Microsoft Project offers many local fields that allow users to enter attributes about a project’s Tasks and Resources. Many SSI Tools require the user to pick fields from which data can be read or to which data can be written, depending on the tool. For example, SSI Trace Tools (Driving Path Analysis Tool) requires the user to pick a Flag or Text field into which it will write Trace Log values. Without this field, the tool would not be able to function properly. Microsoft Project has a finite number of local fields that users can use, however, users who have connected the Microsoft Project Desktop Client to Project Web App (PWA) may have access to many additional fields to store information about tasks and resources in the project. These additional fields are known as Enterprise Custom Fields. Using the Enterprise Fields Setup dialog, users can provide their list of Enterprise Fields to SSI Tools in a one-time setup, which will allow them to pick these fields in SSI Tools controls.
Enterprise Field Properties
To setup Enterprise Custom Fields to work with SSI Tools, a user must be aware of the following properties of their Enterprise Fields:
Enterprise Field Name – The custom name of the Enterprise Field.
Department – The name of the department associated with the Enterprise Field.
Entity Type – Specifies the Microsoft Project entity with which an Enterprise Field is associated. Entity Type can be one of the following:
Attribute
Description
Project
Specifies that the Enterprise Field is used for project level items
Resource
Specifies that the Enterprise Field is used for resources
Task
Specifies that the Enterprise Field is used for tasks
Data Type – Specifies what type of data an Enterprise Field can accept. Data Type can be one of the following:
Attribute
Description
Text
Specifies the Enterprise Field holds alphanumeric data
Number
Specifies the Enterprise Field holds numeric data
Flag
Specifies the Enterprise Field holds a binary “Yes” or a “No” value
Duration
Specifies the Enterprise Field holds duration data (ex: 10 days)
Date
Specifies the Enterprise Field holds date-driven data
Cost
Specifies the Enterprise Field holds currency data
Getting Started
To open the Enterprise Fields Setup dialog, a user must be using Microsoft Project with a Project Server Profile. If a user’s current profile is a Project Server profile, the Setup Enterprise Fieldsbutton will appear at the right side of the SSI Analysis Toolstab in Microsoft Project. Clicking this button will open the Enterprise Fields Setup dialog.
