Microsoft Project Central

Here are my notes and links about Microsoft's Project Central 2000 internet server application.

Topics this page:
Product Background
Installation
Configuration
Menu Items
Keyboarding
Importing/Exporting
Your comments???

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Product Background

Previous versions of Microsoft Project were "fat" applications which typically resided on a Project Manager's desktop computer, from which paper charts and reports would eminate.

The Microsoft Project 2000 Project Central web server application is called a collaborative environment becuase putting project repositories in an on-line data store enables people in many more and different roles to view and contribute project information.

People now only need a "thin" internet browser (rather than the "thick"--and expensive--Microsoft Project client software) to perform tasks such as tracking the status of projects .

Microsoft Marketing Introduces Project Central

Collaborative Tracking with Microsoft Project Central

The Microsoft Project 2000/Project Central Internation MultiLanguage Pack

Installation

Client Licensing

Clients that connect to Microsoft Project Central Server must have a Microsoft Project Central client access license.

10 Connection Limit with MSDE on Workstation

If you don't even anticipate more than 10 people using Project Central at once, MSDE (MS Data Engine) is the easiest to install.

Project Central can also be installed on a Workstation rather than Server.

Install SQL or MSDE First

The Project 2000 CD contains Transact-SQL scripts to create databases expected by the Project Central Installation program.

Enter the SQL Query Analyzer to verify valid installation using the Script Crttable.sql on the Project 2000 CD folder named Pjcntrl\Isapi\1033\ creates by default a database named Project_CentralDB.

If SQL 7.0, SQL 2000, or MSDE was already installed on the server, you will perform a Custom Installation. Otherwise, clicking "Install Now" will result in installation of MS-SQL or MSDE.

Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) version 2.5 is also installed with Microsoft Project Central Server if you do not have Windows 2000 (Server or Professional).

Running the Installer

When you click "Install Microsoft Project Central Server", the program invokes Setupsvr.exe.

The default location is C:\ProjectCentral.

The password requested is for the database owner. Write this down.

The installation process creates a default user called "Administrator" with a blank password.

Default records

Default records can be inserted into tables by script files _____

Webcast

Microsoft Project Central Scalability.doc

Installing and Customizing Project Central 2000 is an extensive tutorial.

Set Up and Manage Views and Portfolios

Resource Kit
Toolbox contains programs to integrate Microsoft Project Central with Microsoft Outlook.

Error messages from Microsoft's Project Central 2000

Configuration

Zoom in and out of Database Schemas in Microsoft Project 2000 .MPP files and Project Central. Tip: I need 400% or higher magnification.

Office 2000 Automation Help File created by Microsoft Technical Support. describes OLE automation theory and provides examples for automating the Office 2000 suite.

Keyboard Shortcuts by Menu Item

It's so frustrating. They get you in the habit for looking for keyboard shortcuts by looking at the pull-down menus, but they don't put them ALL on the menu. This finishes the job.
• File   Edit   View   Insert   Format   Tools   Project   Window   Help   <

  Menu Item	Shown on menu		Not shown on menu
  Activate			F10 or Alt
  File	New	Ctrl+N	F11
  	Open	Ctrl+O	.	Importing
  	Close		Ctrl+F4
  	Save	Ctrl+S
  	Save As		F12 or Alt + F2
  	Print Preview
  	Print	Ctrl+P
  	Exit		Alt+F4
  Edit			F2	Activate the entry bar to edit text in a field
  	Cut Task	Ctrl+X
  	Copy Task	Ctrl+C
  	Paste	Ctrl+V
  	Link Task	Ctrl+F2		These are "Utility" toolbar icons.
  	Unlink Task		Ctrl+Shift+F2
  	Split Task
  	Find Find Again	Ctrl+F	Shift + F5 Shift + F4
  	Replace	Ctrl+H
  	Goto	Ctrl+G	F5
  			Alt + F5	Goto next overallocation
  View			Ctrl + Shift + F5	Go To Selected Task on Gantt Chart
  			Alt + left/right arrow keys	Scroll Gantt Chart left/right
  			Alt + SPACEBAR	Activate the application control menu
  	project control menu		Alt + HYPHEN	Activate the project control menu
  			Ctrl + F5	Restore project window
  			Ctrl + F7	Move project window
  			Ctrl + F8	Size project window
  				Minimize project window
  			Ctrl + F10	Maximize project window
  	Zoom...
  Insert	New Task	Ins
  	Recurring Task
  	Project
  	Column		Alt + F3
  	Insert Hyperlink	Ctrl + K
  Format
  Tools	Macro dialog box		Alt + F8
  	Macro ... Visual Basic Editor		ALT + F11
  	Options... Calculation		Ctrl+F9	Turn on/off Auto Calculate
  			F9	Calculate all open projects
  			Shift + F9	Calculate the active project
  			Alt + F9	Update all DDE links
  Project	Sort ... by ID order		Shift+F3
  			Ctrl + Shift + F3	Apply the sort order again
  	Filtered for: All Tasks		F3
  			Ctrl+F3	Apply the same filter again
  	Group by:
  	Outline		Shift + Alt + left/right	Outdent/Indent
  			Shift + Alt + * (asterisk)	Show ALL subtasks
  			Shift + Alt + + plus sign Shift + Alt + _ hyphen	Show subtasks next level down
  			Shift + Alt + - minus sign Shift + Alt + = equal sign	Hide subtasks
  	Task Information	Shift + F2
  	WBS			Work Breakdown Structure definition
  Window	New Window...		Shift + F11 or Alt + Sift + F1
  	Split		Shift + F6	Activate split bar
  			Ctrl + F6	Activate next project window
  			Ctrl + Shift + F6	Activate previous project window
  			F6	Activate other pane in combination view
  Help	What's This?	Shift + F1		Activate context-sensitive Help pointer

Other keys:

• Turn on/off Extend Selection mode F8
• Turn on/off Add To Selection mode Shift+F8
• Reduce a selection to a single field Shift+BACKSPACE
• Select a drawing object F6

Keyboarding

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Importing/Exporting with Data Maps

• There is no menu item/function for "Import", just Open the file and the software figures out the format.
• There is no menu item/function for "Export", select "Save As" and the file type.
• Tip: When you export a file, make sure you include in the file name the data map associated with that file. When you import that file, you will need to provide that information. These are the 11 default maps:
  1. "Who Does What" report
  2. Compare to Baseline
  3. Cost data by task
  4. Default task information
  5. Earned value information
  6. Export to HTML using standard template
  7. Resource "Export Table" map
  8. Task "Export Table" map
  9. Task and resource Pivot Table
  10. Task list with embedded assignment rows
  11. Top Level Task list
• Project 2000 Database

  Example:

This Add-in for Microsoft Project 2000 lists differences between two versions of the same file, such as two possible projections.

Customized Field Names

• To rename fields, Doing so would make default field names disappear, which could be frustrating for those accustomed to them. In Tools, Customize, Fields
• If you are a Project Central user, you have to define them in SQL database.
• If you export files, you must use the Project Organizer to use the Global.mpt list (named Global80.mpt in Project 98).

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