New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

Panagiotis Kanavos — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:28:00 GMT

So it's not a bug, it's a feature someone forgot to put in the documentation ?

So instead of asking the user to get approval from the manager, you just re-populate the task behind his back.

So, what about the case where the user has a lot of long-running tasks on his timesheet that he hasn't worked this week?

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

Brian Kennemer — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:39:25 GMT

It is neither a bug nor a feature. It is just the way the product works and i happen to think it is a very good thing. The timesheet always includes tasks that are scheduled to occur in the timesheet period.

The project manager has already stated that the intention is to have this task worked during 'this' week.

If the user has a set of long running tasks that he has not worked this week then the user should just not enter anything for those tasks. if the user thinks they should not happen during this week then they should contact the project manager.

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

Panagiotis Kanavos — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:44:09 GMT

You forget that the user no longer has the option to "just not enter anything" because the timesheet webpart fills the deleted lines with the original values instead of leaving them empty.

It would be better to disable the Delete action for those lines instead of filling hours behind the user's back.

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

brianken — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:04 GMT

I just tested this to make sure but Im not seeing what you state above. When I delete a line, leave the timesheet and come back in the line I deleted is back but no hours are entered for it. The planned hours are still showing on the 'Planned" section of that timesheet line but nothing has been entered for actual work.

If you hav a situation where the deleted line is coming back with actual work that was not entered by the team member then you should open a ticket with support.

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

Michael M — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:57:11 GMT

Hi Brian,

Which tasks should be automatically pre populate in a users timehsheet? We have the Default Timesheet Creation Mode set to Current task assignments. I was under the assumption from reading http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2000267, that any tasks under My Tasks area(with the option to show only current tasks) should be automatically pre populated in the timesheet. What I have found is that the if a current tasks has an end date which doesn't fall within the timesheet period, the task will not be pre populated. If I go to the My Tasks area the tasks is listed there.

If this is by design - Maybe an enhancement could be to allow the Administration\User the option to pre populate "All Current Task". So there is consistency between My Tasks and Timesheet.

Michael

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

AndyS — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:42:01 GMT

If this option to 'Delete Lines' doesn't delete lines then why is it there? Surely most people filling in timesheets are adults and we should respect their decision if they so wish to delete timesheet lines.

We too have projects with many long running tasks and resources are often members of many projects. Being able to delete lines where work won't be performed in the timesheet period is a useful way for users to keep their timesheets manageable.

My users are going to love me for this new feature...

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

brianken — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:09:17 GMT

AndyS,

The team was getting lots of feedback from the field to the effect that the deletion was not what the project manager wanted. This behavior is a complimise between the two positions: team members wanting to have complete control over every line and project managers wanting control.

My position is that such interactions between team member and project manager should be done in a more personal way than a delete button. If there is a line on a timesheet that the team member feels is incorrect then they should be talking to the project manager to let them know. Once the project manager removes it from that week (reschedules the task for another week) then it will drop from the timesheet.

I will pass on your feelings.

re: New Behavior in Timesheets with Project Server 2007 SP2: Timesheet Pre-population Goodness

brianken — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:12:19 GMT

Michael,

Timesheets are a little bit different. They prepopulate with tasks that are scheduled to occur during the timesheet period.

So those tasks that are scheduled to occur in the past should be rescheduled to be current (which is good process anyway) then they will appear in this weeks timesheet.