Capture actual hours but NOT impact forecasts that are set

[PM]

We want to capture actual hours worked via PWA but NOT have that impact the
forecast allocation % already set/entered in EPM. Today in Server 2003, when
entering in acutal hours, the forecasts allocations/hours change. E.g. My
forecast hours for M-F was 6 hours on a project and 2 hours on maintenance
support. I enter 6 & 2 for Mon & Tues, but on Wed, I only enter 4 hours of
project work, my projected hours/allocation % from that day onwards will
automatically get re-calculated becuase I didn't work enough hours as what
was projected. I DON'T want the projection to change so even if there is a
way to fake out EPM and create a new field to capture the actual hours in a
way that projection doesn't change, that's what I'm in search for (or any
other solution that would get me this end result). Please help!

 

[Gary L. Chefetz]

PM:

I responded to your previous post, however I'll add a point of two here. You
are basically saying you don't want Project to behave like Project. The
solution you seek is possible with Project Server 2007 as it has a separate
timesheet system that you can run without sending information back to your
projects, and then update your projects separately. Project Server 2003 is
simply not the solution you want.

--
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Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
Project Server Training: http://www.projectservertraining.com
Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com
Project Server Help Blog: http://www.projectserverhelp.com

 

[PM]

Thanks Gary. I really appreciate your response.

Yes, I agree that what we are asking for is for project to not do what
project is meant to do. But thought I would still ask to see if there
was any way around that (and trick Project).

 

[John D.]

We want to capture actual hours worked via PWA but NOT have that impact the
forecast allocation % already set/entered in EPM. Today in Server 2003, when
entering in acutal hours, the forecasts allocations/hours change. E.g. My
forecast hours for M-F was 6 hours on a project and 2 hours on maintenance
support. I enter 6 & 2 for Mon & Tues, but on Wed, I only enter 4 hours of
project work, my projected hours/allocation % from that day onwards will
automatically get re-calculated becuase I didn't work enough hours as what
was projected. I DON'T want the projection to change so even if there is a
way to fake out EPM and create a new field to capture the actual hours in a
way that projection doesn't change, that's what I'm in search for (or any
other solution that would get me this end result). Please help!

 

[John D.]

Sorry for the blank reply before. Fat fingered it. :-(
Couple thoughts.

Would the Baseline Work column serve the purpose? I assume the baseline was
set. Never used it, don't know for sure. Just a thought.

You could copy the forecasts into a text column or custom enterprise field
to preserve them.

You could write a macro / add in / program whatever to copy the original
forecasts into a text column or custom enterprise field to help save a little
time & effort and make it a little more user proof. Assign it to a custom
toolbar maybe?

Then you may need a view or report or such to have it show the way you want.

Shot in the dark.

Hope it helps.

Best,
-jd