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This is something I posted over on my Microsoft blog a while back but it comes up so often that I wanted to repost it over here. Project Server security is something that is very flexible once you get used to how it works but it can be a bit confusing when you first look at it. Here are the basics as I explain them to my customers: The Group Groups contain sets of users and they define the system level permissions that those users have the rights to perform. These include: Logging in, performing certain admin functions, create a new project, create a new resource, etc.. The Category Categories provide access to projects, resources and views. The projects and resources that the category provides access to can be specifically called out by name or they can by dynamically included based on a set of rules within the category itself. For example a category can provide access to all projects where the user is the project owner or a status manager on a task, or all the projects where the Project Owner is ‘below’ the user in the RBS structure. I refer to this set of projects and resources as the “Scope” of the category. Categories can be shared by many groups because of the dynamic way the scopes can be defined. The dynamic options for project and resource scope are dependent on the user and their relationship (via the RBS structure) to either the owner or team members on a project or to the resources themselves. I often, for simplicity, create a role based group and then a corresponding category. It sometimes means that there are technically more categories than is absolutely required but it does make the whole security model a bit easier to follow.   The GroupCategory Permissions This is the part that people often overlook. A group and a category can be ‘linked’ or joined. When this happens there is a set of permissions that sit at that joint. This set of permissions defines what the members of that group can DO with the projects and resources within the “Scope” of the category. If you open a Group and you see the list of Categories that are associated to group there is one of these grids for each category. If you select one of the Categories associated with the group the grid pertains to THAT pairing of group and category. If you select a different category the grid changes and is now pertaining only to THAT pairing. The same is true if you open a category and select the Groups that are associated with it. The grid pertains to the pairing. It can be edited in both places but it remains the same.

I recently found that it is possible to create circular link relationships between tasks within the PWA Schedule Webpart. Project Pro checks for things like this as you are editing but the PWA webpart only calculates and checks for things such as circular logic when you hit the Calculate button. The part that makes it more difficult to deal with is that the error message that one gets when the Calculate action finds the circular logic does not contain the ID of the task(s) involved in the link the way that Pro does. This means that if a user goes into the schedule webpart and makes many changes, including some circular logic they will not see the error message until they hit Calculate or Save, at which point the bad link is already in place and the error does not tell them which task it is. The solution is to open the project into Pro which will immediately let you know about the bad logic and give you the task ID. The error you see when you save or calculate is like the one below:

Following this post over a year ago: Microsoft Project Server 2007: Time Tracking Solutions I’m happy to announced that Solvin has recently released an updated version of their TrackTimesheet for Project Server 2010, similar to other recently released partner solution; its great to see that their latest product is leveraging the latest Project Server and SharePoint 2010 technology and functionality product stack (for instance having a dedicated ribbon in their UI). A great solution for customers that require advance timesheet capabilities (Check out their site for additional information: https://www.solvin.com/index.php/tts-en.html

It’s all about Business Intelligence and reporting! I’m sure you all agree, check out this recently released set of diagrams that will explains the options available with SharePoint 2010 to extract and surface your Project Portfolio Management diamonds, rubies and nuggets… https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=fc97d587-ffa4-4b43-b77d-958f3f8a87b9 As a reminder check out the Business Intelligence in Project Server 2010 for specific BI information related to your favorite PPM solution!

A few months ago I purchased this book:

Are you a SharePoint Online pro? Do you know about SharePoint Online Workflows? In this 12 minute webcast, Brett Hill demonstrates how you can easily trigger a customized email to be sent when a new item is added to a SharePoint Online list. The presentation below includes details about creating workflows within SharePoint Online. You will also learn about options that are available to create “if-then-else” type of workflows with SharePoint Designer 2007 for SharePoint Online. You can learn more about BPOS with detailed walkthroughs in our How To section and on Brett Hill’s blog . Was this video helpful? What other BPOS tutorials would you like to see featured? You can comment on this blog post or send an email to our community mailbox . Follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page.

When: Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (GMT) Where: Technology House Shottery Brook Office Park Timothy’s Bridge Road CV37 9NR Stratford Upon Avon United Kingdom Hosted By: Technology Associates International Limited Technology Associates International Limited is one of the leading global project management consultancies specialising in Microsoft Office Project and Enterprise Project Management Solutions. Since 1990, Technology Associates have provided deployment, consultancy, development and training services to more than 500 organisations including some of the world’s leading companies, and we have an international presence throughout the world.     Technology Associates have deployed hundreds of EPM solutions and deployed more than 2,000 Microsoft Project solutions. With ten Microsoft Competencies under our belt, including ISV status, we have built a solid reputation for delivering high quality services and solutions, and providing exceptional value for money. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, with Offices in New York, San Francisco, India and Barcelona, and a strategic partner network covering AsiaPac, Middle East and ROW, we work internationally in delivering EPM and SharePoint solutions to our customer base in over 39 countries. Register for this event now at: https://taibpepm161210-rss.eventbrite.com Event Details: Course Description: Course Outline:    This course highlights Best Practices for planning and deployment of the EPM solution. It provides practical advice, key aspects to consider and also gives a strategic overview of how to implement the solution. This experience is based on hundreds of EPM deployments undertaken over the period of nearly a decade. Who Should Attend: Anyone who may be considering an EPM deployment and who wants to understand the implications of deployment, how to plan, and what the keys steps are for deployment planning. We will discuss on-premise vs hosted options for EPM as well as LOB integration, rollout planning and the cultural and user adoption aspects of a deployment. We will also cover common mistakes and pitfalls and how to prevent these to ensure a smooth deployment. Course Content: Overview of EPM Solution and Architecture Envisioning, Planning, Implementation, Training, Support Deployment considerations The importance of a phased approach with structured UAT cycles Architectural Planning Planning for cultural change Migrating from an earlier version of EPM Transitional planning Getting the requirements right! Conventions Documenting the requirements and configuring the solution Mapping business processes Process planning and adoption Portfolio selection – establishing the criteria for the selection process Establishing an evaluation plan Defining the success metrics Educating Users – PM Essentials and EPM Training Training options and rollout Backup and DR Planning Maintenance and update planning Support options Common Risks and how to avoid them. Ensuring a stress-free EPM implementation! Other Best Practice Tips and Tricks Group Discussion Personal Action Plan Next Steps Q&A

Get a brief overview of how systems refresh Group Policy in the background to ensure users have the latest policy settings . Follow our daily tips: • facebook.com/TechNetTips • twitter.com/TechNetTips • blogs.technet.com/tnmag

When: Monday, November 07, 2011 at 9:00 AM – Tuesday, November 08, 2011 at 5:30 PM (GMT) Where: Central London Hosted By: Technology Associates Technology Associates International Limited is one of the leading global project management consultancies specialising in Microsoft Office Project and Enterprise Project Management Solutions. Since 1990, Technology Associates have provided deployment, consultancy, development and training services to more than 500 organisations including some of the world’s leading companies, and we have an international presence throughout the world.   Technology Associates is proud to partner with RMC Project Management Inc . Technology Associates brings the highly acclaimed courses developed by Rita Mulcahy and her organisation to the UK. Courses are run using the same structure and RMC materials as used on the RMC courses in the USA and utilise experienced RMC PMP Exam Prep instructors so that delegates get the full benefit of these courses without having to travel to the USA! Register for this event now at: https://taipmpprep2day071111-rss.eventbrite.com Event Details: PMP® Exam Prep Course (2 days) This accelerated learning course is designed to help you prepare for the PMP ® Exam—and gain the most understanding   with the least amount of study. Developed by Rita Mulcahy, this course is designed to decrease your after-class study time from hundreds of hours to less than forty. We offer unique activities and exercises designed specifically to increase learning and knowledge retention—without rote memorization. The course materials include Rita Mulcahy’s entire PMP ® Exam Prep System (retail value $399). Please contact us if you would like information on in-company courses. Course Learning Objectives This course will also assist you in finding and documenting the gaps in your knowledge, so you can leave the class knowing exactly what you know, and exactly what you need to work on prior to sitting for the exam. By the end of this course you will: Have focused training on areas where students have the most difficulty with the current exam. Have the latest information from over 19 years of experience helping thousands of project managers pass the exam. Be ready to take the exam – this is a preparation and review course. Have learned “what you don’t know”. Develop a personalised study plan to help reduce your follow on study time to less than forty hours. Why Take This Course? Study Time Only 40 hours of study or less needed after this course. That is 70% less study than is usually necessary with other courses. Retention Students recently scored an incredible average 83.25% on a sample PMP ® exam after taking this course, before they even began studying. Passing level is 61% for the PMP ® exam. Materials and Extras A comprehensive education system. These materials include the best-selling book PMP ® Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy, PM FASTrack ® Exam Simulation Software, and Hot Topics flashcards. Also included in this course are materials not available to the general public. Instruction This course uses accelerated learning techniques . Project managers who are also expert trainers teach our courses! We hear, “This was the best class I have EVER attended on ANY topic!” On completion of the course, you will be awarded 16 contact hours (16 PDU’s). Course Outline Overview of the exam: How to study and create a study plan Tricks for memorizing formulas Tricks to help you understand how the PMP ® questions are written Tricks for shortening your study time Tricks for taking the exam Tricks for finding holes in your project management knowledge Reasons people fail the exam and how to make sure you do not do the same Exercises to help you understand, memorize and conceptualize the information you need to know Understanding PMI ® -isms Detailed coverage of: The process of project management The framework of project management Integration management Scope management Time management Cost management Quality management Human resources management Communications management Risk management Procurement management Professional responsibilities Develop a personalised Study Plan Course Materials You will receive the following exceptional training products which were developed by Rita Mulcahy, p ublished by RMC Publications, Inc: ·          JumpStart ~ E-learning course (pre-course work up to four hours) ·          PMP ® Exam Prep Book ·          Hot Topics PMP® Exam Flashcards ·          PM FASTrack® PMP® Exam Simulation Software   Created with the assistance of a psychometrician (just like the actual exam) PM FASTrack ® is designed to simulate the actual exam in every detail. The program’s database of 1,500+ questions allows you to take exams by knowledge area, process group or keyword/concept.

When: Monday, September 26, 2011 at 9:00 AM – Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 5:30 PM (GMT) Where: Central London Hosted By: Technology Associates Technology Associates International Limited is one of the leading global project management consultancies specialising in Microsoft Office Project and Enterprise Project Management Solutions. Since 1990, Technology Associates have provided deployment, consultancy, development and training services to more than 500 organisations including some of the world’s leading companies, and we have an international presence throughout the world.   Technology Associates is proud to partner with RMC Project Management Inc . Technology Associates brings the highly acclaimed courses developed by Rita Mulcahy and her organisation to the UK. Courses are run using the same structure and RMC materials as used on the RMC courses in the USA and utilise experienced RMC PMP Exam Prep instructors so that delegates get the full benefit of these courses without having to travel to the USA! Register for this event now at: https://taipmpprep2day260911-rss.eventbrite.com Event Details: PMP® Exam Prep Course (2 days) This accelerated learning course is designed to help you prepare for the PMP ® Exam—and gain the most understanding   with the least amount of study. Developed by Rita Mulcahy, this course is designed to decrease your after-class study time from hundreds of hours to less than forty. We offer unique activities and exercises designed specifically to increase learning and knowledge retention—without rote memorization. The course materials include Rita Mulcahy’s entire PMP ® Exam Prep System (retail value $399). Please contact us if you would like information on in-company courses. Course Learning Objectives This course will also assist you in finding and documenting the gaps in your knowledge, so you can leave the class knowing exactly what you know, and exactly what you need to work on prior to sitting for the exam. By the end of this course you will: Have focused training on areas where students have the most difficulty with the current exam. Have the latest information from over 19 years of experience helping thousands of project managers pass the exam. Be ready to take the exam – this is a preparation and review course. Have learned “what you don’t know”. Develop a personalised study plan to help reduce your follow on study time to less than forty hours. Why Take This Course? Study Time Only 40 hours of study or less needed after this course. That is 70% less study than is usually necessary with other courses. Retention Students recently scored an incredible average 83.25% on a sample PMP ® exam after taking this course, before they even began studying. Passing level is 61% for the PMP ® exam. Materials and Extras A comprehensive education system. These materials include the best-selling book PMP ® Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy, PM FASTrack ® Exam Simulation Software, and Hot Topics flashcards. Also included in this course are materials not available to the general public. Instruction This course uses accelerated learning techniques . Project managers who are also expert trainers teach our courses! We hear, “This was the best class I have EVER attended on ANY topic!” On completion of the course, you will be awarded 16 contact hours (16 PDU’s). Course Outline Overview of the exam: How to study and create a study plan Tricks for memorizing formulas Tricks to help you understand how the PMP ® questions are written Tricks for shortening your study time Tricks for taking the exam Tricks for finding holes in your project management knowledge Reasons people fail the exam and how to make sure you do not do the same Exercises to help you understand, memorize and conceptualize the information you need to know Understanding PMI ® -isms Detailed coverage of: The process of project management The framework of project management Integration management Scope management Time management Cost management Quality management Human resources management Communications management Risk management Procurement management Professional responsibilities Develop a personalised Study Plan Course Materials You will receive the following exceptional training products which were developed by Rita Mulcahy, p ublished by RMC Publications, Inc: ·          JumpStart ~ E-learning course (pre-course work up to four hours) ·          PMP ® Exam Prep Book ·          Hot Topics PMP® Exam Flashcards ·          PM FASTrack® PMP® Exam Simulation Software   Created with the assistance of a psychometrician (just like the actual exam) PM FASTrack ® is designed to simulate the actual exam in every detail. The program’s database of 1,500+ questions allows you to take exams by knowledge area, process group or keyword/concept.