Importing resources from earlier versions of Project to Project Server 2003 is a critical step in your organization's move to a Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Solution. Before you can import files from earlier versions of Project Professional (including MPP file-based data) into Project Server 2003, you must determine the format of the resource data that you plan to import. To determine how to proceed with importing resources to Project Server 2003, answer the following questions:

• Does the MPP file-based data have any custom fields?
  • Yes   Determine whether you will use the MPP file-based custom fields in the Project Server 2003 Enterprise Resource Pool. If you are going to use the custom fields and they are dissimilar to the Project Server 2003 custom fields, you might need to recreate the custom data in the Enterprise Resource Pool after you import the files.
  • No   Continue
• Is every record in the MPP file-based data going to become a member of the Project Server 2003 Enterprise Resource Pool?
  • No   Consider deleting the non-Enterprise Resource Pool members from the file before you start the import process. Every resource that you import will become a member of the Enterprise Resource Pool. When you use the Import Projects Wizard, you can select/deselect resources to add to the Enterprise Resource Pool.
  • Yes   Continue
• Is the other data in the file correct? For example, is the Max Units field the same type of information that you will store in the Enterprise Resource Pool? After you import a project, the Enterprise Global Template applies the Enterprise Standard Calendar to all data in the project; any information that is based on any other calendar is lost.
  • No   Ensure that information in the Microsoft Project Server 2002 Enterprise Resource Pool maps to the information in the Project Server 2003 Enterprise Resource Pool.
  • Yes   Continue
• Consider whether it is easier to create the mapping between the data to be imported and the Enterprise Resource Pool before or after the import process. It might be easier to recreate or clean up the data in the Enterprise Resource Pool than it is to recreate the mapping in the MPP file-based data. Note that although it is possible to import data from multiple MPP files into the Enterprise Resource Pool, you might find it easier to import only a single file at a time.

To use the Import Resources Wizard to add resources to the Enterprise Resource Pool

1. Open Project Professional as a user who is assigned the New Resource global permission and connect to Project Server 2003.
2. In Project Professional, point to the Tools menu and select Enterprise Options, and then select Import Resources to Enterprise.

   

3. On the first page of the Import Resources Wizard, click Next.
4. In the Open from Microsoft Office Project Server dialog box, select the project file that contains the resource data that you want to import, and then click Open.

   

5. On the next page of the Import Resources Wizard, map the custom field information in the imported resource to the custom field information in the Enterprise Resource Pool.

   

   You can only map the same fields in the Import Resources Wizard; for example, Start to Start or Finish to Finish. When you are finished mapping custom field data, click Next.

6. On the next page of the Import Resources Wizard, you are asked to select the resources that you want to import and ensure that all required Enterprise Custom Fields and Enterprise Outline Codes are applied.

   

   If you receive an error message that is with any required resource information, you can click Back to go back and fix the problem, or you can continue without importing the resources that the errors are associated with. If you do this, the Enterprise Resource Pool might be missing information that you will need to add manually by checking out the Enterprise Resource Pool in Project Professional.

   Correct any errors that you can so that the imported data is as correct as possible after the Import Resources Wizard is finished. Click Resource Information to open the Resource Information dialog box.

7. In the Resource Information dialog box, select the Custom Fields tab. Under Value, use the list boxes in each row to select a value for all required custom fields and outline codes.

   Required items are marked with an asterisk (*).

   When you have assigned values for all items, click OK.

8. Repeat this process for all of the resources that you are importing.

   

    Note   Do not continue if you are unable to determine the correct mapping of data or are otherwise concerned about generating large numbers of errors. It is more important not to import resources that you are unsure about than it is to save time by allowing the Import Resources Wizard to continue. If you click Cancel, return to the project in Project Professional and attempt to resolve the mapping issues.

   

9. click Next. When the import is complete, click Finish to close the Import Resources Wizard.
10. After you finish the import process, you must associate enterprise resources with the Enterprise Resource Outline Codes in the Enterprise Resource Pool by clicking Edit in the Resource Center in Project Web Access. Any additional outline codes that are not mapped during this process can be updated later.

     Note   You cannot complete the process of importing resources if required Enterprise Custom Outline Codes or Enterprise Custom Fields do not have values specified.

11. Open Project Professional, point to Tools and Enterprise Options, and then select Open Enterprise Resource Pool.

Resolving Multiple Entries in the Enterprise Resource Pool

Project Server 2003 does not allow resources in the Enterprise Resource Pool to have duplicate names. However, it is possible to create multiple entries for the same person by adding two names in the Enterprise Resource Pool for a resource in your organization; for example, Peter J. Krebs and Peter Krebs. If you are importing resource data from multiple project files, it is possible to create duplicate records of the same enterprise resource. The Import Resources Wizard flags duplicate resources during the import process. If this happens, you have the following options:

• Reject importing the resource   This is the default option.
• Edit the name of the resource   If you know that the name in the file being imported is incorrect, you can change the name to reflect the name that you want to be associated with this resource in the Enterprise Resource Pool.

 Note   The Enterprise Resource Pool does not allow trailing or leading spaces in the Resource Name field.

To resolve multiple entries in the Enterprise Resource Pool

1. Log on to Project Web Access as a Project Server administrator or a user who has permission to access the Manage users and groups section on the Admin page.
2. On the main menu, click Admin.
3. On the Admin page, click Manage users and groups.
4. On the Users page, click Merge User Accounts.
5. Using the drop-down lists, select the name of the resource on the left that you want to merge into the resource on the right.
6. After you select the resources that you want to merge, click Save Changes.