Scenario Overview
In this scenario, the already existing schedule developer as a stand-alone MPP file is uploaded to the cloud.
When applying this scenario, 2 possible challenges are complicating the process:
- Resources match with Bookable Resources in the cloud
- Calendar synchronization direction
Project Sync doesn’t create, delete, or update the Bookable Resources in the target PowerApps/Dynamics environment. Instead, it relies on the Bookable Resources pool to be managed in the environment according to the organization's policies. During the synchronization, the tool will match the resources using the following Resource fields:
The order of the resource lookup is following:
- By the Logon Account
- By the Email
- By the Resource name
If the appropriate resource is found, it is added to the Project Team and assigned to the appropriate tasks during the synchronization process. If the resource is not found, its assignments will not be synchronized.
Calendar synchronization is another important topic. It is recommended that the synchronization of the calendars is configured to be performed automatically, which reduces the possibility of the calendar changes drift and the associated possibilities of the synchronization discrepancies.
However, when the schedule is already pre-created as an MPP file, it introduces 2 challenges:
- Downloading the Calendar settings from the PowerApp/Dynamics may affect the MPP schedule
- Uploading the Resource calendars may affect other projects using the same resources.
The proper decision on Calendar synchronization depends on many factors outside the single project synchronization and may differ from organization to organization and from project to project.
Step By Step Guide
- Launch Project Desktop and open the MPP schedule to be synchronized.
- Navigate to the Project Sync Ribbon menu and click the Preview Synchronization button
- Click the Create New Project: <name> button
- Confirm project creation by clicking the OK button
- Configure the Calendar Synchronization options according to your preferences and click the Preview button
- Review the suggested changes and click the Apply Changes button
- Wait for the synchronization process to be completed and close the synchronization window
The Synchronization process can be repeated as many times as it is needed during the project lifetime to keep both schedules in sync.