Protected Actual Work for Generic Res

[Andrea]

Hi all again!
A question about the strange behavour of Project when you work with a
"generic resource".
Scenario: MSP2003, PServer2003. In a plan i've got some tasks and some
resource=user and 1 generic resource. The resources=users use the Timeshhet
for submit their own actual hours. The Generic is directly updated by the
Project Manager in Project Professional.
I've the "manage periods" set it up.
When the PM writes a value in the Actual Work field for the Generic , the
system tells him about OUT OF SYNCH....My opinion this is a non-correct
message....a generic resource is a "external"...is a consultant..is a
skill..so the Generic does't have to submit any kind of TImesheet...and so no
protected actual should be saved.
What's ur opinion??
Bye
Andrea

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Andrea --

I hate to tell you this, but "protected actuals" means exactly what the
phrase says. When you use the Managed Time Periods feature of Project
Server 2003, the PM is prevented from entering actual progress in the
Microsoft Project plan, and all actuals must be submitted through the PWA
timesheets of team members.

A workaround for your problem would be to open the Enterprise Resource Pool,
check out the Generic resource, double-click it, deselect the Generic
option, and click OK. After doing so, you should save and close the pool,
and the system will set up a user account in PWA for the formerly-Generic
resource. You can log into PWA as this new formerly-Generic user by
entering the user name and supplying no password. Because the
formerly-Generic resource does not have a Windows network user ID, the
system will set up the account to use Project Server authentication. Enter
your actuals in the user's timesheet in PWA and submit them to yourself.
You can then update them into the Microsoft Project plan from the Updates
page in PWA.

I realize this isn't the solution you seek, but in your environment, it will
be a solution that works. Hope this helps.

 

[Andrea]

Thanx Dale....
You know, if ur organization works with a large number of external resource,
it's a problem to manage the actual hours via PWA account.
It's easier for the PM to set directly the actual works in the task in
Professional.
Otherwise, i guess about 1200 (more or less) external resources in this
organization...1200 account (so....1200 CAL.....$$$$$$$!!!!) just to
workaround
Bye
Could u loan to me??

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Andrea:

A better strategy might be to consider not using Managed Time Periods. If
this is not an option, then you need to open a window for PMs to update
their progress through project while Managed Time Periods are turned off.
Without knowing more about your particular constraints, it's difficult to
speculate on specific protocols that might work for you, but I can't imagine
too many cases where this approach wouldn't be easy to manage.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Andrea --

Your complaint is more than valid, and I agree with you. Unfortunately, I
don't have the $$$$$$ to loan you for the CAL's.

 

[Andrea]

Ok Gary.
I know it's difficult to understand in the better way the scenario simply by
some posts in newsgroup..but i'll try to explain better...
Of course, manage periods for me is the better strategy: allow us to "track"
all the mistakes of PM in tracking projects, simply by the Synch function.
The only way to semplify a PM's life is to exclude the Generic Resources
from the Synch routine. If i have to verify and approve the timesheets of 20
internal resources, and have to set the actual works in a timesheet-like
method also for a external consultant (that u konw, for example in a lampsum
contract, i'm interesting in the total week amount of hours...not sure in a
daily actual)...it's an hard daily work for the PM!! bad for him
My solution , up today:
1) a routine that rearrange the Actual Work and the Work for all the generic
resources
2) manage the ADJUST ACTUAL functionallity in the PM category and
copsequentlly allows PM to set the Generic Actual Work by PWA.
The first is my favorite..
If do u like, we could talk abput that by mail.
Bye!
Andrea

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Andrea:

It sounds like you know what your options are.