P
Pete Hay
Can I somehow use the Excel "Task Import Template" to define recurring tasks
in Project 2007?
in Project 2007?
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A
Andrew Lavinsky
I suppose you could, but why would you? You can always just insert a recurring
task from the Insert menu.
That being said, I usually don't recommend using recurring tasks except under
certain specific circumstances. Are you sure you need them?
- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm
task from the Insert menu.
That being said, I usually don't recommend using recurring tasks except under
certain specific circumstances. Are you sure you need them?
- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm
P
Pete Hay
Andrew,
I've been tasked by my company to explore how we might use MS Project
2007/Project Server/MOSS to aid in Building Maintenance and Building
Janitorial task scheduling. Creating a yearly project for each building and
representing recurring tasks on the Tracking Gantt chart is a main
requirement. We have many tasks that fit the "must be completed sometime
during the nth week of every month" scenario.
Every building (we clean hundreds) has a supervisor who would create this
list of recurring tasks as defined by the company's individual contract with
the building. These supervisors are not the most computer-savvy folks in the
world. I think (personal opinion) that installing and learning MS Project
would completely overwhelm them. That is why I am trying to come up with an
Excel template answer for them.
I envision the following:
Supervisor creates excel task list and saves in Shared Doc Library in
Sharepoint.
Project Manager imports excel task list to project and publishes to project
server. This way all task alerts and updates are reported to the PM.
All tasks are assigned to the building supervisor and he/she updates task
status with PWA "My Tasks"
Project Managers and Executives can get reports with Project.
Any thoughts, ideas, gotchas in my thinking?
Pete
I've been tasked by my company to explore how we might use MS Project
2007/Project Server/MOSS to aid in Building Maintenance and Building
Janitorial task scheduling. Creating a yearly project for each building and
representing recurring tasks on the Tracking Gantt chart is a main
requirement. We have many tasks that fit the "must be completed sometime
during the nth week of every month" scenario.
Every building (we clean hundreds) has a supervisor who would create this
list of recurring tasks as defined by the company's individual contract with
the building. These supervisors are not the most computer-savvy folks in the
world. I think (personal opinion) that installing and learning MS Project
would completely overwhelm them. That is why I am trying to come up with an
Excel template answer for them.
I envision the following:
Supervisor creates excel task list and saves in Shared Doc Library in
Sharepoint.
Project Manager imports excel task list to project and publishes to project
server. This way all task alerts and updates are reported to the PM.
All tasks are assigned to the building supervisor and he/she updates task
status with PWA "My Tasks"
Project Managers and Executives can get reports with Project.
Any thoughts, ideas, gotchas in my thinking?
Pete
R
Rod Gill
Stay in Excel! Better yet have a database backend with an Excel front end.
You'll get much better value, cheaper, quicker, easier. Maintenance work
like that is not a project. An ongoing project is an oxymoron which makes
this scenario a bad fit for Project.
--
Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project - http://www.project-systems.co.nz
Author of the only book on Project VBA, see: http://www.projectvbabook.com
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4791 (20100120) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
You'll get much better value, cheaper, quicker, easier. Maintenance work
like that is not a project. An ongoing project is an oxymoron which makes
this scenario a bad fit for Project.
--
Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project - http://www.project-systems.co.nz
Author of the only book on Project VBA, see: http://www.projectvbabook.com
Pete Hay said:Andrew,
I've been tasked by my company to explore how we might use MS Project
2007/Project Server/MOSS to aid in Building Maintenance and Building
Janitorial task scheduling. Creating a yearly project for each building
and
representing recurring tasks on the Tracking Gantt chart is a main
requirement. We have many tasks that fit the "must be completed sometime
during the nth week of every month" scenario.
Every building (we clean hundreds) has a supervisor who would create this
list of recurring tasks as defined by the company's individual contract
with
the building. These supervisors are not the most computer-savvy folks in
the
world. I think (personal opinion) that installing and learning MS Project
would completely overwhelm them. That is why I am trying to come up with
an
Excel template answer for them.
I envision the following:
Supervisor creates excel task list and saves in Shared Doc Library in
Sharepoint.
Project Manager imports excel task list to project and publishes to
project
server. This way all task alerts and updates are reported to the PM.
All tasks are assigned to the building supervisor and he/she updates task
status with PWA "My Tasks"
Project Managers and Executives can get reports with Project.
Any thoughts, ideas, gotchas in my thinking?
Pete
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4791 (20100120) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4791 (20100120) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
http://www.eset.com
A
Andrew Lavinsky
OK - well that makes more sense to me. Sounds like you're using Project
as a front end for an Excel-based maintenance management system. I've worked
on some similar engagements using Maximo to spit tickets into Project which
is then used as a front end scheduling and resource leveling engine. The
tasks display in My Tasks, and supervisors close out the tasks as needed.
Do a search for CMMS and Microsoft Project and you'll see some documentation
of similar usage models. The New Standard Institute even does some training
on this specific usage model as I recall.
In theory, I guess that could work with Excel, although I haven't played
with those tools in that context. You might also check out EPMLive. They
have a ProjectPublisher tool that allows you to sync SharePoint lists with
Microsoft Project files (which I should add is built-in functionality in
2010 Project Pro). That may also provide a viable solution for you. The
issue there would be loading data into the SharePoint lists for the tasks.
You might also post this to the Project Server group as you'll get more hits.
My recommendation though is that this could still be a bit of a stretch with
Project and Project Server. It's probably feasible to cobble something together
with Excel and Project, but if I were you, I'd investigate specialized enterprise
tools or even custom database development at the same time - then make an
assessment as to what the best tool is.
- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm
as a front end for an Excel-based maintenance management system. I've worked
on some similar engagements using Maximo to spit tickets into Project which
is then used as a front end scheduling and resource leveling engine. The
tasks display in My Tasks, and supervisors close out the tasks as needed.
Do a search for CMMS and Microsoft Project and you'll see some documentation
of similar usage models. The New Standard Institute even does some training
on this specific usage model as I recall.
In theory, I guess that could work with Excel, although I haven't played
with those tools in that context. You might also check out EPMLive. They
have a ProjectPublisher tool that allows you to sync SharePoint lists with
Microsoft Project files (which I should add is built-in functionality in
2010 Project Pro). That may also provide a viable solution for you. The
issue there would be loading data into the SharePoint lists for the tasks.
You might also post this to the Project Server group as you'll get more hits.
My recommendation though is that this could still be a bit of a stretch with
Project and Project Server. It's probably feasible to cobble something together
with Excel and Project, but if I were you, I'd investigate specialized enterprise
tools or even custom database development at the same time - then make an
assessment as to what the best tool is.
- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm
P
Pete Hay
Rod,
Yes, I'm coming to believe that;
"An ongoing project is an oxymoron which makes this scenario a bad fit for
Project."
That said, I really hate to lose the PWA interface with the task integration
with Outlook (yes, I know the Outlook add-in is buggy). The tracking Gaant
chart is a much coveted requirement by my executives. Wouldn't these features
be difficult to emulate with an excel front end?
Pete
Yes, I'm coming to believe that;
"An ongoing project is an oxymoron which makes this scenario a bad fit for
Project."
That said, I really hate to lose the PWA interface with the task integration
with Outlook (yes, I know the Outlook add-in is buggy). The tracking Gaant
chart is a much coveted requirement by my executives. Wouldn't these features
be difficult to emulate with an excel front end?
Pete
P
Pete Hay
Is there any way to post the complete thread to the Project Server group or
would I just post the original question (without all the clarification)?
Pete
would I just post the original question (without all the clarification)?
Pete
A
Andrew Lavinsky
You might be able to post a URL to that thread. You could mention that you
had a thread going in the MPP group. Most people on the MOPS group frequent
both and will be able to see it. (Well, I do).
A lot of folks use an aggregator to read the newsgroups which just spits all
of the different newsgroups into the same feed.
I would mention that you plan to do a maintenance management system using
Excel to define all of the tasks, then drop them into Project for scheduling
- if I understand you correctly.
had a thread going in the MPP group. Most people on the MOPS group frequent
both and will be able to see it. (Well, I do).
A lot of folks use an aggregator to read the newsgroups which just spits all
of the different newsgroups into the same feed.
I would mention that you plan to do a maintenance management system using
Excel to define all of the tasks, then drop them into Project for scheduling
- if I understand you correctly.
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