Enterprise Lvl Project Fields-am I understanding this? [Project 2K

[Doug_F]

If I open up Project 2007 and try and customize a project field, I see the
fields but cannot either edit them or add new ones. What I see in the list
of available fields seems to have come from what someone defined in PWA.

From Project 2007 'help' I get the info below. This seems to indicate that
there should be a list of 1-n pre-defined project level fields for each of
the listed data types. This is what I'm not seeing.

Given some problems with defining custom fields on the PWA side (especially
if they use formulas), I was intending to put a policy in place to require
all custom fields be created on the Project 2007 side and then pushed to the
enterprise but it looks like the project level stuff must be set on the PWA
side. Additionally, since these fields are generated on the PWA side, it
seems like there may be no hard-coded limit to the number of these project
level fields we can define (although I did find a reference somewhere that
indicated too many custom project level fields could cause performance
issues).

Do I have this right or am I missing something?

TIA

Doug

From Help:
Enterprise-level project fields
The following are enterprise-level project fields (field: A location in a
sheet, form, or chart that contains a specific kind of information about a
task, resource, or assignment. For example, in a sheet, each column is a
field. In a form, a field is a named box or a place in a column.) in
Microsoft Office Project. For a list of all fields in Project, see the
related links in the See Also box, which is visible when you are connected to
the Internet.

Enterprise Project Cost1-10 (project fields)
Enterprise Project Date1-30 (project fields)
Enterprise Project Duration1-10 (project fields)
Enterprise Project Flag1-20 (project fields)
Enterprise Project Number1-40 (project fields)
Enterprise Project Outline Code1-30 (project fields)
Enterprise Project Text1-40 (project fields)

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Doug_F --

You are not missing anything. Strangely enough, it is actually possible to
create custom enterprise Task and Resource fields from within Project
Professional 2007 and then to export them to the Project Server system using
the Add Field to Enteprise button, but it is NOT possible to create
enterprise Project fields this way. So, because of this, you will need to
create custom enterprise fields in both Project Professional 2007 and PWA.
Hope this helps.

 

[Doug_F]

Dale,

Helps bunches! Thanks.

I think we're going to stick with the 'create as much as you can in PP2K7
and publish to the enterprise and only create the project level stuff in PWA'
for now.

Getting one's head wrapped around the inconsistencies in implementation is
proving to be the most difficult thing about working with this product. If
everything worked in a logically consistent manner (or heck, even an
illogical but consistent manner), it'd be easier to use the product.

Thanks again for the prompt reply, much appreciated.

Doug

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Doug_F --

I think you approach is sound. A trick that I like to use with creating a
formula for a custom enterprise Project field is:

1. Start the creation of the custom enterprise Project field in the PWA
interface.
2. Launch Project Professional 2007 and create a temporary enteprise Task
field.
3. Create the formula for the Project field in the temporary Task field so
that you can use all of the formula-creating tools in Project Professional
2007.
4. Copy and paste the formula to the PWA page where you started creating
the custom enterprise Project field.
5. After you have save the custom enterprise Project field, dump the
temporary Task field in Project Professional 2007.

Using this technique, I think you get the best of both applications. Hope
this helps.

 

[Doug_F]

The more I play with software, the more I feel we're living in Zork...did you
figure out how to get through the ice wall without using the cheats? ;-)

Doug

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Doug --

You are WAY too funny! I haven't even thought about Zork for years and
years.

Our company has written two books so far on Project Server 2007, and while
writing each book, we had virtually no documentation avilable from
Microsoft. To write each book, we basically had to figure it out ourselves
by playing with the software using a trial and error method. From this, we
managed to figure out how everything actually works, versus the way we
thought it should work or was supposed to work, and how to apply best
practices to each new feature. Obviously, we also found new and
previously-undocumented bugs along the way. At times, the writing process
was very trying, and sometimes painful. But, if you buy either of our
books, our pain saves you pain!

 

[Max]

Dale

I agree with your below comment " but it is NOT possible to create

enterprise Project fields this way. So, because of this, you will need to
create custom enterprise fields in both Project Professional 2007 and PWA.

"
I creatd a custom field in PWA called "Schedule indicator" (for project not
task/resource) that calculates through formula and also specified indicators
and saved. Please let me know how do i push this now to ProjProf2007 and make
it work.
I added this field now in project centre view but it is blank and no
indicator.I feel it should appear in prof2007 then publishes on PWA.


Thanks
max

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Max --

You need to ask your PMs to open each of their projects and press the F9
function key to recaluclate their projects. Then they need to save and
publish their projects. This will force the data to show up in the Project
Center view with the indicators, assuming you created the formula and the
graphical indicator criteria correctly. Your PMs cannot see the graphical
indicators in Project Professional 2007, but can see the calculated number
value by clicking Project - Project Information, and examining the field in
list at the bottom half of the dialog. Hope this helps.

 

[Max]

Thanks a lot Dale for your response.

Wanted to sk you one more thing, we i got to work with User access can you
suggest me a site.
max

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Max --

Take a look at Tony's blog articles about Project Server security at:

http://www.projectserverhelp.com/default.aspx

Hope this helps.

 

[Max]

Thanks a lot Dale for your time and support.
I really appreciate Microsoft community in making us feel we are working
together for any gaps.
Will go through Tony's blog, any issues will defintly be back here
Thanks again
MAx