MS Project 2007 queries - Should i buy ?

[kemp179]

To the people who were kind enough to post a reply and that i have confused
with my earlier posting i apologise, yes you are quite correct I am
considering purchasing MS Project 2007 for my my Planner, we are a small
office who are familiar with the basics (on MSP 2000) but have a few queries
which are a little more detailed, I hope someone may able to advise on:-

1. Reporting - What are the options for importing and exporting documents
and the number of format types, are they clear and easy to learn and use ?

2. Graphs - Is graphical data readily available, are there differing options
of graphs and are the tools for producing them clear and easy to use ?

3. Sand pits - Are there areas where 'offline' working is available to make
possible changes before altering the master plan if used on line and accessed
by other team members via the web.

4. Administration - Can the system be set up with a tier/security system so
that certain areas can only be accessed by designated users, and the
administration of the plan be controlled.

All comments are welcome, both positive and negative, we would like to get a
balanced end users view before we purchase, thank you for your time.

 

[Jim Aksel]

Comments in line. I might suggest you also investigate in our sister
newsgroup for Project Server.
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If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

Check out my blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

To the people who were kind enough to post a reply and that i have confused
with my earlier posting i apologise, yes you are quite correct I am
considering purchasing MS Project 2007 for my my Planner, we are a small
office who are familiar with the basics (on MSP 2000) but have a few queries
which are a little more detailed, I hope someone may able to advise on:-

1. Reporting - What are the options for importing and exporting documents
and the number of format types, are they clear and easy to learn and use ?

Imports from XM, Excel, Access. Outputs are to XML, Excel and are more
robust than in Project 2000. Download a trial version of Project 2007 and
experiment.

2. Graphs - Is graphical data readily available, are there differing options
of graphs and are the tools for producing them clear and easy to use ?

Once the data is output to Excel, all the Excel features become available.

3. Sand pits - Are there areas where 'offline' working is available to make
possible changes before altering the master plan if used on line and accessed
by other team members via the web.

Bascially yes, but it is expensive. There are two versions of MS Project:
Server and Desktop. the desktop versions are called either Project Standard
or Project Professional. They are essentially the same, but you can use
Project Professional to access files stored on the Project Server. Project
Server has robust checkout/in capability, time sheet tracking, etc. It may
be way more than you need.

It is possible to maintain "work files" using Project Standard or
Professional. However this is a manual configuration management process and
needs to be set up carefully. I would suggest you hire some type of
professional to write some procedures for you so you stay safe. So, yes, it
can be done.

4. Administration - Can the system be set up with a tier/security system so
that certain areas can only be accessed by designated users, and the
administration of the plan be controlled.

Only in Project Server and even then it may not be what you thinnk. For the
desktop versions of Project, it is an "all or nothing" access to the file..