Can't Report Time to a Task

[tanky]

Hello,
I have recently added a new task to one of my existing projects. I have also
assigned this task to an existing resource. The problem is that this task
will not let the resource report her time to it. The task is estimated for 8
hours, and has no contraints on it other than "Start: As soon as possible".
When the resource for this task tries to report her time, the task is showing
up in her timesheet view as "greyed out" so she can't enter the amount of
time worked each day on this task. I thought a task was only "greyed out"
when it was 100% complete. Why can't she report her time to it? I have
tried every possible solution I can think of.
Please help, or let me know if I can be more specific in my question.
Thanks,
tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

Where is the task grayed out on her View My Tasks page in PWA? In the
actual timesheet grid on the right or in the task table on the left? If the
timesheet grid is grayed out, then what columns are unlocked for editing in
the task table on the left? Let us know.

 

[Amanda]

I am having this exact problem this week as well. It seems any new tasks we
add are grayed out in the timesheet grid where the person can normally report
time. Old tasks still show up OK and the resource is able to type in hours,
new tasks are greyed out.

Amanda

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Amanda --

Are the new tasks in a new project? Or are the new tasks ones submitted by
the team member? Let us know.

 

[tanky]

Dale,
The tasks are greyed out on both the timesheet grid on the right, and the
task table on the left. Also, the only columns on the left-hand side that is
unlocked for editing is "Actual Work" and "Remaining Work". Please let me
know if you need any additional information.
Thanks,
tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

Based on the information you have given me, it sounds like you have
different methods for tracking progress set in your projects. This is
indicated because you stated that the Actual Work and Remaining Work columns
are unlocked for editing on this one task.

To fix this, your Project Server administrator should set and lock your
organization's default method for tracking progress in PWA so that team
members will not see this problem on their timesheets. Then, your project
managers will need to open and republish every project using Collaborate -
Publish - Republish Assignments to "push" your organization's method of
tracking to each user's timesheet in PWA. Hope this helps.

 

[tanky]

Dale,
Thanks for your reply. However, all of our users use actual work and
remaining work to report time to tasks where they are not yet finished and
they need more time, or time for tasks that they finished in less time than
originally scheduled. For instance, this user (and all other users) report
their time on a day to day basis in the timesheet grid by hours to each task.
They also report their time in the far left columns(if applicable). So, for
a user whose task for "Server Design" is originally scheduled to take 3 hrs
but it only took them 2 hrs to complete it (in one day): they would report 2
hours to their timesheet grid on the right, and then enter in "0" in the
"Remaining Work" column, and "2" in the actual work column so that their task
shows that it is complete. Then, I compare this to the baseline of that
project for tracking purposes. Is this what is affecting some users not
being able to report any time to a certain task? Please let me know if I am
not being clear in my confusing questions.
Thanks,
Tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

I thought you told me that the Actual Work and Remaining Work columns were
unlocked for editing on this one particular task in the task table on the
left side of the View My Tasks page. If so, then this means the Actual Work
and Remaining Work method of tracking is selected for the project in which
this task resides. But now you are telling me that you use the Actual work
done per day or per week method of tracking, as indicated by the use of the
timesheet plus the Remaining Work column. So, please answer these questions
for me:

1. What method of tracking has your Project Server administrator selected
in PWA?
2. Has the PS administrator locked this method of tracking in PWA?

Let me know. Thanks!

 

[tanky]

Dale,
Sorry for the confusion. To answer your questions:

1 - The method of tracking we are using for this particular project (and
ALL project in PS) is "Actual work done and work remaining" on each task.
2 - This method of tracking is locked (forced).

Hopefully this will help you be able to figure out what I'm doing wrong.
Thanks,
tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

Please answer these questions:

1. Did your Project Server administrator change the default tracking method
AFTER you published this project using another tracking method?

2. And did the team member enter actuals on this task in the Actual Work
and Remaining Work fields BEFORE the Project Server administrator changed
the default method of tracking?

3. What happens if you open this project and click Collaborate - Publish -
Republish Assignments?

 

[tanky]

Dale,
Here are the answers:
1 - Yes. The time tracking method was changed after this project was
published. It was changed from only reporting time on a day-to-day basis
(actual work done), to reporting actual work done, as well as work
remaining.

2 - No. The team member didn't enter actuals into this column before the
tracking methods were changed.

3 - What happened when I did that is:
a) it looks like all my actual time reported for that entire project is
missing!
HELP!! :0
b) the user is still unable to report time to this task (the entire row
is still greyed
out where you can't select it to input time on it)

Please advise.
Thanks so much for your help.
-tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

I thought so. Open the project in question and do the following:

1. Click Collaborate - Publish - Republish Assignments
2. Select the "Overwrite actual work entered by resources" option
3. Click OK

As long as the resource has not entered actuals against the task in
question, then the above method will set the task to receive actuals using
the current method of tracking progress. On the other hand, if the resource
entered any values in either the Actual Work or Remaining Work columns, then
he/she will be forced to continue using this method of tracking progress
until the task is complete.

Thanks for your patience in answering my questions. Hope this helps.

 

[tanky]

Dale,
I did what you suggested, but it didn't fix my problem. The user still
cannot report time to this task. I tested this myself by logging in and
attempting to adjust the actuals for this user on this specific task. The
entire row is still greyed out. The only other information I can think of to
give you is that the task states that it was scheduled to finish on 9/1/2004
but has not yet been completed. I wish there were a way to get you a screen
print of this data so you could tell me what I'm doing wrong. (I have also
tried deleting this task, and adding it back to the project as a new task.
This didn't work, because for some reason the user still can't report any
time to this task).
Please help!

Thanks for your patience!
-tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

I'm thoroughly confused. Did the team member originally submit this task as
a new task? And if so, did you approve the new task?

 

[tanky]

Dale,
Sorry for the confusion. I added the task myself to the project, as a new
task (through manually inserting it into Microsoft Project, and then
uploading it to the server). The user has never been able to report their
time to this task, as the field for reporting hourly time each day is greyed
out for them. Please let me know if this makes sense.
Thanks again for the help,
-tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

Try the following:

1. Open the project
2. Click Tools - Customize - Published Fields
3. Make sure the method of tracking for this project matches your Project
Server method of tracking progress
4. Click OK

If you changed the method of tracking in step 3 above, then click
Collaborate - Publish - Republish Assignments. Also, if the system allowed
you to change the method of tracking in step 3, then this means your Project
Server administrator did not lock the method of tracking, and should do so.
Let me know if this helps.

 

[tanky]

Dale,
I followed these steps, and nothing can be selected. The option is stuck on
"Use the default method on Project Server: This is currently set to 'Actual
and Remaining Work'". Therefore, I cannot change this, and shouldn't need to
as this tracking method is correct, and matches that in project server. I
guess this aslo verifies that the Project Manager has locked the tracking
method. Any other suggestions? The user is still unable to report her time
to this task, or any new task, on this project.
Thanks,
tanky

 

[tanky]

Dale,
Any update on this?
Thanks,
tanky

Dale,
I followed these steps, and nothing can be selected. The option is stuck on
"Use the default method on Project Server: This is currently set to 'Actual
and Remaining Work'". Therefore, I cannot change this, and shouldn't need to
as this tracking method is correct, and matches that in project server. I
guess this aslo verifies that the Project Manager has locked the tracking
method. Any other suggestions? The user is still unable to report her time
to this task, or any new task, on this project.
Thanks,
tanky

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Tanky --

Given the "stuck" nature of the situation, why don't you try the following:

1. Process all task updates waiting to be updated into this project from
team members
2. Save the project as an .mpp file
3. Ask your Project Server administrator to delete the project from the
Project Server db
4. Import the project using Tools - Enterprise Options - Import Project to
Enterprise
5. Publish the project using Collaborate - Publish - All Information
6. Republish the assignments using Collaborate - Publish - Republish
Assignments, select the "Overwrite actual work entered by resources" and
then click the OK button

I can't guarantee this will solve your problem with the project, but it may
give you the "fresh start" you seek. Hope this helps.