using MS Project for time keeping through PWA

[Texas Tonie]

We have chosen to track staff time through using schedules filled with task
items that staff can then select from to add to their 'my tasks' list to
enter 'time spent' against. One staff member can work on 30+ tasks
distributed over 10+ 'projects' during a year.
The problem is with task type and duration in MS Project.
We don't want to assign staff to these routine tasks (else the page
rendering in PWA for your 'My tasks' list takes too long if too many tasks /
schedules show routinely): we want them to be able to pick and choose the
ones that they 'need' in their task list at any given time.
How can I make it such that these tasks are always available to show in 'my
tasks' but only show if the staff member wants them (or at least fade if he
has not used a task for a couple of weeks).
The time-phased filter can obscure certain tasks: why, what does
time-phased view do?
The ‘show only current tasks’ filter can obscure tasks: does it obscure the
tasks that you did not enter any time against in the past 2 weeks and/or
tasks that are completed and/or tasks that you are not booked for in the next
2 weeks?
In MS Project, should I set start and end date to be Jan 1st to Dec 31st, or
leave it to Jan 1st - Jan 1st - what is the difference? Even if a tasks is
set to complete on Jan 1st, you can still add it to your 'My Tasks' list, and
add time to it?
Ideas needed / welcome,
Texas Tonie

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Texas Tonie --

What version of Project Server are you using?

 

[Texas Tonie]

We're using Project Server 2007.

Texas Tonie --

What version of Project Server are you using?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Texas Tonie --

There is no easy way around your problem. You have to assign the users to
the tasks before the tasks show up on their My Tasks page. You have to
assign a user to at least one task in order for them to assign themselves to
other tasks from the My Tasks page.

The Current Tasks option shows any task that meets the following criteria:

1. Any task that should have started before today, but hasn't.
2. Any task that is currently in-progress.
3. Any task that finish in the last 10 days (or the time period specified
by the Project Server administrator).
4. Any task scheduled to start in the next 10 days (or the time period
specified by the Project Server administrator).

So, that functionality defeats your need for people to see these
administrative-like tasks on an "as needed" basis. I don't believe that
setting Task Type and Duration in the Microsoft Project plan will have any
bearing on your situation. I think the default behavior of the tool
conflicts with how you want the tool to work. Hope this helps.