PPS, PS and ManDays

[Dominik]

I’m right now during an implementation of EPM 2007. We have an requirement to
use ManDays as main (and only) resource allocation unit in PPS. As everyone
knows PPS uses FTE’s. I’ve noticed that if you change resource rates
appropriately, you will be able to use ManDays in whole PPS instead of FTS’s.
And everything works correctly (only in PPS)!

The problem is with PPS and PS synchronization. Project Gateway do not
support ManDays. So if I update resource information in PPS from PS (budget
resource, resource actuals or forecasts), I get resource information in
FTS’s. So, I’m loosing data consistency…

Is there any way (programmatically or using configuration) to force resource
synchronization using ManDay’s in PPS?

One solution that we are considering is to write our own synchronization
engine. The problem is that it is huge interference in PPS dabatabase. And
our experiences with PPS db says that is very risky… (there are many, many
undocumented correlations in that DB and PPS logic…)

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Hi Dom,

interesting question and I doubt that many people are able to answer this
one
From my experience, you cannot use ManDays for FTE's in the gateway and I
personally would not recommend to custom dev this solution. You will loose
Microsoft Support, which is not the best idea. Should you ever come acccross
an issue ( and believe me there are some) you will not be able to draw off
the MS support.

In this instance I would accept this restriction of Portfolio Server. Once
you had a look into the gateway, you will find that there are some tricky
bits and peaces.
Sorry if this is not the answer you where looking for.
take care mate
Marc

 

[Dominik]

Hi Marc,

Unfortunately you’ve confirmed what I was afraid of.

BTW, did anyone heard, if Microsoft will support MD’s in next release of
EPM? I’m asking because it is not my first big enterprise (like a Bank,
Telecom, etc…) that need to use MD’s instead of FTE’s.

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Sorry Dom, i dont know what will be supported in the next release
--
Marc Soester [MVP]
National Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Dominik:

Although none of use can say for sure, I seriously doubt it.

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
For Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
For Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com