custom timephased field - not to be modified by MSP

[Simon]

Hello,
Is it possible to create custom timephased field in Project 2007
Server which would not be modified by standard project mechanisms?

My business case:
I need to track externally calculated actual costs in timephased field,
but in the same time I want to use standard planning features of MSP.
I need to avoid situation when changing task finish date, work/actual
work deletes data from the task timephased fields.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Simon,

Sorry, to the best of my knowledge there are no timephased custom
fields available in Project.

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

 

[John]

Hello,
Is it possible to create custom timephased field in Project 2007
Server which would not be modified by standard project mechanisms?

My business case:
I need to track externally calculated actual costs in timephased field,
but in the same time I want to use standard planning features of MSP.
I need to avoid situation when changing task finish date, work/actual
work deletes data from the task timephased fields.

Simon,
Allow me to add a comment to Julie's response. As Julie said, there are
no custom timephased fields in Project but, it is possible to create
custom timephased data for Project.

The reason Project does not support timephased data for custom fields is
that Project has no way of knowing how to timephase user customized
data. For example, is the data cost based, duration based, or something
else. Should the timephasing be linear, front loaded, back loaded, or
something completely unique. Perhaps a future version of Project will
offer the user an option to define all those parameters for custom data
but for now the only way to create the data you want is with your own
algorithm. And the best way to do that is to export Project data to
another application (e.g. Excel) and then create the timephased data
there. As an example, I've used a VBA macro to create a timephased
equivalent headcount for Project data among other things.

So the bottom line is, yes, it is possible to create custom timephased
data for Project but it will require either VBA or formulas in Excel
operating on data exported from Project. Note that Project 2007 has
expanded capability, (i.e. Visual Reports), for exporting existing
timephased data which might then be used as a basis for generating the
custom data.

John
Project MVP

 

[JulieS]

Simon,
Allow me to add a comment to Julie's response. As Julie said,
there are
no custom timephased fields in Project but, it is possible to
create
custom timephased data for Project.

The reason Project does not support timephased data for custom
fields is
that Project has no way of knowing how to timephase user
customized
data. For example, is the data cost based, duration based, or
something
else. Should the timephasing be linear, front loaded, back loaded,
or
something completely unique. Perhaps a future version of Project
will
offer the user an option to define all those parameters for custom
data
but for now the only way to create the data you want is with your
own
algorithm. And the best way to do that is to export Project data
to
another application (e.g. Excel) and then create the timephased
data
there. As an example, I've used a VBA macro to create a timephased
equivalent headcount for Project data among other things.

So the bottom line is, yes, it is possible to create custom
timephased
data for Project but it will require either VBA or formulas in
Excel
operating on data exported from Project. Note that Project 2007
has
expanded capability, (i.e. Visual Reports), for exporting existing
timephased data which might then be used as a basis for generating
the
custom data.

John
Project MVP

John, thanks very much for giving a much more detailed response. I
was hoping one of the VBA gurus would weigh in -- glad you did.

Julie