The application of MS Project

[Dana]

I was wondering if users would share with me - if anyone is using MS projects
as a 'work order' type system?
For small jobs, (such as a request for public information from a resident)
to large road construction type projects.
I work for a small local government entity and one of our board members
would like a GIS system in place and a work order system. Since we are
small, we have limited funds available and need to have multiple uses for any
one purchase.

Is it possible to integrate a GIS system with MS Projects?

I have used projects on a very limited basis in a 'past life', unfortunately
not long enough to get a in depth look at what it is capable of.

 

[Jim Aksel [MVP]]

Please define GIS.

MS Project is a desktop scheduling application, not a work order type
system. There are some additional features available on the Server version
of MS Project. Please give us some more detail on what you want the
software to do. In general, MS Project is used for scheduling and should
not be "forced" to do "one off" type work.

 

[Stuart]

I am trying to produce a simple report of work hrs by task by month. I get
the report as I want it but some of the totals are just xxxxx? Like in excel
when the cell isnt large enough to hold the number. Can anyone help. I am a
novice, if you havent guessed.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Stuart,

Welcome to the newsgroup. I am guessing you are viewing one of the
cross tab reports such as "Who does what when" or the "Task Usage
report". You may be able to fix the ### showing in the report by
changing the date format. Select the report and click the Edit
button. On the Details tab, change the date format to a longer
label -- for example show month and year. That should be enough to
"widen" the column in the report to show the information.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

I am trying to produce a simple report of work hrs by task by
month. I get
the report as I want it but some of the totals are just xxxxx?
Like in excel
when the cell isnt large enough to hold the number. Can anyone
help. I am a
novice, if you havent guessed.

<snip>

 

[JulieS]

Hi Dana,

Based upon what I interpret your needs to be, I would not recommend
Project. It sounds more like you are looking for a method of
tracking work on task by task basis, not really planning the work in
advance.

I'd also be a bit wary about trying to combine a GIS system with a
work order system. Two different needs, most likely two different
products or applications. Perhaps looking at a database product may
be a better answer.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

 

[Dana]

Thanks for the time - I appreciate it.
I will look else where for a work order application.

 

[Dana]

Thanks for your time Julie, it is appreciated.
Based on the responses I received, I guess I will start looking else where
for a work order applications

Kind regards
Dana

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Dana. Should you decide to use Project in the
future, please drop by here with any questions.
Julie

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

I agree with all of the comments, with one significant caveat. There is
a usage model where MPP is used to schedule work orders generated by a different
system, like a CMMS such as Maximo....

In that case, the system generates the work orders, which are then input
into MPP for resource leveling/scheduling and risk assessment.

It's not a common model, and perhaps not appropriate to your implementation,
but it is relevant. I've personally seen/heard of this being done in a number
of large petrochemical maintenance management environments.

-A