Visual Reports data

[Scott S]

I generate Earned Value reports from Project 2007 Standard, by exporting the
Assignment Usage data and manipulating it in Excel (2003.)

I would like to be able to include a few additional code structures (like
OBS, RBS, Cost Accounts, Work Packages) to increase the options for
analysing the data, but Project doesn't allow me to export custom fields
with the Assignment Usage cube.

Is Microsoft likely to change this in a future release? SP1?

I guess some VBA programming could create the exports I need; are there any
other options?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[John]

I generate Earned Value reports from Project 2007 Standard, by exporting the
Assignment Usage data and manipulating it in Excel (2003.)

I would like to be able to include a few additional code structures (like
OBS, RBS, Cost Accounts, Work Packages) to increase the options for
analysing the data, but Project doesn't allow me to export custom fields
with the Assignment Usage cube.

Is Microsoft likely to change this in a future release? SP1?

I guess some VBA programming could create the exports I need; are there any
other options?

Thanks,

Scott

Scott,
Unless future versions of Project add standard fields that can be
time-scaled, spare fields will not be something available for any views
that show time-scaled data. Why? Because spare fields are customized by
the user and Project has no way of "knowing" how to develop time-scaled
data for them.

And yes, you are correct, spare field data CAN be time-scaled with user
defined VBA algorithms and export of that data to Excel, for example.

John
Project MVP

 

[Scott S]

Hi John

Thanks for the response.

I don't need the custom fields to be time-scaled; I merely want to enter a
code for each task, and have that exported alongside the time-phased data in
the Assignment Usage cube. The custom code fields I have defined are
available for export with the Task Usage cube, but that doesn't contain the
EV data.

I could export data with the Task Usage cube, then export data with the
Assignment Usage cube, and marry the two sets in Excel - but this seems to
be an inefficient way to skin the cat.

Cheers,

Scott

 

[Marty]

Scott try File save as and use the data mapping function

 

[John]

Hi John

Thanks for the response.

I don't need the custom fields to be time-scaled; I merely want to enter a
code for each task, and have that exported alongside the time-phased data in
the Assignment Usage cube. The custom code fields I have defined are
available for export with the Task Usage cube, but that doesn't contain the
EV data.

I could export data with the Task Usage cube, then export data with the
Assignment Usage cube, and marry the two sets in Excel - but this seems to
be an inefficient way to skin the cat.

Cheers,

Scott

Scott,
You're right that it is inefficient but short of using VBA, two separate
exports is probably your only option. However, I don't do Project Server
so you might try posting to our sister newsgroup,
microsoft.public.project.server and ask your question there. This
newsgroup is dedicated to the stand alone version of Project, but when I
read your post it looked like a more generic question so I took a stab
at it.

John
Project MVP

 

[Scott S]

Thanks Marty

I looked at that, but it doesn't give me the time-phased EV data.

I need the time-phased EV data, and a few non-time-phased code fields.

 

[Scott S]

I'm using Project 2007 Standard in a standalone installation - we don't use
Server.

Would Server make this easier?

 

[John]

I'm using Project 2007 Standard in a standalone installation - we don't use
Server.

Would Server make this easier?

Scott,
I guess you are used to using the term "cube" for pivot tables in Excel.
When I see the word "cube" used with Project I immediately associate it
with Project Server. However, Project 2007 added a visual reports
feature which puts data into a pivot table format so I guess the term
"cube" fits for a stand alone installation of Project 2007.

I don't do Project Server, so I can't tell you if there is a more
efficient way to do what you want with Server. For that you should post
to our sister newsgroup, microsoft.public.project.server.

Meanwhile I'm not aware of any clever ways to combine the data you want
into a single exportable report other than through VBA. So, you can
continue to use a multiple export and combine in Excel, or use VBA - for
a one button approach.

John
Project MVP

 

[Scott S]

Thanks (again) John.

FYI, when creating Visual Reports in 2007, Project creates temporary "OLAP
cubes", on which the Excel Pivot tables are based.

Project offers six different "cubes" for reporting. Three of them,
labelled as "usage" cubes, contain time phased data, the other three don't.
I find it more flexible than the previous "Analyse time phased data"
function, although some basic analysis seems to be made trickier by the
pivot table - but that could be a limitation of my Excel skills.

 

[John]

Thanks (again) John.

FYI, when creating Visual Reports in 2007, Project creates temporary "OLAP
cubes", on which the Excel Pivot tables are based.

Project offers six different "cubes" for reporting. Three of them,
labelled as "usage" cubes, contain time phased data, the other three don't.
I find it more flexible than the previous "Analyse time phased data"
function, although some basic analysis seems to be made trickier by the
pivot table - but that could be a limitation of my Excel skills.

Scott,
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

Just for reference I've never used pivot tables in Excel. If I need a
custom report that can't be obtained directly from Project, I develop a
VBA macro to do it. Of course, that's a lot easier for someone who knows
how to write macros, but anyone can learn. Once VBA is learned, it opens
up a whole new world of functionality.

Getting custom reporting out of Project, in the absence of VBA, has
always been a limitation for Project. The developers have tried to
enhance the reporting capability with the addition of the Visual Reports
feature in Project 2007. It is better, but still a far cry from the full
functionality that can be achieved with VBA.

John
Project MVP