and Tasks
6. Resource Cost Rate Table Assignment is set to default Standard.
7. Baselines are not supported
8. Templates are not supported
9. Master Projects with light weight projects are not supported.
10. Cross Project links is not supported
11. Resource Work Contours cannot be set. Setting or changing the assignment contour type (such as flat, back-loaded, or frontloaded).
12. Editing Timephased data (cost, work, etc) is not supported
13. Calculating variance and earned value are not supported.
14. Interactive scheduling is not supported.
15. Custom definition of work breakdown structure (WBS) code mask is not supported.
16. Saving and Manipulating data in local projects (.mpp files). For example;
• -defining cost rate tables or availability contours for local resources
• -printing and emailing project file to external users

How do I see my CC'd Status Report?

CC'd Status Reports are located in the Miscellaneous section of the Responses. See figures below. Navigate to Status Reports > Responses > Miscellaneous

Select your CC'd Status Report.

Where have my saved Status Reports gone?

Saved Status Reports are located in the ARCHIVE section of the Responses. See details below. Navigate to Status Reports > Responses > Archive

Select your saved report.

Edit your saved report as necessary and click Send.

Sent/submitted Status Reports are also accessed via this section.

EPM/SharePoint Security Integration

Out-of-the-box EPM integration with SharePoint provides the following;

1. Project Owner (who ever creates the project or is assigned as the Owner) is able to add and modify SharePoint documents/lists including Risks and Issues


2. Project Team Members who are assigned to tasks are able to add and modify SharePoint documents/lists including Risks and Issues


3. Project Team Members who are NOT assigned should have view only rights.

If you are changing and testing access rights, you may need to ensure that you are publishing the project after any change. You may also need to perform SharePoint Synchronisation of access rights.

EPM Scheduled Jobs

When deploying EPM2007, the timings of the following scheduled jobs need to be considered;

1. SQL DB Backups
2. OLAP Cube Build
3. Resource Capacity
4. Message Queue Cleanups
5. Email Alerts and Reminders
6. AD Synch for ERP and Groups

• Other SharePoint Timer Jobs and any other

Unable to Install ActiveX Controls

Have you ever encountered an issue where by ActiveX controls do not install even if you have admin rights on the PC?

Try cleaning up/removing old controls and re-installing. Here are some general steps that will help;

CAUSE
This issue may occur if an issue exists with one or more Microsoft Project ActiveX Control objects that are already installed on your computer, and the issue prevents you from downloading and installing the ActiveX Control objects correctly.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
1.Remove the Microsoft Project ActiveX Control objects that are installed on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Start Internet Explorer if it is not already started.
b. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
c. Click the General tab, and then click Settings under Temporary Internet files.
d. In the Settings dialog box, click View Objects.
e. Remove objects starting with PJ*.* if the objects are present
To do so, right-click the object, and then click Remove.
f. Quit Internet Explorer.

2.Verify that the ActiveX Control objects are removed from your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.
b. At the command prompt, change to the one of the following folders, depending on your situation:
•If you are running Microsoft Windows 2000: Drive:\Winnt\Downloaded Program Files
•If you are running Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Microsoft Windows 98: Drive:\Windows\Downloaded Program\Files
c. Type dir pj*.*, and then press ENTER.
d. Use one of the following methods, depending on your situation:
•If no files are listed in the Command Prompt window, you do not have to follow the remaining steps in this article.
•If one or more files are listed in the Command Prompt window, delete the files. To do this, type del pj*.*, and then press ENTER.
e. Type exit, and then press ENTER to quit Command Prompt.

The loation of the ActiveX controls is shown in the fig below.

3.Log on to Project Server by using Microsoft Project Web Access.

If the issue persists, go to step 4.

4.Remove cookies. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Start Internet Explorer if it is not already started.
b. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
c. On the General tab, click Settings under Temporary Internet files.
d. Click Delete Cookies, and then close the Internet Options window.
e. Start Internet Explorer, access Microsoft Project Web Access, and then download the controls.