How to insert deliverables in non-server version of Project 2007

[Henrik]

I'd like to insert deliverables (as opposed to milestones -- which by my
definition is covers more than deliverables) in my project plan. For some
reason, this is only an option in the server version, as I understand it.

Any suggestions for a workaround?

I can of course set a milestone and name it 'deliverable' but I'd like my
'deliverable milestones' to stand our visually on the Gantt chart and it is
both tedious error prone to go in and change the appearance of each milestone
manually. I might also possibly want to create other reports listing only
deliverables but I haven't come that far yet.

Thanks,
Henrik

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Henrik,

Try posting on the microsoft.public.project.server newsgroup (forum).
Please see FAQ Item: 24. Project Newsgroups. FAQs, companion products and
other useful Project information can be seen at this web address:
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[Rob Schneider]

I'd like to insert deliverables (as opposed to milestones -- which by my
definition is covers more than deliverables) in my project plan. For some
reason, this is only an option in the server version, as I understand it.

Any suggestions for a workaround?

I can of course set a milestone and name it 'deliverable' but I'd like my
'deliverable milestones' to stand our visually on the Gantt chart and it is
both tedious error prone to go in and change the appearance of each milestone
manually. I might also possibly want to create other reports listing only
deliverables but I haven't come that far yet.

Thanks,
Henrik

the easy way would be to use one of the custom flag fields to mark the
milestones that are deliverables, and then filter on that flag when
creating a gantt chart view. Or get cleaver and have the filter look
for "contains" text in the task name, e.g. "Deliverable" or whatever it
is that denotes a task that you want to show.

Ideas which take more time: Probably can also write a macro to put
special formatting on the line of text for those tasks. I haven't
tried, but I suspect you can also use Bar Styles, custom fields, to do
customised view of the Gantt chart and use special colours or something
for those flagged tasks. While a one-off activity to figure this out,
it's probably tedious to figure it out. Keep it simple, I'd say.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Henrik --

Are you actually using Project Server 2007? From the text of your post, I
assume you are not. Assuming this is the case, your are correct in your
assertion that the Deliverables feature is only available when using Project
Server 2007. As far as how to visually designate your tasks that represent
deliverables in your project, have you considered using the Cell Background
Color feature? Click the ID number for any task that is a deliverable, then
click Format - Font. Set the Background Color to any color that makes the
task "stand out" in the project, and then click the OK button. Perhaps that
would meet your presentation criteria for the project. Hope this helps.

 

[Henrik]

Yes, I had considered that but wanted to avoid it -- seems error prone as
well as tedious

 

[Rob Schneider]

Not error prone if you write a macro that does correctly.

Yes, I had considered that but wanted to avoid it -- seems error prone as
well as tedious

Henrik,

 

[Henrik]

I'll try to work with this solution, thanks

the easy way would be to use one of the custom flag fields to mark the
milestones that are deliverables, and then filter on that flag when
creating a gantt chart view. Or get cleaver and have the filter look
for "contains" text in the task name, e.g. "Deliverable" or whatever it
is that denotes a task that you want to show.

Ideas which take more time: Probably can also write a macro to put
special formatting on the line of text for those tasks. I haven't
tried, but I suspect you can also use Bar Styles, custom fields, to do
customised view of the Gantt chart and use special colours or something
for those flagged tasks. While a one-off activity to figure this out,
it's probably tedious to figure it out. Keep it simple, I'd say.