Outlook intergretion add-in - the import functionality questions

[Barb PMO]

My company is using current versions of MS Project and Project Server. A few
Outlook users have installed the Outlook integration add-in and I am
currently testing the import functionality.
1. Why are imported tasks displayed in the Outlook calendar and not in the
Outlook task list? I think if I understood why it was done this way, I would
be able to work with it - maybe
2. The reason I say maybe is because one Project task imports a new calendar
item daily on my outlook calendar (which makes my calendar unreadable). Is it
a setting in Project that's making it do that, or is it how I am scheduling
the Work? For example, for a 4 hours of work for a resource, I will place a 4
in that resources month "cell" (using the Usage table).
3. Thirdly, why are tasks marked as 100% complete (in project) still
importing into my calendar?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Barb PMO --

In the future, please post your Project Server questions to the
microsoft.public.project.server newsgroup, as this newsgroup is devoted to
the Microsoft Project desktop application only. To answer your questions:

1. This is the way Microsoft designed the funtionality of the Outlook
add-in for Project Server. I don't know why; you'd have to ask the software
design team at Microsoft why they designed it the way they did. By the way,
you are not alone in expecting the Project Server tasks to display as
Outlook tasks.

2. In Outlook, take a look at Tools - Options - Project Web Access to see
the default settings for the tool and change them as you wish.

3. The Outlook add-in does not delete completed tasks from your Outlook
calendar. It only adds new and rescheduled tasks.

If you are struggling with using the Outlook add-in for Project Server, I
personally think there is a much better way to use Project Server within
Outlook. Here's how:

1. Close Outlook and then log into PWA
2. On the Home page, click the "Work with Outlook" link on the right side
of the page
3. Click the "Display Project Web Access in Outlook" link at the bottom of
the page
4. If prompted about an ActiveX control, click the Yes button
5. At the top of the Display Project Web Access page in Outlook dialog,
click the pick list and select the View My Tasks page
6. Select the "As the home page for a new Outlook folder" option
7. Enter a name for the new folder, such as "PWA Timesheet" or something
like that
8. Click the OK button
9. Launch Outlook

You will now see the new PWA Timesheet folder in the list of folders on the
left. Click the PWA Timesheet folder and the timesheet will display in the
main content area of Outlook. If you wish to modify the PWA timesheet in
Outlook to include the actions pane on the left and the customization tabs
above the data grid, complete these additional steps:

1. Right-click on the PWA Timesheet folder in the Outlook folder list
2. Select "Properties" from the shortcut menu
3. Click the Home Page tab
4. Change the end of the Address URL to SimpleUI=3
5. Click the OK button

Outlook will now display the complete PWA timesheet page with all features
and functionality available. If you think this would work better for your
organization, teach each of your team members and PM's how to do the above
steps. If not, simply delete the new PWA Timesheet folder in Outlook.

Hope this helps.