September, 2008

The following guides have been published for Project Portfolio Server 2007:

• Environment Migration Guide - This guide describes how to migrate Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007 from one environment to another one. This scenario is frequently used to duplicate a production environment as a QA or Development environment. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C08DDEAB-4F0E-4E2A-96E8-1322D5E61AF5&displaylang=en
• Gateway Guide - This guide describes the Gateway functionality for syncing Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007 with Microsoft Office Project 2007. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2A9A5E37-83EA-4C9F-9C41-E116D7A770CA&displaylang=en
• Understanding Workflow - This guide describes the workflow functionality and configuration for Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007 and provides examples for the workflow setting. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5BA15962-4A47-4FAB-806C-92FE74EBFED2&displaylang=en

Come on join us for this free TechNet webcast on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada).

In this webcast, we introduce the Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 solution and the main product components. We describe key concepts such as high availability and scalability, which should be taken into account when planning and deploying Project Server 2007. This introductory webcast is part of a webcast series targeted at IT professionals. In the series, we present in detail key aspects to consider when you evaluate, plan, deploy, and operate Project Server 2007. We discuss the main considerations when planning for high-availability deployments—when to scale up and out, points of failure, and software/hardware boundaries.

For more information check the following: Announcing the Microsoft Project Server 2007 IT Professionals TechNet webcast series

The Microsoft Office team has changed the way that it delivers hot fixes for reported problems by moving away from the current priority-driven hot fix release model to a scheduled delivery model. This change comes in the form of cumulative updates and critical on-demand (COD) hotfixes. The objective is to deliver high-quality fixes in an acceptable time and on a predictable schedule-every two months so its creates more predictability for customers.

Customers who need an emergency fix can request a shorter turnaround time for a COD hotfix.

Please refer to the following knowledge based article for more information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953878

The August Cumulative Update (CU) for Project 2007 and Project Server 2007 (as well as the rest of the Office suite) is the first CU release. Releases will now happen very two months so the next ones are scheduled for October 08, December 08, etc…

Install or not to Install?

Our general guideline for applying hotfix is:

• Each hotfix package is intended to correct only the applications that are listed in the knowledge base article.
• Apply the packages only to systems that are experiencing these specific problems.
• If you are experiencing any of the two known issues described in KB 953750 (Infrastructure Update).
• If you are not severely affected by any of these problems, we recommend that you wait for the next 2007 Office suites service pack that contains the hotfixes in these cumulative update packages.
• If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request.
• The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for a specific cumulative update package. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Installation Order

Assuming you are running the released version of Project Server 2007, here is a high level procedure, please refer to the TechNet articles for detailed deployment steps:

Ideally Project Professional 2007 and Project Server 2007  should be on the same version but it is not a requirement:

• Project + IU with Project Server + IU + August CU
• Project + IU + August CU with Project Server + IU

Knowledge Base Articles and Downloads

The EPM data structures represent two decades worth of investment and refinement in the field of project management. This mission critical line of business application with its predefine and extendable schema can be enhanced and delivered by the Microsoft Business Intelligence capabilities. So a recurring question these days is where can I find information on how to integrate Project Server 2007 and PerformancePoint Server 2007 for instance. Here are a couple pointers to start with, bottom line is expect content published on that topic in the next few months (TechNet webcast, TechNet virtual lab, session at the next BI Conference):

• Project Server and PerformancePoint Server 2007 session at Business Intelligence Conference
• TechNet Virtual Lab coming soon; plus see the Performance Point Server / Project Server advanced data visualization in person! (thanks to Joanne)
• Using Performance Point Server for Project Server advanced data visualization (thanks to Joanne)

To keep up to date with Microsoft’s PerformancePoint Server/Business Intelligence, bookmark this blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/normbi

Starting October 1^st, 2008, Michael Jordan (Lead Architect – MCS EPM Global Practice | WW COE for EPM) will present a series of Project Server 2007 webcast on TechNet targeted at IT Professionals. 

These 60 minutes webcasts will present in details key aspects to consider when you evaluate, plan, deploy, and operate Project Server 2007 specifically:

• Solution Overview and System Elements
• Solution Elements and Data Flow
• Workload Scenarios and Reference Architecture
• Network Communication
• Server Administration
• Maintenance and Monitoring
• Deployment into a SharePoint Server Intranet Farm
• Disaster Recovery
• Virtualization

You need to register for the free of charge webcast by clicking the link; then you get emailed a link to sign on and participate in the web cast on its date and time (please note only the first two webcast are available for registration at this stage).

Each TechNet webcast is recorded for later viewing which should be through the same registration URL.

For a listing of all EPM webcasts on TechNet check the following: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/epm.aspx

Michael Jordan’s Biography

Michael Jordan is the Lead Architect for Microsoft Services’ EPM Global Practice and member of the World Wide Center of Excellence. Michael has been with Microsoft for 8 years serving in technical roles from Application Development, Systems Engineering, SQL Database and Project Management. He has been working with EPM for the last 4 years architecting, troubleshooting and implementing large deployments at priority customer sites. As a member of the EPM Global Practice he performs a role as an extension to the Product Group by providing field feedback, spec reviews, product guidance and running customer programs for marketing initiatives.

Shameless copy from Brian’s post this morning:

Treb and Dave are working on a series of Silverlight video blogs around task statusing and timetracking – and specifically what the administrative options do, and the first is live at http://blogs.msdn.com/project/archive/2008/09/23/video-review-of-project-2007-task-settings-and-display-administrative-options.aspx and as you can guess from the URL it covers task settings and display settings in the Server Settings page.

As a side note, if you want to see Brian and I in action, check the following video from the last TechEd: Line-of-Business Integration Using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 (search for “project server”)

If you’d like to integrate SharePoint with SAP check the following site: http://www.microsoft.com/isv/sap/technology/interop/sharepoint.aspx

of particular interest: Interoperability between SAP NetWeaver Portal and Microsoft SharePoint Technologies

For other related resources about the Microsoft products and SAP check the following site: Microsoft | SAP Customer Information Center

Please find below an inventory of the content published for the past three months by the Office EPM UA team, feel free to forward this email to your customers and partners:

Office Online

• Watch this: Use lag and lead timeThis demo shows how to use lag and lead time to create gaps and overlaps between tasks in a project.
• Watch this: Show the critical pathThis demo shows you several ways to display a project’s critical tasks. It also shows how to display multiple critical paths in a single project.
• Create work breakdown structure (WBS) codes This topic has been updated with more information about basic view usage.
• Set lead or lag time (float) between tasks This topic has had a number of terms added to make it more searchable from the perspective of the PMBOK.
• Use templates in Project 2007 More information on templates.
• Create a custom field   Use this article to learn how to create, import, insert, and rename a custom field.
• Watch this: Create a custom field  This video walks you through the process of creating a custom field that is associated with a list, and that uses graphical indicators.
• Work with the Gantt Chart view  This article provides information on how to use each part of the Gantt Chart view.
• Project Server Quick Reference Guide for project managers  This quick reference guide displays all the tasks a project manager is likely to do with Project Server. A team member version is due out soon.
• Podcast: Britney Spears, the ultimate project manager This is a link to an external podcast about Britney Spears as the ultimate project manager. It is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but makes good points about project management skills in general.
• What’s all this talk about Web 2.0 This Office Hours article discusses Web 2.0 and software plus services model.

TechNet

• GPS Assistance in Roadmapping an EPM Deployment: How do you create a roadmap for an EPM implementation? This is the latest white paper by Chris Vandersluis in the "From the Trenches — Deploying the EPM Solution in the Real World" column on the Project Server TechCenter page.
• Database maintenance plans for Project Server 2007  This topic describes best practices for creating database maintenance plans for Project Server 2007 databases.
• Project Server 2007 Hyper-V guide This downloadable, 37-page document provides IT administrators with information about how to set up Project Server 2007 in a Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V environment. This guide includes technical information, procedures, and recommendations regarding planning a Project Server 2007 deployment for a Hyper-V environment in areas such as architecture, deployment, configuration best practices, system resource cost, and measuring virtual system performance.
• Project Portfolio Server 2007 Guide Environment Migration This guide describes how to migrate Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007 from one environment to another one.

Key Resources

Enterprise Project Management

• EPM Connect: The Business Exchange for EPM Solutions and Services
• EPM University: Online, instructor-led, deep dive technical training on EPM
• EPM Solution Office online EPM Home Page

Project Desktop

• Easier with Project:  Project Desktop Home Page
• Microsoft Project on Office Online

IT Professionals

• Project TechCenter on TechNet
• Project Portfolio TechCenter on TechNet

Developers

• Project Developer Home Page

Last June, Dynamics AX 2009 was released with an out of the box connector to Project Server 2007. If you are interested in learning more about the integration between the two products check the following documentation: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Client Help Files specifically AxInfoWk.chm, and search for “Project Server”:

Key content has just been published on TechNet:

• Database maintenance plans for Project Server 2007   This chapter describes best practices for creating database maintenance plans for Project Server 2007 databases.
• Project Server 2007 Hyper-V guide   This downloadable, 37-page document provides IT administrators with information about how to set up Project Server 2007 in a Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V environment. This guide includes technical information, procedures, and recommendations regarding planning a Project Server 2007 deployment for a Hyper-V environment in areas such as architecture, deployment, configuration best practices, system resource cost, and measuring virtual system performance.
• GPS Assistance in Roadmapping an EPM Deployment: How do you create a roadmap for an EPM implementation? This is the latest white paper by Chris Vandersluis in the "From the Trenches — Deploying the EPM Solution in the Real World" column on the Project Server TechCenter page.

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