Using Outline Codes To Track Resource Usage

[Chuck]

My group has 20+ projects (both billable and unbillable) that we want to be
able to track by enterprise-wide resource billability & non-billability
across all 30 staff. All
enterprise-wide project schedules are available as individual files on the
Project 02 Enterprise server. I am trying to create an enterprise-wide
rollup of all staff/projects so that resource usage can be seen globally.

As a first step, I've created one 'parent' project file on the enterprise
server - that links to all billable and non-billable projects with these
inserted into the parent schedule. In the file, billable and non-billable
are two parent categories, under which reside the collection of associated
projects (linked to their individual files on the server).

I am having difficulties with the Resource Usage view and seeing all
resources' billable and non-billable time allocations. I've set up Outline
Codes assigned to the two categories of projects but the Outline Codes aren't
appearing in the Resource Usage view. I've tried a number of things but
can't seem to get the Resoure Usage view to present time allocations by
parent category.

I'm stumped - any tips would be much appreciated.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Chuck --

Based on your question, I am assuming that you set up a custom enterprise
Project outline code that lists Billable and Non-Billable as items in the
Lookup Table. I am also assuming that every project in your Project Server
database has one of these two values specified for the project, and that you
have published the current state of each project. I am also assuming that
your OLAP cube has rebuilt with the latest project data.

If the assumptions above are true, you can capture the information you wish
using a custom Portfolio Analyzer view in PWA. You could create this custom
view using a combination of the following dimensions and total fields:

Your billing status outline code - Add this to the Filter fields drop area
Resources - Add this to the Row fields drop area
Projects - Add this to the Row fields drop area to the right of the
Resources field
Time - Add this to the Column fields drop area
Work - Add this to the Total fields drop area

By selecting/deselecting the billing status outline codes in the Filter
fields drop area, I believe you would capture the data you seek. Let us
know if this helps.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks much, Dale.

Chuck --

Based on your question, I am assuming that you set up a custom enterprise
Project outline code that lists Billable and Non-Billable as items in the
Lookup Table. I am also assuming that every project in your Project Server
database has one of these two values specified for the project, and that you
have published the current state of each project. I am also assuming that
your OLAP cube has rebuilt with the latest project data.

If the assumptions above are true, you can capture the information you wish
using a custom Portfolio Analyzer view in PWA. You could create this custom
view using a combination of the following dimensions and total fields:

Your billing status outline code - Add this to the Filter fields drop area
Resources - Add this to the Row fields drop area
Projects - Add this to the Row fields drop area to the right of the
Resources field
Time - Add this to the Column fields drop area
Work - Add this to the Total fields drop area

By selecting/deselecting the billing status outline codes in the Filter
fields drop area, I believe you would capture the data you seek. Let us
know if this helps.

 

[Chuck]

Dale, can I contact you offline? Your instructions are very clear but I'm
still not able to see everything I need. My email is
(e-mail address removed). Thanks.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Chuck --

Post your additional questions in the newsgroup so that everyone can learn
from both the question and the answer. Thanks!

 

[Chuck]

Dale,

Do I have to create and assign the outline codes within each of the
individual project files or can I simply insert a column in the master
project file and assign outline codes to each of the projects there?

Thanks,
Chuck.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Chuck --

Insert them in each individual project. Hope this helps.