Is Project for me?

[Kwokman3]

Hello All,

Am thinking about purchasing Project for my company. We run a production
company that has about 400 events per year. While I understand that this is
not the original intent of Project, I am wondering if it would be of use.
Most of the events we do require freelance personnel from our database (in
File Maker Pro) and our accounting is in Quickbooks. We have no calendar
software, or project management type of database.

What we are looking for out of the software:
Organization of schedule so that all events appear on one calendar.
Progress on staffing the event.
Notes on event prior and post event.
Estimated costs.
Actual costs.
Expense tracking per event.
etc.

One of my other problems, is that we don't have the latest version of
office. Can I get a trial version of the earlier software, or am I going to
have to upgrade our office to office 2007.

Finally, in order to use project on multiple computers (while having
everybody working off of the same file), do I have to serve it from our
office? We have a server. If this is the case, does each computer have to
have a license to use it or can 5 computers share 3 licenses.

Thank you in advance for your help!!

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,
First the good
Yes, Project can do what you want and need.
Project 2007 can easily run in an environment with an older version of
Office.

Now the bad
Do not hope you can really test the test version without some education: at
least a good book, preferably a 2-day course or more. Project is too
complete, hence too complex for that!
No version of Project, that is NO version, not even Project Server, allows
to have a project file open in read/write mode by more than one user
simultaneously. There are ways around this, like giving ach project manager
his own file(s), then consolidate all the files for a common view.
And each computer requires a Project license.


Hope this helps,

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)]

While you're investigating new software, take a look at OneNote 2007 as
well - you might be pleasantly surprised by how it can help you gather a
myriad of information about each event. You can collaborate live in a team
that's in multiple locations (eg you and the client). You can even use it
as a whiteboard live!

www.microsoft.com/onenote

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant www.pragmatix.com.au
Outlook 2003 user? Read "7 settings all Outlook 2003 users should change"
on my website.

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