Advice Needed re MS Project Version

[dee]

I am using Office 2003 and am trying to decide if I should purchase MS
Project 2003 or 2007.

I am wondering about compatibility between these versions. Plus, I would
appreciate any guidance in how Project communicates with Outlook. If I
update/add a task, I would like to reflect it in Outlook.

I remember in earlier version, it was very easy to do this, but it seems in
more recent versions, the method has changed.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jim Aksel]

Project 2007 plays very nicely with Office 2003. I have that configuration.
Project 2007 also allows better integration with Excel 2003 (and 2007) and
Visio 2007 (Visio 2003 is not supported).

The visual reporting tools in Project2007 are much better than in 2003, plus
you can have multiple "undo's". Those two features by themselves were worth
the cost of the upgrade for me.

Also, Project2007 allows saving to Project2003 format. About the only thing
you loose in Project2007 is the ability to save to HTML and to Microsoft
Access format but there are ways around it using XML. This has not been an
issue for us.

For Outlook integration, you are much better off with the Client/Server
versions of Project to handle this... that is Project Server 2007. This
requires a separate Server2007 install and all the desktops must be Project
2007 Professional (not Project 2007 Standard) for it to work properly.

I understand there is a way to make Project2003 communicate with Outlook,
search for posts here on the key word "Outlook" for additional information
-- it is not officially supported but it does work. One of the MVPs, JulieS,
has many posts on the topic.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information
about Microsoft Project

 

[dee]

Thanks so much for the detailed answer!

How difficult is it to learn/set up Project Server? Thanks again.

 

[Jim Aksel]

The complexity of an MS Project Server setup depends on how robust your
projects are and your internal processes etc. For example, Boeing does it
just a little bit different than a firm of 25 lawyers. Many companies have a
server administrator do the work, it is not that hard (for smaller setups).

However, the thing to keep in mind is that the server configuration
determines the "personality" of all the interfaces, web links, etc. So, it
is best to thoroughly understand what you need it to do for you before
spending thousands of $$ on it.

Because this is an important issue, there are many companies who make a
career of MS Project Server installation setup and training. If you search
some of the names of the regular posters to this site and the Server site
(microsoft.public.project.server), you will find they are in this business (I
personally am not) and can truly help you.

You could also search for books on Amazon.com concerning MS Project Server.
Again, several of the authors of these books are in the business of setup and
training in MS Project Server. You'll never go wrong talking to a pro. If
they are out of your budget, buy one of their books.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for FAQs and more information
about Microsoft Project

 

[dee]

Hi Jim,

Again, thanks for your response.

I have been reading through the groups all afternoon and seem to have more
questions now.

I don't think that our (small) company has the budget for Project Server. I
have been reading that you can change the registry in Project 2003 so that it
"communicates" with Outlook as in previous versions. That would probably
suffice.

Our needs are relatively basic, but we would like to send updated tasks to
resources, etc. as in earlier version of Project.

I keep seeing Project Server, SharePoint Server, etc. Could you either
explain or point me in the right direction for a definition of what all of
these do?

It's all rather confusing!

 

[Larry]

I need to convert a Project 2007 file into a Project 2003 format so that
folks that have Project 2003 on their PC can read my 2007 version file.

It appears below that Jim says Project 2007 has that capability, can anyone
tell me where to find that capability in my 2007 version?

Thanks.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Larry --

File - Save As. Click the "Save as type" pick list and select the Microsoft
Project 2000-2003 version. Hope this helps.