Top level hours

[Theo Verdel]

We have problems in processing all the timesheet hours to become actual hours
in the projects. One of the major problems is that hours are written on top
level tasks when adding lines in a timesheet.
Is there a way or method to solve this ?

 

[Rod Gill]

Firstly what timesheet? Project Server's (in which case the project server
group will likely provide more response), a third parties, or an in-house
one?

Secondly what version of Project?

If a time sheet only reports hours against summary tasks and not
assignments, there is no way to update projects with this data other than
manually with information as to what Tasks have been worked on by whom etc.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Theo Verdel]

First thank you very much for your replay and sorry for being so general.
Since sept-2007 we are using EPM 2007 (Project Prof. 2007 and Project Server).
We have implemented the timesheet function of Project Web Access. Every week
workers need to specify their work in allocated tasks. But often the
alloccations are still to be done bij the project managers or extra work is
needed. With the function "Add lines" they have the possibility to specify
those houres. In My timesheets you can do Add lines. You get a pick-up list
with projects and tasks. Workers have to add hours on "--- taskA" lines. But
the system makes it possible to specify work on summary tasklevel. The whole
timesheet isn't processed due to this. A lot of hours are "lost".
Thank you for the response.

 

[Rod Gill]

Firstly, please post Project Server questions to the project server news
group, you'll get more response there.

So what errors do you get and when? Obviously timesheets don't update
projects so no problem there. You could train your people to update My tasks
during the week then create the timesheet at the end of the week so all
entered hours are automatically inserted correctly into the timesheet.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Wijgert IJlst]

Rod,

I'm a Co-worker of Theo, the point is we do not get any errors.
We use a different workflow as you suggests, our company fills in hours on
tasks within the Timesheet and at the end of the week this Timesheet is
imported into My Tasks and the Task Update will be sent. At least this would
normaly be the case.
When users fill in hours on a Top Level task within their Timesheet it will
not import into the Task Update. The screen only flickers, but nothing
happens and no error message(s) appears. This prefents the whole Timesheet
from beeing processed as a Task Update. A normal user is not aware of this
failure as no message did appear, so he did not notice the failure.
Project Managers are happy as there task shows progression in "reallife" but
no Task Update are to be received from Project Teammembers.
Only the project administration sees a big difference between the hours
writen on tasks with the Timesheet and the Task which show Actual Work within
the Project File.
We haven't found any way to prevent users from selecting Top Level tasks,
this is a huge problem, and also we are quiet unhappy that no error message
apprears on failing Timesheet imports when performing a Task Update.

Thanks for the Advise to use the Project Server part of this forum, we might
use a crossposting if you expect better results on reaction overthere.

Cheers,
Wijgert IJlst

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I'm afraid that's how it is.
Actual Work can only be entered on the tasks that have the resoruce
assigned to it.
HTH

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

 

[Wijgert IJlst]

Hello Jan,

Thanks for your reply. In theory you are right, this is how it should be.
Would be wonderfull actually if it was. But technically workers are able book
hours at Top Level tasks without even the option to prevent this. But these
hours are lost, aswell as the other hours in that weeks Timesheet.

We are searching for a manner to prevent this from happening at the first
place.

Regards,
Wijgert