Project Manager field - Project Server 03

The project managers field is input in the file properties dialog in Project Professional. It is called the author field. This maps backs to the project server database in the msp_projects table and is located in the proj_prop_manager field.

Rename a published project - Project server 2003

Some notes on the process to rename a published project in Microsoft Project Server 2003. First off download the Rename Project Tool from Microsoft. Next you will need to install the tool on the machine running project server. In the installation guide, I have always created an additional registry key for the PDSRights.CPDSRights value, incrementing the string PDSExtensionExN increasing N by 1. This is regardless of whether there is already PDS extensions installed on the machine. (That will make more sense when you're actually installing the tool and referencing the guide). There is some confusion about required security credentials required to Logon to the Project Server using the tool. It has always worked for me using the server administrator account, however the Trusted Connection checkbox will generally allow you to overcome logon failures! Also make sure that all updates have been processed for the project in question - check this with the project manager and resources.

It is merely then a case of running the tool and choosing the project you wish to rename.

The additional step not documented by Microsoft is to update the Windows SharePoint Services site with the new project name. To do this you logon the WSS site with an administrator account and do the following:
1. Go to Site Settings.
2. Under Customization select Change site title and description.
3. Modify the title and click OK.

I really don't consider this tool should be installed on project manager's machines as the installation is not clean and usability is not well considered. This should remain a tool used by System Administrators and IT staff. If you are looking for a more user friendly way to rename projects then check out the Project Renamer add-on from Bogdanov and Associates. This tool claims to integrate nicely into Project Web Access. I guess if your organisation renames a lot of projects then the investment in an add-on like this could be justified.

Enterprise Library 2.0 - Hands on Labs

These labs have now become available here. For any .Net developers still doing cross cutting business logic other ways I would encourage you to try out Enterprise library. At a high level it is useful for (in no order of priority):

• Auditing
• Logging
• Configuration
• Security
• Data Access
• Exception Management

I basically wanted to post this on my blog as I am constantly amazed at the number of .Net developers that I speak with who have near used this set of tools. For mine this continues to be the crowning glory for the MS patterns and practices group.