Resource Pool

[Melissa]

I am working to establish my enterprise resource pool. I have all my
resources listed in an MPP file, which I plan to use to import into the
enterprise. In my MPP file, I am using an Enterprise Resource Outline
Code field. More specifically, this outline code is a multi-value code
that is being used to list skill codes for a resource. When I begin
the import, I arrive at the "Map Resource Fields" and it is prompting
me to map the "From:Imported Resource Field" to the "To:Enterprise
Resource Field". In the From column, the drop down list only has
Outline Codes 1-10 listed. In the To column, I see my customized
enterprise resource code that I created for my skill code. If I try
selecting a generic outline code to my custom multi-value, enterprise
code, it says the values are invalid.

My general question is how can I import the resources into the pool, so
the values in my multivalue field will also be part of the pool?

Thanks,
Melissa

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Melissa:

As you've learned, the system allows you to map-non enterprise fields to
enterprise fields only. Therefore, it's impossible to stage multi-value
fields in an mpp file as these are not supported outside of Project Server.
Your approach is otherwise very sound. You might need to enter these values
after you import the file.

Now, you seem to have introduced a little quirk into the process by creating
your mpp file through a Save As operation from an Enterprise project,
choosing to save currently loaded global items. This is the only way you can
be working with an Enterprise Field in an mpp file. Therefore, if you have
these values staged in the plan, then they shouldn't require mapping, they
should simply import. I suggest that you run a little import test with a
couple of your resources to see if this actually happens. Assuming that you
have no tasks in this mpp file, you could try using both Import Project to
Enterprise specifying to convert your local resources to enterprise as well
as using the Import Resources to Enterprise to determine whether you get
varying results. You might just be home free, but I can't say for sure
without testing it myself.