Training - Project Server Help Blog

6/23/2010

See the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in the Resource Usage View

The Resource Usage view is one of two special assignment views in Microsoft Project, the other of which is the Task Usage view. On the left side of the Resource Usage view, the system displays each resource in the project, along with the task assignments for each resource. The system indents and italicizes the task assignments below each resource's name. On the right side of the Resource Usage view, the system displays the timephased grid, which displays Work per time period by default. The following figure shows the default Resource Usage view for a project in Microsoft Project 2010.

Resource Usage view

One of the chief limitations of the Resource Usage view is that you cannot see the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) of summary tasks for each task assignment in the left side of the view. For many project managers, this limits the usefulness of the Resource Usage view. In most versions of Microsoft Project (including the 2003, 2007, and 2010 versions), however, there is a very simple way to see the WBS of summary tasks in the Resource Usage view. To do this, simply apply the Assignments Keeping Outline Structure group. This group is one of the default groups included in all three versions of the software.

To apply the Assignments Keeping Outline Structure group in Microsoft Project 2003 or 2007, complete the following steps:

Open any project in which the task list includes summary tasks.
Click View Ø Resource Usage.
Click the Group By pick list on the Standard toolbar and select the Assignments Keeping Outline Structure group.

To apply the Assignments Keeping Outline Structure group in Microsoft Project 2010, complete the following steps:

Open any project in which the task list includes summary tasks.
Click the View tab to display the View ribbon.
In the Resource Views section of the View ribbon, click the Resource Usage button to apply the Resource Usage view.
In the Data section of the View ribbon, click the Group By pick list and select the Assignments Keeping Outline Structure group.

The following figure shows the Resource Usage view with the Assignments Keeping Outline Structure group applied in Microsoft Project 2010. Notice how you can clearly see the WBS of summary tasks for every task assignment. For example, notice that the tasks assigned to Amy McKay are in the Renovation phase, the Construction deliverable section, and the Carpentry sub-deliverable section of the project. Notice also that the tasks assigned to Bob Siclari are in the Renovation phase, the Construction deliverable section, and the Plumbing sub-deliverable section of the project.

Resource Usage view with the Assignments
Keeping Outline Structure group applied

Posted at 9:30 PM by Dale Howard | Category: Project 2010; Project Development; Project Professional Client; Project Standard Edition; Training | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

4/5/2010

What’s New Study Guide Microsoft Project 2010 ships April 20th

The first Microsoft Project 2010 book release from msProjectExperts, What's New Study Guide Microsoft Project 2010, begins shipping on April 20, 2010. We are especially pleased to ship this book in time for the first Microsoft Project 2010 soft release. If you order now, you can have your book in your hands before May 12, when the first RTM versions of Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010 technologies become available to partners and corporate customers.

Microsoft Project 2010 is a landmark release. From What's New Study Guide Microsoft Project 2010 support for a radically changed scheduling paradigm to a host of new features that improve a Project Manager's experience, many of you 22 million Microsoft Project users worldwide are going to want to learn about Project 2010. msProjectExperts is Microsoft Project 2010 Ready.

Teach yourself how to use Microsoft Project 2010's new features with this self-paced study guide. Hands-on lessons complete with practice files get you up to speed on all of the revolutionary new features in Microsoft Project 2010, including manual scheduling, team planner, the fluid user interface and the new timeline view. Learn how to connect Project with SharePoint to allow your team members to update their tasks through the web without using Project Server. This book contains content culled from the acclaimed learning authority, Ultimate Study Guide Microsoft Project 2010 Foundations. What's New Study Guide Microsoft Project 2010 focuses only on new and changed features and behaviors. This book is the perfect learning solution for experienced Microsoft Project users upgrading from Microsoft Project versions 98 through 2007.

For a limited time only, What's New Study Guide Microsoft Project 2010 is available through the msProjectExperts Preview Sale for $15 freight-included for delivery anywhere in the US. Click here to be first on your block to own one.

Posted at 1:32 PM by Gary Chefetz | Category: Project 2010; Project Professional Client; Project Standard Edition; Training | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

12/11/2009

MSDN Webcast Event – Real-World Solutions: Project Server Security in SQL Reporting Services (Level 300)

Please join us on Wednesday, December 16th 2009 for the ‘MSDN Webcast Event – Real-World Solutions: Project Server Security in SQL Reporting Services (Level 300)’ MSDN Webcast Event. This web-based event, led by Project MVP Stephen Sanderlin, will begin at 1:00 PM Pacific Time (4:00 PM Eastern Time).

In this webcast, we discuss a method of taking advantage of Microsoft Office Project Server security in Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reports. We also cover a scenario where a customer has requested a SQL Server Reporting Services report that displays sensitive financial data. The customer only wants executors of the report to see information on projects to which they have access. Join us to learn more.

The companion article for this webcast can be found on MSDN: Using Project Server Security in SQL Server Reporting Services Reports.

Stephen Sanderlin is an experienced system and software architect who specializes in designing, implementing, customizing, and developing custom software and reporting solutions for Microsoft Office Project, Microsoft Office Project Server, and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. In 2009, Stephen was named a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for his technical expertise around Project Server and his contribution to the user communities. Stephen also holds a wide variety of Microsoft certifications, including all those currently available for both the 2003 and 2007 versions of Project and Project Server. He has worked with Project since 2000 and has been providing consulting services to Fortune 500 clients in the areas of project management, SharePoint Server, Project Server, and Project on a full-time basis since 2003.

For more information, and to register for this event, please visit the Microsoft Events site:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032423645&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Posted at 1:09 PM by Stephen Sanderlin | Category: Events; Project Development; Training | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

8/18/2009

MSDN Webcast Event -- Real-World Solutions: Importing Workspace Data to Project Server Custom Fields (Level 300)

Please join us on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 for an MSDN Webcast Event… ‘Real-World Solutions: Importing Workspace Data to Project Server Custom Fields (Level 300)’. This web-based event, led by Stephen Sanderlin, will begin at 1:00 PM Pacific Time (4:00 PM Eastern Time).

In this webcast, we discuss a method of importing data from Microsoft Office Project Server Project Workspaces (PWS) into project-level custom fields. We also cover a scenario where a customer has requested a Project Center view that displays the number of active issues for each project, which requires custom code. Join us to learn more.

For more information, and to register for this event, please visit the Microsoft Events site:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032423642

Posted at 7:54 PM by Stephen Sanderlin | Category: Events; Project Development; Training | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

7/30/2009

Stay Ahead of the Pack With These MS Project Resume Building and Job Search Tips

We all know that times are tough for many Project Managers and the companies that employ them. Even if you are not currently a daily MS Project or Project Server user, these products have such a large market share that turning a blind eye to them may mean the difference between landing / keeping a job... and hunting through the job boards.

Here are a few tips and resources to build your resume and stand out from the rest of the Project Management and Microsoft Project user community:

Learn Microsoft Project Inside and Out
Learn How to Manage Projects Using Project Server
Learn How to Administer Project Server
Get Certified in Microsoft Project and Project Server
Post Your Business Card at ProjectServerExperts.com
Monitor MS Project Jobs, Project Server Jobs, and Project Management Jobs at ProjectServerExperts.com
Monitor MS Project Jobs, Project Server Jobs, and Project Management Jobs via the MSProjExperts Twitter Feed

Learn Microsoft Project Inside and Out

In my experience working with MS Project and helping others to learn the tool, most people who have a copy of Microsoft Project (desktop) struggle to build anything more sophisticated than a simple project schedule. It is an extremely powerful, yet very misunderstood tool. If you can take the time to truly learn MS Project inside and out, then that puts you far ahead of most folks.

Once you have mastered it, don't be afraid to use the word "expert" on your resume!

Although there is a scattered collection of online resources for people who want to learn more about MS Project, it is better to get your hands on a GREAT book, or better yet, attend a GREAT training class. Here are some options that MSProjectExperts offer:

Ultimate Learning Guide to Microsoft Office Project 2007

http://www.projectserverbooks.com/books/ultimatelearningproject2007.aspx

Over 900 pages of goodness, this book covers every single feature in Microsoft Project 2007, including exercises, warnings, and best practice notes.

If you want to take it a step farther and attend a formal, structured training class, here is a great option:

Establishing a Project Management Foundation using Microsoft Office Project 2007

http://projectservertraining.com/learning/foundations2k7.aspx

This two-day hands-on class is held in New York City, via cyberspace, or at your location, is led by certified instructors with years of field experience, and earns PMPs 14 PDUs.

Learn How to Manage Projects Using Project Server

Not only is Microsoft Project on the desktop understood by a select few, even fewer people have sufficient training and experience to call themselves masters of Project Server. With more companies adopting this powerful Enterprise Project Management (EPM) tool every day, you are wise to keep yourself in the game by learning how to use it effectively.

Once again, if you have mastered the use of Project Server for managing projects, don't be shy about stating it on your resume.

There are even fewer quality resources available to learn Project Server; here are some great options to prepare yourself:

Managing Enterprise Projects using Microsoft Office Project Server 2007

http://www.projectserverbooks.com/books/managingprojectsprojectserver2007.aspx

Nearly 900 pages of Project Server wisdom are contained in this book, including exercises, warnings, and best practice notes.

If you want to take it a step farther and attend a formal, structured training class, here is a great option:

Managing Projects from Foundation to Enterprise using Microsoft Office Project Server 2007

http://projectservertraining.com/learning/hybrid2k7.aspx

This four-day hands-on class is held in New York City, via cyberspace, or at your location, is led by certified instructors with years of field experience, and earns PMPs 28 PDUs.

Learn How to Administer Project Server

As more companies adopt Project Server every day, there are more companies that find themselves in need of a trained, experienced person to update and care for their Project Servers... a.k.a. the Project Server Administrator. People who know how to administer Project Server are few and far between. If you have an interest in it, learn how to do it, and it you will reap great rewards.

Here are some terrific options for learning this invaluable skill set:

Implementing and Administering Microsoft Office Project Server 2007

http://www.projectserverbooks.com/books/implementingadministeringprojectserver2007.aspx

This book contains over 900 pages of highly detailed information covering how to administer every area of Project Server 2007, including exercises, warnings, and best practice notes.

If you want to take it a step farther and attend a formal, structured training class, here is a great option:

Configuring and Administering Microsoft Project Server 2007

http://projectservertraining.com/learning/administering2k7.aspx

This three-day hands-on class is held in New York City, via cyberspace, or at your location, is led by certified instructors with years of field experience, and earns PMPs 21 PDUs.

Get Certified in Microsoft Project and Project Server

Once you have mastered any or all of the areas described above, there is no better way to prove it to your employer -- or prospective employer -- than earning a Microsoft certification. There are four certification exams that you can take, depending upon how you and your company use MS Project and Project Server:

70-632: Microsoft Office Project 2007, Managing Projects

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-632

70-633: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Managing Projects

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-633

70-634: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Managing Projects and Programs

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-634

70-639: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Configuring

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-639

Passing any one of these exams earns you an MCTS certification; passing the 70-632, 70-633, and 70-634 exams will earn you the MCITP certification. Both look great on a resume!

To prepare yourself for the 70-632 exam, you can attend the MSProjectExperts course specially-designed for this purpose:

Ultimate Microsoft Project 2007 Exam Prep Boot Camp 70-632

http://projectservertraining.com/learning/ultimateexamprep.aspx

This three-day hands-on class is held in New York City, via cyberspace, or at your location, is led by certified instructors with years of field experience, and earns PMPs 21 PDUs.

To prepare yourself for the 70-633 exam, you can attend the MSProjectExperts course specially-designed for this purpose:

Managing Projects from Foundation to Enterprise using Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 Exam Prep

http://projectservertraining.com/learning/hybrid2k7exam.aspx

This five-day hands-on class is held in New York City, via cyberspace, or at your location, is led by certified instructors with years of field experience, and earns PMPs 35 PDUs.

If you are planning to take the 70-639 exam, attending the 'Configuring and Administering Microsoft Office Project Server 2007' course mentioned above should prepare you well.

If you are planning to attend the Microsoft Project Conference 2009 in September (http://www.msprojectconference.com), you can take the 70-632 and 70-633 exams for FREE.

Post Your Business Card at ProjectServerExperts.com

After you have mastered Microsoft Project and / or Project Server, get noticed by posting your virtual business card on the Project Server Experts Community web site... it's FREE:

http://www.projectserverexperts.com

Monitor MS Project Jobs, Project Server Jobs, and Project Management Jobs at ProjectServerExperts.com

Rather than waiting for that next job to find you, be proactive and keep your eye on the MS Project, Project Server, and Project Management jobs that are updated daily on the Project Server Experts Community web site:

http://www.projectserverexperts.com

Monitor MS Project Jobs, Project Server Jobs, and Project Management Jobs via the MSProjExperts Twitter Feed

Not only are you proactive, but you are hip to the latest online social networking tools available. If you don't already have one, sign up for a free Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com) and follow the MSProjExperts Twitter feed:

http://www.twitter.com/msprojexperts

Not only will you be notified automatically of the latest MS Project, Project Server, and Project Management jobs, but you will also be the first to learn about the latest articles and announcements that are posted on the Project Server Help blog (http://www.projectserverhelp.com).

I wish you luck in staying ahead of the pack!

Posted at 11:33 AM by Tony Zink | Category: Certification; Project Professional Client; Project Server Administration; Project Server General; Project Server Usage; Project Standard Edition; Training | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

7/24/2009

Announcing the Ultimate Project 2007 Exam Prep Boot Camp -- September 9-11 in Phoenix AZ

As stated in my previous post, 'Get Certified in Microsoft Project 2007 and Project Server 2007 for Free at the Project Conference 2009', people who attend the Microsoft Project Conference 2009 (September 14-17) in Phoenix, Arizona, will have the opportunity to take the 70-632 and 70-633 certification exams for free:

http://www.projectserverhelp.com/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=84

For those who are planning to attend the Project Conference and take the 70-632 exam (Microsoft Office Project 2007, Managing Projects), for anyone who is planning to take the exam in the near future, or for anyone who would like to improve their scheduling skills with Microsoft Project 2007, we are offering the 'Ultimate Project 2007 Exam Prep Boot Camp' September 9-11 in Phoenix to fully prepare you for the 70-632 exam.

Arrive in Phoenix Early and Get Prepared

Held late in the week immediately prior to the Microsoft Project Conference 2009, this three-day intensive boot camp will be held at the Microsoft offices in Phoenix, Arizona; it will cover in great detail the scheduling skills required to successfully manage projects with Microsoft Project 2007, as well as the skills required to pass the 70-632 exam. For more information about the exam, including the skills that are measured, visit the following page on Microsoft.com:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-632

When, Where, and How Much

When: September 9-11, 2009

Where:

Microsoft

Mesquite Conference Room

2929 N. Central Avenue

Suite 1400

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Price: $1,695 per person

Register By August 10th and Save a Ton of Dough

Early bird registrations for the 'Ultimate Project 2007 Exam Prep Boot Camp' can be made before August 10, 2009, saving nearly $700 per person:

Boot Camp Regular Price: $1,695 per person

Boot Camp Early Bird Price: $999 per person

What You Will Get

Everyone brave enough to attend the boot camp will receive the following:

The knowledge required to pass the MCTS 70-632 certification exam
One of the latest and greatest Microsoft Office Project 2007 books by MSProjectExperts' Dale Howard and Gary Chefetz... a $99 value!
21 PDU credits for certified PMPs
...And you can take the exam right at the Project Conference for FREE

Seating is Limited, So Register Today

To register for the 'Ultimate Project 2007 Exam Prep Boot Camp' or for more information, contact Jennifer Herman:

Email: Jennifer.Herman@msprojectexperts.com

Phone: 646.736.1688 Ext.22

We hope to see you at the boot camp and the conference!

Posted at 3:52 PM by Tony Zink | Category: Certification; Project Professional Client; Project Standard Edition; Training | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)