Looking for automated time actuals entry

[c16031]

This must be asked very often, and I appologize for submitting it here
anyway.

Hi all,

Forever now, my company has been toying with the idea of EPM, but
hasn't moved ahead with such a solution yet. So I'm still stuck with
manually inputing actual work. Lately, I have tried to figure out a
way to automate this entry, and have become somewhat frustrated for
not finding one yet. I'm (still) working with MSProject 2000. I know
about the collaborative Workgroup Message Handler, but that won't work
for me, for some of the input to my MSP schedules are coming from
extracts from other project management tools (time reported from my
partners and suppliers). At best, I could get some sort of extraction
(maybe Excel) from these people, but I won't be able to push another
"timesheet" procedure on them.

Is there a simple way to achieve this? By simple, I mean without a
need to invest in a product, or in programming time. I am of the
"power user" type, but not a programmer.

Any lead will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Pierre

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Pierre,

If you're using Pro and server, try posting on the server newsgroup. Please
see FAQ Item: 24. Project Newsgroups. FAQs, companion products and other
useful Project information can be seen at this web address:
http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[c16031]

Hi Pierre,

If you're using Pro and server, try posting on the server newsgroup.  Please
see FAQ Item: 24. Project Newsgroups.   FAQs, companion products and other
useful Project information can be seen at this web address:http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Mike Glen
Project MVP









- Show quoted text -

Mike, I'm using MsProject standalone. We are not using either Project
Server nor Project Central.

Doesn't my post belong here?

 

[Dave]

Your post does belong here.

If you can get Excel representations of actuals then (providing that
they are correctly formatted) it should be straightforward to import them.

You will have to check for consistency and completeness as well as
general formatting.

There may even be macros knocking about that can do this for you.

If you look at File/Open you can choose Excel as a file type and then
experiment with the fields and how they map.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Pierre,

Yes it does! I was misled by your reference to EPM which, to me, means
server-based scheduling with direct user input. However, Dave has
responded, so stay with him!


Mike Glen
Project MVP

Hi Pierre,

If you're using Pro and server, try posting on the server newsgroup.
Please
see FAQ Item: 24. Project Newsgroups. FAQs, companion products and other
useful Project information can be seen at this web
address:http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Mike Glen
Project MVP









- Show quoted text -

Mike, I'm using MsProject standalone. We are not using either Project
Server nor Project Central.

Doesn't my post belong here?

 

[c16031]

Your post does belong here.

If you can get Excel representations of actuals then (providing that
they are correctly formatted) it should be straightforward to import them.

You will have to check for consistency and completeness as well as
general formatting.

There may even be macros knocking about that can do this for you.

If you look at File/Open you can choose Excel as a file type and then
experiment with the fields and how they map.







- Show quoted text -

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm trying to find a solution to feed actuals to my standalone Project
files. The way I understand it, that amounts to adding timescale data
"records" to the Project file. How can I add (or append) to an
existing Project file by opening (importing) an Excel? Doesn't doing
so amount to creating a new Project file?

 

[Dave]

Probably best to try a few experiments first. You can import data into
an existing project file without creating a new one.

Create a new file with tasks T1, T2, T3 and T4 for example. Add the
work column and the actual work column and enter some arbitrary values
in the work column.

Now select save as a .xls file.

You will get a relatively simple file listing the tasks, their work and
no actuals against them.

Now edit some actual values in the Excel file, save it and import them
by opening the file as a .xls type and merging the data into the Project
file. You will see that you can bring the actuals in and the project
progress adjusts accordingly.

Now try experimenting with more complex examples using named resources.

You can of course past the actual values as a block into the task usage
or resource usage views.

 

[c16031]

Probably best to try a few experiments first.  You can import data into
an existing project file without creating a new one.

Create a new file with tasks T1, T2, T3 and T4 for example.  Add the
work column and the actual work column and enter some arbitrary values
in the work column.

Now select save as a .xls file.

You will get a relatively simple file listing the tasks, their work and
no actuals against them.

Now edit some actual values in the Excel file, save it and import them
by opening the file as a .xls type and merging the data into the Project
file.  You will see that you can bring the actuals in and the project
progress adjusts accordingly.

Now try experimenting with more complex examples using named resources.

You can of course past the actual values as a block into the task usage
or resource usage views.








- Show quoted text -

Hi Dave,

Thanks again for the reply. Here is where I stand.

"save it and import them by opening the file as a .xls type and
merging the data into the Project file." This is where you lose me. If
I have the project file already opened in MS Project, and I ask to
open the .xls file, I wind up with two opened projects: the original
project file (without the actuals I entered in the .xls file) and the
new project imported from the excel file). How would I go about
"merging" the two opened projects? Are you suggesting that the new
project file I have just imported become THE project file (throwing
away the original project file)?

Pierre

 

[Dave]

Hi Dave,

Thanks again for the reply. Here is where I stand.

"save it and import them by opening the file as a .xls type and
merging the data into the Project file." This is where you lose me. If
I have the project file already opened in MS Project, and I ask to
open the .xls file, I wind up with two opened projects: the original
project file (without the actuals I entered in the .xls file) and the
new project imported from the excel file). How would I go about
"merging" the two opened projects? Are you suggesting that the new
project file I have just imported become THE project file (throwing
away the original project file)?

Pierre

If you are using Project 2003 then after the Wizard displays the welcome
page, then the choice of maps it then gives 3 options the last of which
is to merge the data.

Hope this helps. If not maybe somebody else will help as I'm away for
two weeks now.