MS Project Server 2007 :: Backup/Restore your server now!

Another good article about Backup/Restore your EPM Server

http://blogs.msdn.com/project/archive/2006/12/08/backup-and-restore-project-server-2007.aspx

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

The Outlook Add-in for Project Server 2007 no longer loads when you uninstall and then reinstall the add-in

This link is interesting

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;951648&sd=rss&spid=11388

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

Microsoft Innovation Center (Kuwait) :: Enterprise Project Management Deep Dive Workshop

Yes, MS EPM is now hitting hard in Kuwait and a lot wanted to start utilizing the power of it. As a series of increasing the awareness and importance of this solution I have conducted a lot of sessions in different large events in Kuwait

The MS EPM flight is landing in MIC (Microsoft Innovation Center, Kuwait) now and the seats are so limited :)

You can download the invitation letter from my blog (please follow this link to download), fill it and email it back to the email address mentioned in the invitation document itself.

The Workshop title will be :: Your Road Map to Project Management using MS EPM Solution and the workshop will cover the following topics (spanned into 5 days, 3 hours a day, 6-9 PM)

Day 1

Getting Started with Office Project Server 2007

Initiating Projects

Planning Projects—Context and Framework

Day 2

Planning Projects—Scope and Schedule Management

Planning Projects—Staffing Management Plan

Planning Projects—Resource Assignments

Day 3

Planning Projects—Cost, Risk and Other Management Plans

Executing Projects—Processes, Resources, and Deliverables

Executing Projects—Manage Timesheets and Personal Settings

Day 4

Monitoring and Controlling Projects—Context and Framework

Monitoring and Controlling Projects—Tracking Task and Project Progress

Day 5

Monitoring and Controlling Projects—Measuring Performance and Reporting Progress

Closing Projects

Complete Life Cycle case

 

For more information you can

Call me at +965 7205246

Email me: bilal@arabilla.net

Or post a comment here

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project Server 2007 Best Practice :: Forms vs Windows Authentication

I guess so many people are happy with the windows authentication features that comes with MS Project Server and found it very easy to setup and to use. But did they know that there is another way of authenticating users, i am sure that they knew but they never think when and how to use it

First let me focus on facts about each and when each one is recommended to be used?

Windows Authentication

• It is authenticate users against the AD that the Project Server is joint to. So, it can use only one AD. So if all of your users are belongs to one domain then this will be your right choice.
• Roles and groups (or any AD classification) are not used in EPM, remember that the title is all about Authentication, not authorization. Authorization is run through the security model embedded with the Project server itself.
• Project Server users list and the AD users list is not an linked. You need to schedule synch job from within Project Server itself from time to time, this means if user has became inactive then this will not be reflected into the Project Server. (needless to say that if the user became inactive or blocked in AD then he/she will not get authenticated to AD but he can be still used as a resource in Project Server)

Forms Authentication

• Conceptually, it is very similar to the AD authentication, except that Membership Provider will be used instead of AD
• More flexible to contain users regardless of the AD they belongs and even if they don't belong to any AD
• Difficult (or not straight forward to setup) to setup and maintain the users credentials.
• No synch tool is available out of the box except for the "PjFormsAuthUpgrade" tool that comes with Project server

 

I will be posting more articles about Forms authentication, be tuned

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project Server 2007 Best Practice :: submit, approve, apply and publish

The confusion of how to use the EPM in the right way is common everywhere. The main two player in this environment (Project Managers & Team Members) find sometimes difficult to understand why the EPM is not reflecting the progress information for any published project. To understand this you can take it simply like this

1. PM :: Publish the project to PWA (Using Project Pro)
2. Team Resource :: Submit the progress update to his PM (using PWA)
3. PM :: Approve the updates received by his resources (using Project Pro) 
4. PM :: Apply the approved updates to be reflected into the plan  (Using Project Pro)
5. PM :: Adjust (if required) and then Publish the project plan again to PWA (using Project Pro)

The picture below can tell this in a better way

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

Microsoft Technology Day, Don't miss it next year

  Yes, I mean it, 45 sessions that touched the latest related to Microsoft were shown at the biggest event in  Kuwait. I hope you did attend your favorites topics and get the maximum benefits.

Now back to my sessions, the two rooms allocated for my sessions were full. I was expecting that due to the extensive registrations on my sessions during the registration time. At a moment I said, thanks God, I did good preparation for such an audience. It would have been a big loss if I did not do so.

 

The first session were about administrative part of EPM, the 2nd and 3rd were about the best practice  for Project Managers and the other main players in EPM environment.

Last one, it was supposed to be about Monitoring and Controlling, but I was able to cover part of it only, the rest inshalla will be conducted in the future in a separate session

I have announced www.pmroad.com as the first community for Project Managers in Kuwait. also I announced the start publishing of a series about the best practice in EPM on my blog

 

So, my recommendation for you "From now and over, don's miss any event related to the main communities in kuwait (dotNetboom, ProRangers and msexperts) and expect it to be always BIG by default"

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

I am leaving the building

Only today I have took the sharp decision to move to new company, big, challenged and in a role of MIS Manager.

   In my new position I will be responsible for designing and implementing Management Information systems based on Microsoft Technologies. I am still new to the new company so I can not till more about it except that I am very optimistic for this movement I made.

For my x-company, I had to admit that I got impressed of the company style and reputation. I met hundreds of professional people there and made good connections. So I would like to say that I feel proud that I worked in Agility.

Note: Needless to mention that the photo in this post is NEITHER my new office NOR my old one, it is just a one I took from the web. enjoy !

Best Regards

Bilal Okour, Kuwait, 4th March 2008

MS Project 2007 ::What are the available reports

 

Task Usage category
Name	Type	Description
Cash Flow Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with cost and cumulative cost amounts illustrated over time.
Earned Value Over Time Report	Excel	Use this report to view a chart that plots AC (actual cost of work performed), planned value (budgeted cost of work scheduled), and earned value (budgeted cost of work performed) over time.

 

Resource Usage category
Name	Type	Description
Cash Flow Report	Visio	Use this report to view a diagram that shows planned and actual costs for your project over time. Costs are broken down by resource type (work, material, and cost). An indicator shows if planned costs exceed baseline costs.
Resource Availability Report	Visio	Use this report to view a diagram that shows the work and remaining availability for your project's resources, broken down by resource type (work, material, and cost). A red flag is displayed next to each resource that is over allocated.
Resource Cost Summary Report	Excel	Use this report to view a pie chart that illustrates the division of resource cost between the three resource types: cost, material, and work.
Resource Work Availability Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with total capacity, work, and remaining availability for work resources illustrated over time.
Resource Work Summary Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with total resource capacity, work, remaining availability, and actual work illustrated in work units.

 

Assignment Usage category
Name	Type	Description
Baseline Cost Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with baseline cost, planned cost, and actual cost for your project illustrated across tasks.
Baseline Report	Visio	Use this report to view a diagram of your project broken down by quarter, then by task. This report compares planned work and cost to baseline work and cost. Indicators are used to show when planned work exceeds baseline work, and when planned cost exceeds baseline cost.
Baseline Work Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with baseline work, planned work, and actual work for your project illustrated across tasks.
Budget Cost Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with budget cost, baseline cost, planned cost, and actual cost illustrated over time.
Budget Work Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with budget work, baseline work, planned work, and actual work illustrated over time.

 

 

Task, Resource, and Assignment Summary categories
Category	Name	Type	Description
Task Summary	Critical Tasks Status Report	Visio	Use this report to view a diagram showing the work and remaining work for both critical and non-critical tasks. The data bar indicates the percent of work complete.
Task Summary	Task Status Report	Visio	Use this report to view a diagram of the work and percent of work complete for tasks in your project, with symbols indicating when baseline work exceeds work, when baseline work equals work, and when work exceeds baseline work. The data bar indicates the percent of work complete.
Resource Summary	Resource Remaining Work Report	Excel	Use this report to view a bar graph with remaining work and actual work for each work resource, illustrated in work units.
Assignment Summary	Resource Status Report	Visio	Use this report to view a diagram of the work and cost values for each of your project's resources. The percent of work complete is indicated by the shading in each of the boxes on the diagram. The shading gets darker as the resource nears completion of the assigned work.

 

MS Project 2007 :: Timesheet status

The following Status Definitions are available:

• In Progress. The Timesheet is built by the team member. Data may be saved. Nothing is submitted.

• Rejected. The Timesheet is rejected by a Timesheet Manager.

• Submitted. The Timesheet is sent to the first-level Timesheet Manager for review.

• Acceptable. The Timesheet is accepted by a Timesheet Manager and is sent to the next approver.

• Approved. The Timesheet is approved by a Timesheet Manager at any level.

• Error. An error occurred when the Timesheet was processed.

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007 :: installing SP1 result in Stopping Microsoft Office Project Server Events Service

Yes, this true because it happened with me, after installing WSS 3.0 SP1 I started installing Ms Project Server 2007 SP1, exactly in step 5 it stop and throw an exception tilling that the Microsoft Office Project Server Events Service was not able to get started !!??

After searching completely the "Whole Internet" I found one post talking about this issue

and what I came to know that this service trying to access the Internet address

http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/CodeSignPCA.crl

but the network setup did not allow this (this is true and expected for the ideal and secure network). I was sure that this is my issue that stopped me from completing my work in the last 2 days.

So, the only solution suggested by my colleagues in Networks and Systems department is to allow Internet Access in complete during the installation of SP1 then remove it

It work, yes, but for me I consider this a stupid bug regardless of the person who wrote the code unless it is a policy to catch the people who are using the unlicensed copies

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project Server 2007 :: How to install it in a single mode

Hi folks

I found this article good for the people who are going to deploy Project Server 2007 in a stand alone computer

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Office/en-us/library/c9531164-2705-4233-84d1-78bd728dd7611033.mspx

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007 :: Corrupted Tasks

How do you know if your Project has a corrupted tasks, simply the following indicators will till you if so

1. One ore more of your resource report that his "My Taks" is showing sharepoint error message
   
2. If you know how to query your database (Published DB of your server) and get unfortunately one row at lease
   

   SELECT MSP_PROJECTS.PROJ_NAME, MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.TASK_NAME,
   MSP_RESOURCES.RES_NAME, MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.ASSN_UID,
   MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.PROJ_UID,
   MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.TASK_UID, MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.RES_UID
   FROM MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED INNER JOIN
   MSP_PROJECTS ON MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.PROJ_UID =
   MSP_PROJECTS.PROJ_UID INNER JOIN
   MSP_RESOURCES ON MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.RES_UID =
   MSP_RESOURCES.RES_UID
   WHERE (NOT EXISTS
   (SELECT TASK_UID
   FROM MSP_TASKS_SAVED
   WHERE (TASK_UID =
   MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.TASK_UID)))

    

   Then to resolve this issue do the following

• Open Gantt View, Insert "Publish" column, and select No for the task that you got from the above query
• Publish your project
• Again Gantt View, For the  "Publish" column, and select "Yes" for the task that you got from the above query
• Publish you project

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project :: You need to know these terms

Here are some useful interpretation

Duration = Actual Duration + Remaining Duration
Percent (%) Complete = Actual Duration / Duration
Work = Actual Work + Remaining Work
Percent (%) of Work Complete = Actual Work / Work
Start: At the beginning it is the baselined start, later one it will be replaced by the actual start
Finish: At the beginning it is the baselined finish, later one it will be replaced by the actual finish

Note: Remember to baseline your plan to save the original values

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project :: You need to know these terms

Here are some useful interpretation

Duration = Actual Duration + Remaining Duration
Percent (%) Complete = Actual Duration / Duration
Work = Actual Work + Remaining Work
Percent (%) of Work Complete = Actual Work / Work

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

I will be speaking in 2 big events in Kuwait

Dear All,

for all who are interesting in understanding Microsoft EPM solution then they can attend my sessions at the following two major events

1. Community Open Day, executed by DotNetBoom and ProRangers communities and sponsored by Microsoft. Here I will conduct 2 sessions which will cover how Microsoft EPM can be best implemented to Manage the IT projects during all phases in the IT Development Life Cycle.
2. MVPs Open Day, the first event in Kuwait where different MVPs from Middle East, Africa and Europe will be gathering together to unleash the latest technology experience they have. I am sure that you will never feel that you lost one minute of your time. Waiting to see you there

More details will come soon and I will make sure to keep you updated

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Examples about Tasks Types

A lot of project mangers using EPM solution are keeping asking me about giving examples to illustrate the different types of MS Project 2007 Tasks Types

Here I am trying to give some examples

Fixed Duration

• The football match will take 90 minutes to finish
• Flying from Kuwait to Amman will take 1:30 hour to complete regardless of the number of the passengers inside and regardless of the number of aircrafts flying at the same time
• The woman will take 9 months to deliver, you cannot divide this work for two resources (she and her girl friend)

Fixed Work

• You are required to enter 2000 records into an application, each record will take 5 minutes and you will pay (or get paid) per record.
• You are required to floor 100 square meters of one building, each square meter will take 30 minutes.
• You want to install Windows XP on 100 boxes, each box will take 1 hour and you need to pay (or get paid) per each installation.

Fixed Unit

• You want 1 developer to work 8 hours (100% or full day only) to develop a program
• You need 5 developers and each to work 20% of their capacities to complete the program
• You need 5 developers to work 8 hours a day (100% each) to complete the program
• You need 1 developer to work 4 hours a day (50% or half timer) to complete the program

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

A MS Project 2007 Crazy Error: My Tasks is now not working???

I have completed one installation and implementation for PS2k7 at one organization, it worked fine for around 2 months, suddenly the My task did not work for some users but it is working for the others

I knew that there is a corrupted assignment and the only solution for me was to roll out the project from the last copy just before the issue starts

I found this post in the Internet that approach this issue in a very logical way, the suggested solution can figure out the corrupted task and gives a walk around solution for this,  and it was posted by: Rod Gill, Microsoft MVP for Project

for more details about Rod please check the button of this post

Now I will let you with the  post

"

if you add a new resource that already has % complete>0 then
there is still a bug (after SP1) that causes a corrupt assignment. The
symptoms are that the resource cannot access My Tasks.
The following SQL will highlight which assignment is corrupted:

 
SELECT MSP_PROJECTS.PROJ_NAME, MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.TASK_NAME,
MSP_RESOURCES.RES_NAME, MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.ASSN_UID,
MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.PROJ_UID,
MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.TASK_UID, MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.RES_UID
FROM MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED INNER JOIN
MSP_PROJECTS ON MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.PROJ_UID =
MSP_PROJECTS.PROJ_UID INNER JOIN
MSP_RESOURCES ON MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.RES_UID =
MSP_RESOURCES.RES_UID
WHERE (NOT EXISTS
(SELECT TASK_UID
FROM MSP_TASKS_SAVED
WHERE (TASK_UID =
MSP_ASSIGNMENTS_SAVED.TASK_UID)))
--Run against Published Database
As far as I'm aware the only work around is not to add a new assignment to a
partially completed task. Instead create a copy of the task and assign the
new resource to it. A pain I know!

Rod Gill,

Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Microsoft Project VBA. For details visit:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

"

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

 

Using Project Server 2007’s Reporting Database and SQL Server Reporting Services 2005

Hi folks

I really love gong back to programming if I could manage to get the chance to do so

Today I was completely impressed by this article I read from Project Programmability blog

if you have time you can read it

http://blogs.msdn.com/project_programmability/archive/2008/01/03/implementing-my-tasks-read-only-custom-fields.aspx

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Why and How to split a Task

let me answer the first question: why to split a Task, the answer for this is

• Either you want to interrupt some work with an other (By You)
• Or by leveling the resource to maintain the work balance (By the system)

For the second question How??

To split a Task do the following

1. Open the project using Project Professional 2007 (you need to give the user the following permission "Log on to Project Server from Project Professional" from the Global Permission )
2. Open Gantt view, click on Split Task
3. On the bar, click on the place where you want the split to be applied
4. Drag and drop the second portion of the bar to the new location in the chart (new date) 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

 

MS Project 2007 :: The first 4 Steps to start using Cubes

In this post I will explain the steps required to make your Database Server (I am talking about SQL 2000) ready for MS Project 2007 Cube Building

1) Verifying and Installing Analysis Services SP4

• From Control Panel ==> Add Remove Programs ==> Microsoft Sql 2000 Analysis Services ==> Click here for support information, make sure that the SP version is 8.00.2039
• If the SP4 is not installed proceed with next step, otherwise you can leave now :)
• Go to the Microsoft (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=86989).
• Download the Analysis Services Components (download file: SQL2000.AS-KB884525-SP4-x86.EXE).
• When you run the download, you are prompted to select a location for saving the file. After specifying the location, click Next. The files will be extracted to this location.
• Click Finished.
• Browse to the location you specified on the server and run \msolap\install\Setup.exe.
• Follow the directions that appear to complete the installation of the service pack.

2) Adding the Queue service account to the OLAP Administrators group

• From the Start menu, click Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
• In Computer Management, expand Local Users and Groups and then click the Groups folder.
• Double-click the OLAP Administrators group to open the properties page.
• In the properties page, click Add.
• On the Select Users, Computers, or Groups page, in the Enter Object Names to select box, enter the Windows user account under which the Queue Service is running. Click OK.
• In the OLAP Administrators property page, click OK

3) Granting the OLAP Administrators group permissions to the SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services components

• Using windows Explorer, browse to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Analysis Services\Bin" or what is ever you installation folder for Microsoft Analysis Services
• Right click on bin folder
• Select "Properties"
• Select Security tap
• Click on Add to add the OLAP Administrators and give this group a Full Control permissions
• Click on Apply, then Ok

4) Grant permissions to the SQL Server Analysis Services service account to access the Project Server Reporting database

• From the Start menu, select Programs, select Microsoft SQL Server, and then click Enterprise Manager.
• In Enterprise Manager, expand Microsoft SQL Servers, SQL Server group, and the server.
• Expand the Security folder, right-click Logins, and then click New Login.
• On the properties page, in the General tab, enter the Windows Authenticated account for the user running the SQL Server Analysis Services service.
• Click the Database Access tab.
• Enable Permit for the Project Server Reporting database(s).
• In the Permit in Database Role section, enable db_datareader permissions for the Project Server Reporting database(s).
• Click OK

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

New SQL 2005 Reporting Service Report Pack for Project Server 2007

Hi

New SQL 2005 Reporting Service Report Pack for Project Server 2007 has been released

Follow this link to download

http://blogs.msdn.com/project/archive/2007/01/30/sql-server-reporting-services-report-pack-for-project-server-2007.aspx

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Editions Comparison

 

Hi

If you are asking about the differences between different editions of MS Projects 2007 then I can till you that there are three different editions

1. Microsoft Project 2007 Standard
2. Microsoft Project 2007 Professional (connected to Microsoft Project 2007)
3. Microsoft Project Web Access 2007 (PWA)

If you are interest in knowing the different features each is providing then I recommend you to read this article from Microsoft

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project/FX101757931033.aspx

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

For Project Managers: 2007 Link Mish Mash

Another great post for leaders and managers

http://ravenyoung.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!17376F4C11A91E0E!4030.entry

 

Enjoy!!

Bilal Okour

ProjectSteps: Leading Geeks

ProjectSteps: Leading Geeks

MS Project 2007: Group By, It's Great!

 

I read this from Microsoft Project 2007 Team blog and would like to share it with you as I found it very useful

here we go

Group By, It's Great!  (http://blogs.msdn.com/project/archive/2007/11/30/group-by-it-s-great.aspx)

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Effort Driven Task

 Hi again

As you might noticed that MS Project assumed (by defaulting) all tasks are efforts driven, what does this mean?

It means when MS Project do scheduling then it will maintain the Work value the same. Now you remember my equations in one post, if not I will put them again

 

1. For Fixed Unit: U = W/D. In this case increasing the Work will result in increasing the Duration and visa verse
2. For Fixed Duration: D = W/U. In this case increasing the Work will result in increasing the Unit and visa verse
3. For Fixed Work: W = D * U. In this case increasing the Duration will result in decreasing the Unit and visa verse

Black color indication that MS Project will maintain the value of that field fixed when rescheduling

As per the options 1 and 2 you noticed that we fix either Unit or Duration.

By selecting the Effort Driven option the following should be considered

 

• If the assigned task type is Fixed Units, assigning additional resources shortens the duration of the task.
• If the assigned task type is Fixed Duration, assigning additional resources decreases the individual unit values for resources.
• If the assigned task type is Fixed Work, assigning additional resources shortens the duration of the task.
• Effort-driven scheduling only takes effect when resources are added to or removed from a task. Effort-driven calculation rules are not applied when you change work, duration, and unit values for resources already assigned to a task.
• The effort-driven calculations apply only after the first resources are initially assigned to the task. After the first resources are assigned, the work value doesn't change as new resources are assigned to or removed from the same task.

I hope this will help you

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

New Initiative from Arabilla.Net, “Featured Arabic Site, FAS”

 

Dear visitor

As per Arabilla.Net objective, to facilitate the awareness of the latest technology, we will start a new type of news letter called “Featured Arabic Site, FAS”, in each newsletter of this type we will highlight the service that site, blog, or community is providing.

If you are the owner, participant in one of these sites please let us know about your site and accordingly let the others know about your work.

We think we can encourage Arabic initiatives in this field which will lead to effective participation in making and using of the technology around the world.

We will either select those sites by ourselves or you can email us on bilal@arabilla.net tilling us about your contribution

The good candidates’ contributions should follow the following rules

1. The Site, blog, community can be either group work or individual. But it should be focusing on technology not self or personal activities
2. It can be in any technology field
3. It can be in either Arabic or English, the priority will be for Arabic sites
4. It should not include anything other than technology related topics

If you would like to participate please send us the following

1. Your contribution URL (site, blog or community)
2. Your contribution description

We hope that this will bring new benefits to Arabilla.Net subscribers

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Work & Material Resources

 

Till me, what do you call a Camcorder, a material or work resources , ok

another question, what do you call the Video Tapes being used in this Camcorder? a material or work resources?

 

Regardless of what was your answer here is the correct ones

Camcorder is a work resource, are you using this resource for one time only, then it is not a material resource

Video Tape is a material resource, because it will be consumed

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Resource Pool

If you are working in multi-projects organization and want to share some resources among projects then the only way to do so is to use Resource Pool.

you can use resources from different projects without using the resource pool but the resource availability can not be controlled for both projects as there is no common information about the resource is shared between them

So, adding the resource to the resource pool will help you in

• Assignment information, as well as cost rates and availability for all resources, reside in one central location
• It is also easier to see resource overallocations (overallocation: The result of assigning more tasks to a resource than the resource can accomplish in the working time available.) caused by conflicting assignments across more than one project

MS Project provide Enterprise Resource Pool as a solution for this issue,  to access the ERP you can open MS Project professional 2007 and go to Tools ==> Enterprise Options ==> Open Enterprise Resource Pool

if you want to add more resources to your ERP then go to Toos ==> Enterprise Options ==> Import Resources to  Enterprise

 

Some notes about ERP

• Using MS Project 2007 professional connected to the server will allow you to see only Enterprise Resource Pool
• If you want to see or use local resources using MS Project 2007 professional then don't connect to the server and just open local project files, but again if you want to save and publish this local project to the server you need to import your local resource into the ERP using the mapping resource tool that will raised up once you start saving the project to the server, you have either to map your local resources to the ERP resources or just import them as new providing that there is no duplication

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

MS Project 2007: Difference between Assignment & Resource

Simply

Resources: The people, equipment, and material that are used to complete tasks in a project.

Assignment: When you assign this specific resource to a task then it become an Assignment

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

Are you sure that people read your blog????

 

 

Opps, have you ever asked your self this question, are you writing something that no body reads??

Don't get upset for a while, you have to spend more efforts in catching the eyes to your blog, here are some advises for you,  feel free to re-distribute it

 

1. Include your blog link in your signatures  everywhere, emails, posts, answers, even Marriage invitation cards :)
2. Link to others, ask the others to link to you
3. Include taglines instead of submitting your blog URL to search engines, let them do it in their own way,use this tool that might help you selecting the right key words
   you can visit this site http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/suggestion/
4. Don't write long articles, short and attractive post are more than enough
5. Use Attractive titles, "Man bite a dog"  is more attractive than "Dog bite a man". ask a journalist about this :)
6. Focus on one technology field, but you can post some "Breaking News" to have some little change, also you can put some personal materials (basically the idea of the blogs is personal activity to share knowledge and experience)
7. Rank of your blog is proportional to the content you write, not to the time, the more you write the more growth you will get, so be patient
8. What is ever you know in the related blog field is a good material for blogging
9. Use a name for your blog which is related to the main topic your blog is talking about (This advice I got it from an expert in this field and it is really working, don't miss it)
10. Use snapshots when illustrating post of the type How To, this will make the post preferred to read by your visitors
11. Use Simple English, remember that your visitors are not always native English speakers
12. Try to use simple layout, messy layout will encourage your visitors to run away ASAP
13. Use standard fonts for titles, post bodies, links. Standards always make it fast and easy to read the content
14. Don't submit your blog to search engines, yes, this is true, but don't ask me why, ok, you already asked!!, the answer is "This is the search engines policy to reduce the spam traffic"
15. Refer to my blog :) http://ebilal.spaces.live.com ; you can ignore it if you did not like my blog

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

 

Best Regards

Bilal Okour