Project Server + SQL Reporting Services

[Erin]

Hello all -- my guys down here have been using this excel spreadsheet to
track different engineering projects. I have instead implemented a project
server environment to do this for them. I have an issue with a field they
use in excel for "comments". I know there is a 256 char limit on the notes
field with project (b/c i tried adding the "comments" to the notes in the
project summary task line) - but when displaying that field in PWA I was
limited to teh char restriction. I then tried to create a sharepoint site
with a database connection to our SQL server to pull out the notes field --
however it's stored in binary instead of rtf. I've heard that installing SQL
reporting services would be able to report on this data -- has anyone tried
to actually do this regarding a text field? Also, I realize i need teh
VB.net installed also -- I have all this set up on VPC's right now to test,
but I doni't want to sell a solution that has no point in succeeding. So
basically, I need to get an unlimited text field from the notes in Project
Summary Task -- pull it from teh SQL database in RTF and then be able to
print out it in reports. Thanks in advance for any help offered....also if
you have any experiences where you've tried this that would help also...

In addition I need to create a bunch of management views that PWA doesn't
offer either -- therefore i'm also hoping that SQL reporting services /
VB.net will allow me to do if/then/and/or, multiple filters, etc and have a
variety of export functions available on the SQL Reporting web based app?

I know this is a multi part question so thank you for taking the time to
read it

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Erin:

When moving from an Excel environment to a PS environment, typically the
running commentary in the Excel workbook is absorbed by various functions in
the Enterprise solution. Because there's no contextual way around this using
Excel, it all ends up in one cell. In a PS environment, notes and commentary
get attached to the Project, task and assignment level in their proper
context, and SharePoint usually catches most of the commentary under issues
and risks. If you're new to Project Server and you're serious about this as
a potential solution, you should consider engaging some help. A good
pre-sales session with an experienced partner might be enough to help you
level your understanding of the possibilities. Rarely do I see a need to
launch immediately into custom development as part of an initial deployment,
unless the system is being deployed by developers, who tend to jump into
coding for every solution challenge. Chances are, you don't have to go
there.

SRS is a great solution and a standard part of our installations. It will
help you bridge the gaps in what you can create through the interface, which
is primarily the ability to aggregate task-level detail across projects.
Most of your requirements, however, will likely be met by out-of-box
functionality.

 

[Erin]

Gary,

thank you for your answer -- the only customization and if this is offered
out of the box that would be even better --- I need to have an unlimited text
field created that they can type in notes/comments and will be able to be
printed from teh grid in PWA's project center view. If SRS will do that --
ability to pull that summary task notes from project app and take the binary
storing and convert to rtf -- then all would be well and my company would be
thrilled....do you know if it has these capabilities? I used to work for a
gold partner and the consultant i brought down didn't really have or take the
time to research this so i'm doing it now.

Thanks again

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Erin:

There's more than one way to approach solution challenges like this. IMO, to
be specific, you need to map the solution architecture to the business
requirement in their proper context. At 30,000 feet your solution might look
like a modified site definition for SharePoint that's designed to capture
the information and aggregate it into a home-page display featuring the
dashboard information. This might have links to view, print and subscribe to
SRS reports.