Using Project Pro vs PWA on Project Server

J

jmd

I'm setting up a project for a department who made an "un-informed" purchase
of 15+ Pro licenses not knowing about Project Server and PWA.

Is there a way to set up a project for simultaneous use and assigning
permissions, I kind of doubt it. I'm assuming Pro can be used as a client
with these requirements, but I want to confirm it anyways.

Thanks much for any replies..
Juanita
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Juanita --

I'm not sure what you are asking. What do you mean by an "uninformed"
purchase? Are you using Project Server along with Microsoft Project
Professional or do you intend to use Microsoft Project Professional in stand
alone mode? Please clarify what information you would like from us and we
will try to answer your question.

--
Dale A. Howard [MVP]
Enterprise Project Trainer/Consultant
Denver, Colorado
http://www.msprojectexperts.com
"We wrote the book on Project Server"
 
J

jmd

"un-informed" - the department bought 15+ copies of MS Project Pro without
consulting the IT Dept, but they didn't buy Project Server with (1) MS
Project Pro license for Project Manager, and PWA Licenses for those resources
updating the tasks assigned to them.

My question is if they can use the MS Project Pro as a "client" to update
the tasks, I'm guessing yes, I just want to confirm. I don't have a copy of
Project Server to test this on. I'm one of those, gotta see it "actually"
work, or find an expert.
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Juanita --

I'm still now clear who "they" are when you ask whether "they" can use MS
Project Pro as a client to update tasks. If you are referring to team
members, then yes, they could certainly update their tasks in Microsoft
Project Professional, assuming that each team member has a copy of the
software. However, I would warn you that this would be a very risky
process, given the fact that they have not been taught how to use the
software and the entry of actuals leaves a lot of room for mistakes. Also,
Microsoft Project Professional only allows one person at a time to have the
project open Read/Write.

If the "they" you are referring to are actually project managers using
Project Server, then here is how the Project Server environment actually
works:

1. The project manager creates the project plan in Microsoft Project
Professional.
2. The PM saves the project in the Project Server database.
3. The PM publishes the project to make it visible in Project Web Access.
4. Team members record actuals in PWA and submit the progress to the PM
each reporting cycle.
5. The PM accepts updates from team members in PWA, approves or rejects
each update, and then processes the approved updates into the the project
plan in Microsoft Project Professional.
6. The PM publishes the changes in the project plan.

At any time during the project life cycle, interested parties such as
executives can view the project in PWA. Have I addressed your question in
either of my answers? Let me know.
 
Top