Use of hyphens

[Denis in Brisbane]

In chasing another problem I've been advised that I should avoid using
hyphens in projects names, task names, resource names, enterprise codes and
enterprise outline codes.

That seems to be unreasonably restrictive. This package is supposed to be
used by senior execs who'll see project names with underscores and think it's
computer talk, not English. It often makes sense to use hyphens in task
names. eg: "Phase 1 - Initiation". On top of which, some people actually
have hyphenated names.

I can't find any mention of it in Microsoft doco. If it's actually the
case, I'd like to understand why it's the case. Can anybody shed any light
on it?

If it's real I'd consider it a bug and request that Microsoft fix it.

Denis

 

[TGG]

I've not seen an issue with hyphens in Project Name. We do that all the
time. Resource names probably are ok. However, I wouldn't use hyphens in
the code portion of any codes. The description part of the code should be ok.

My $0.02.
TGG

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Denis:

I'm happy to restate the caution. Don't use the following characters:
/";:<>|[],.'?~`!$%^&*()-+={}\

Don't use them in:

Project Names
Resource Names
Outline Code and Custom Field names

I can't, off the top of my head, spew out every place that this caution is
mentioned, but you can remind yourself of this list by going to Project Web
Access admin, select Manage Enterprise Features. They're also illegal to use
in Cube names.

If you think underscores look like computer talk, what do you think dashes
look like between words? Short hand? Most folks who write English use spaces
between words. Maybe you should give that a try? The .001% of your resource
pool members who sport hyphenated names will get over it, if you simply
substitute a space.

 

[Jonathan Sofer - MCP]

I believe that the reasoning behind this has to do with the design of MS SQL
and how it uses certain special characters in SQL commands to mean different
things. If the wrong special character or combination of special characters
appears in a SQL command while Project Server is executing something, it
could cause unexpected behavior and hiccups in the execution of those SQL
commands.