Task_uid, custom fields and Outline levels

[Michael Andy Poulsen]

Hi,

I am working on an integration between a enterprise system and Project
Server 2003.

During this work we have run into some problems, and I would like your
thoughts on the problems.

Problem 1:
We would like to create a mapping of tasks between the enterprise system and
project. To do this we have tried to use the combination of project_id and
task_uid as key to identifying tasks in project server.
This works fine, as long as the user doesn't delete the task with the
highest task_uid. If the user does delete the task with the highest task_uid,
the project server reuses the task_uid if the user closes the project client
application and then reopens the application.

Is it possible to prevent project from reusing a deleted task_uid?

If it's not possible, we have thought of using a custom field on the tasks,
containing our own identification of the task. We will then handle the data
in the custom field using our own PDS extension.

Do you have any other suggestions?
Is it possible to lock a specific custom field, so that the user cannot
modify the values from the project client application?


Problem 2:
In some projects our enterprise system allows only 3 Outline levels and in
other it allows 5 Outline levels.

Is it possible to set a max for the number of Outline levels on a project?



Best Regards

Michael Andy Poulsen

 

[Ed Morrison]

Michael,

Try msp_view_proj_tasks_std.ProjectUniqueID and
msp_view_proj_tasks_std.WPROJ_ID. These are published tasks and should be
unique.

You could create a VBA macro to prevent the Project Manager from selecting
an outline code as long as you have the rules.

 

[Michael Andy Poulsen]

Hi Ed,

Problem 1:
I have looked at the table msp_view_proj_tasks_std and it seems that the
problem about identifying a task is the same as in msp_tasks.

We have solved our problem by writing a PDS extension that writes our own
Task_ID to a custom enterprise number field.

We then "lock" the field from editing in MS Project Prof. by setting the
field as being calculated as an empty formula in the enterprise global
template.


Problem 2:
I thought of putting the information about the number of levels in a
enterprise custom field on the project.

Is is possible to read the value from this field in a macro?

If so: Do you have any suggestions about where to find relevant resources
about how to code the macro?


Best regards

Michael Andy Poulsen