Accessibility to shared MS Project files

[Lt. Dan]

I have no experience with MS Project, but I’m investigating whether MS
Project might be suitable for scheduling projects in my office. An important
factor is whether MS Project files may be shared simultaneously among
multiple users. I understand that users must be licensed for use of both MS
Project Professional edition and Project Web Access. In addition, the
company network must be licensed for both Project Server and SQL Server
Windows Share Point Services.

If the company activates all software identified here, are users required to
log on to the Web to share MS Project files simultaneously? Or can they gain
simultaneous access by merely logging on to the company’s local area network?
Or is there any way of achieving simultaneous use without having to use the
Web?

Many thanks in advance for answers to these questions.

 

[Stephen C. Sanderlin]

Licensed users can use plans simultaneously, but only one user may
"check out" a project in Read/Write mode at a time. This is true in
both the thick (Project Professional) and thin (PWA) clients.

--
Stephen C. Sanderlin
Owner/Founder - EPMFAQ
http://www.epmfaq.com/
http://forums.epmfaq.com/

Principal Consultant - BT INS
http://bt.ins.com/

This electronic message, along with any information, advice, and
opinions it contains, are mine alone and are not representative of my
employer. All information is provided in "GOOD FAITH" and on an "AS IS"
basis only. I provide no presentations or warranties, express or
implied, including implied warranties of fitness for a particular
purpose, merchantability, title, and noninfringement. I strongly advise
you to extensively test any changes, workarounds, or techniques
described herein on a development system prior to implementation in a
production environment, and you are hereby notified that I bear no
responsibility whatsoever for any loss, harm, or otherwise negative
outcomes resulting from your actions, whether or not said actions were
a result of this electronic message, directly or indirectly.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Lt. Dan,

There is no method where users can simultaneously share MS Project
(*.mpp) files. Project server allows the publishing of project data
from a project (*.mpp) file created using Project Professional to a
Project Server. People can access selected server data through
Project Web Access.

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

 

[Stephen C. Sanderlin]

Julie is correct -- I responded assuming you were asking about Project
Server (due to the newsgroup).

--
Stephen C. Sanderlin
Owner/Founder - EPMFAQ
http://www.epmfaq.com/
http://forums.epmfaq.com/

Principal Consultant - BT INS
http://bt.ins.com/

This electronic message, along with any information, advice, and
opinions it contains, are mine alone and are not representative of my
employer. All information is provided in "GOOD FAITH" and on an "AS IS"
basis only. I provide no presentations or warranties, express or
implied, including implied warranties of fitness for a particular
purpose, merchantability, title, and noninfringement. I strongly advise
you to extensively test any changes, workarounds, or techniques
described herein on a development system prior to implementation in a
production environment, and you are hereby notified that I bear no
responsibility whatsoever for any loss, harm, or otherwise negative
outcomes resulting from your actions, whether or not said actions were
a result of this electronic message, directly or indirectly.

 

[Lt. Dan]

Thanks, Julie; I greatly appreciate the information provided in your
response. May I please ask a follow-up question: If users gain access to
server data through Project Web Access, are they utilizing a Web connection
or browser to do so? Or can users simply gain access via the company's local
area network? Please forgive my confusion on this particular point.

 

[Lt. Dan]

Many thanks to you, Stephen, for replying to my question. I especially
appreciate knowing that MS Project plans may be used simultaneously, but that
only one user may check out a project in read/write mode at a given time. I
greatly appreciate your assistance.

 

[Stephen C. Sanderlin]

Without getting into too many technical details, PWA is accessed
through a browser. Project plans stored in Project Server are not
accessible through a network share.

--
Stephen C. Sanderlin
Owner/Founder - EPMFAQ
http://www.epmfaq.com/
http://forums.epmfaq.com/

Principal Consultant - BT INS
http://bt.ins.com/

This electronic message, along with any information, advice, and
opinions it contains, are mine alone and are not representative of my
employer. All information is provided in "GOOD FAITH" and on an "AS IS"
basis only. I provide no presentations or warranties, express or
implied, including implied warranties of fitness for a particular
purpose, merchantability, title, and noninfringement. I strongly advise
you to extensively test any changes, workarounds, or techniques
described herein on a development system prior to implementation in a
production environment, and you are hereby notified that I bear no
responsibility whatsoever for any loss, harm, or otherwise negative
outcomes resulting from your actions, whether or not said actions were
a result of this electronic message, directly or indirectly.

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Lt. Dan. It looks like Stephen has answered your
next question about accessing the server data through PWA (project web
access).

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[Lt. Dan]

Again, many thanks, Stephen, for the generous help you've provided. I'm
grateful to you for answering my questions.

My best regards to you.

 

[Lt. Dan]

Again, thanks so very much, Julie, for taking the time to respond so
helpfully to my questions. I will keep you informed on the progress of my
project.

My best regards to you.

 

[Stephen C. Sanderlin]

No problem -- glad to help!

--
Stephen C. Sanderlin
Owner/Founder - EPMFAQ
http://www.epmfaq.com/
http://forums.epmfaq.com/

Principal Consultant - BT INS
http://bt.ins.com/

This electronic message, along with any information, advice, and
opinions it contains, are mine alone and are not representative of my
employer. All information is provided in "GOOD FAITH" and on an "AS IS"
basis only. I provide no presentations or warranties, express or
implied, including implied warranties of fitness for a particular
purpose, merchantability, title, and noninfringement. I strongly advise
you to extensively test any changes, workarounds, or techniques
described herein on a development system prior to implementation in a
production environment, and you are hereby notified that I bear no
responsibility whatsoever for any loss, harm, or otherwise negative
outcomes resulting from your actions, whether or not said actions were
a result of this electronic message, directly or indirectly.

 

[JulieS]

You are most welcome and thanks for the wonderful feedback.
Julie
Project MVP

 

[Paul Conroy]

Whilst we all love receiving a positive rating, I feel that rating feedback
is completely uneccessary and detracts from the value of those posts which
truly add value.

 

[Lt. Dan]

Hello Paul,

Thank you for replying. I understand your concerns here, but I find rating
feedback useful in my browsing experience. I suppose it depends on how you
define that which truly adds value. The replies I received here truly added
value for me. Naturally, I can’t judge by anyone else’s standards but my
own. My apologies if my rating feedback inconvenienced you in any way.