Microsoft Project Server Registry and Global Settings

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Microsoft Project Server Registry Entries
Working with the Enterprise Global Template
The Enterprise Resource Pool

Microsoft® Project Server provides several centralized locations for storing and tracking application-related information, including:

  • Dedicated folders in the registry that store connection information for the database and other applications that link to Microsoft Project Server.
  • An enterprise global template that stores standardized project information that all members of your organization can have access to; the enterprise global template is updated each time a user connects Microsoft Project to Microsoft Project Server.
  • An enterprise resource pool that stores all of your organization's resources in a centralized location, making it easier to plan and track resource usage and assignments.

Microsoft Project Server Registry Entries

Microsoft Project Server Setup creates registry entries in the \Datasets and \Services folders in the following location:

Microsoft Project Server Setup also creates registry entries in the \Languages folder in the following location:

\Datasets

The \Datasets folder holds information about where the data for Microsoft Project Server resides. Sub-folders include \Application, \EnterpriseDatabase, \STS, \ViewsFileDrop, and \ViewsSchedulingDatabase. They are described in greater detail below.

\Application

This folder holds information about how to connect to the Microsoft Project Server database.

  • ConnectInfo   Stores the database connection string for the Microsoft Project Server database.
  • Proj Username   The database user name used by Microsoft Project Professional to connect to the Microsoft Project Server database; must be a member of the MSProjectRole role in Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000.
  • Proj Password   The password for the user specified in Proj Username.
  • QueryFileExt   Points to the extended Microsoft Project Server SQL Query Library.
  • QueryFileStd   Points to the standard Microsoft Project Server SQL Query Library.
  • QueryTimeout   The amount of time the component will wait for the SQL Server.
\EnterpriseDatabase

This folder holds information specific to the enterprise features of the Microsoft Project Server database.

  • DSN   The DSN utilized by the views processing engine that provides access to the Microsoft Project OLE DB Provider.
  • UserName   The user name associated with DSN.
  • **Password **  The password for the user specified in UserName.
\STS

This folder holds information related to connecting Microsoft Project Server to the SharePoint™ Team Services from Microsoft database.

  • **connectInfo **  Stores the database connection string for the SharePoint Team Services from Microsoft database.
  • QueryFileExt   Points to the extended Microsoft Project Server SQL Query Library.
  • QueryFileStd   Points to the standard Microsoft Project Server SQL Query Library.
\ViewsFileDrop

This folder holds information about where the views processing service received new view files.

  • connectInfo   Stores the path to where the views processing service listens for new publish action view files.
\ViewsSchedulingDatabase

This folder holds connection information for the views scheduling database.

  • connectInfo   Stores the database connection string for the Microsoft Project Server database.
  • QueryFileExt   Points to the extended Microsoft Project Server SQL Query Library.
  • QueryFileStd   Points to the standard Microsoft Project Server SQL Query Library.

Services

The \Services folder holds information related to the configuration of services related to Microsoft Project Server. \SessionMgr is the only subfolder of the \Services folder.

\SessionMgr

This folder will contain a folder that has a GUID for a name. The (Default) entry in the GUID folder points to the server running Session Manager.

Languages

The \Languages folder holds information related to the supported languages by this installation of Microsoft Project Server.

  • defLCID   Stores the Locale ID (LCID) of the default language for the Microsoft Project Server computer.
  • **LCIDXXXX **  The LCID of the first language supported by the Microsoft Project Server installation.
  • LCIDXXXn   The LCID of the nth language (2 through n) supported by the Microsoft Project Server installation.

Working with the Enterprise Global Template

The enterprise global template is an important part of using Microsoft Project Server effectively. It is stored in the Microsoft Project Server database as a special project. When Microsoft Project Professional users connect to Microsoft Project Server, the latest copy of the enterprise global template will be cached on their machine if either the version on Microsoft Project Server is newer, or if it is not already cached on the user's machine. The enterprise global template is cached in the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 10\1033 folder (1033 is the locale ID [LCID] for U.S. English; the folder for a localized language depends on its LCID) on a user's machine.

The enterprise global template stores global information and settings that will be applied to every enterprise project (and affect every user) in your organization; for example, calendar or currency settings. Only a user with Save Enterprise Global and New Resource permission in Microsoft Project Server will be able to check out, modify, and replace the enterprise global template. This permission should only be granted to a few individuals.

If Microsoft Project Professional is already running, but not connected to Microsoft Project Server, a user must quit and then restart Microsoft Project Professional, and then connect to Microsoft Project Server in order to update the enterprise global template.

For more information about the enterprise global template, see:

  • The Enterprise Implementation Framework (EIF). For the latest version of the Enterprise Implementation Framework, see Microsoft Project Enterprise Implementation Framework Files in the Deployment and Administration Tools section of the resource kit toolbox.

Enterprise global template settings

Global items are defined across your enterprise through the enterprise global template. These items cannot be changed or saved by users in a project. Display items, such as tables and views, can be changed for the current session, but will revert to the definition stored in the enterprise global template the next time Microsoft Project Professional is started.

The following items can be cached (or updated) on a user's local machine by the enterprise global template when they connect Microsoft Project Professional to Microsoft Project Server:

  • Calendars
  • Custom Fields
  • Filters
  • Forms
  • Groups
  • Maps
  • Modules and Macros created using Microsoft Visual Basic® for Applications
  • Reports
  • Tables
  • Toolbars and Menu Items
  • Views

Managing the Enterprise Global Template

The enterprise global template is an important element of an enterprise installation of Microsoft Project. It can only be accessed from Microsoft Project Professional by a user with permission to check it out and make changes. In addition to making changes to the enterprise global template, you should follow proper maintenance procedures, including periodically backing up the enterprise global template or restoring it.

Backing up the enterprise global template

You should create a backup copy of the enterprise global template before making any changes to it, and then create a backup on a periodic basis (especially after a major update). In the event of a system failure or corrupted files or data, you will be able to restore the backup file of the enterprise global template.

To create a backup file for the enterprise global template
  1. Open Microsoft Project Professional and connect to Microsoft Project Server as a user with permission to check out and modify the enterprise global template.
  1. On the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options.
  1. Click Backup Enterprise Global. You will be prompted to specify the destination for the backup file of the enterprise global template in the Save As dialog box. The default name is EntGlobalBackup; you should consider appending the current date to the file name to distinguish this version from other backup versions of the enterprise global template.
  1. Click Save.
Checking out the enterprise global template
To check out the enterprise global template
  1. Open Microsoft Project Professional and connect to Microsoft Project Server as a user with permission to check out and modify the enterprise global template.
  1. From the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options.
  1. Click Open Enterprise Global.
  1. When you are finished, close the enterprise global template and click Yes to save changes.
Restoring the enterprise global template

In situations where the enterprise global template has been corrupted, has been changed in error and cannot be reversed, or if a new system has been created and needs the same or a similar enterprise global template, it is possible to restore a previously backed up copy of the enterprise global template.

To restore a previously backed-up copy of the enterprise global template
  1. Open Microsoft Project Professional and connect to Microsoft Project Server as a user with permission to check out and modify the enterprise global template.
  1. From the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options.
  1. Click Restore Enterprise Global.
  1. In the Restore Enterprise Global dialog box, select a user profile in the Server Account drop-down list. This user must have permission to check out and modify the enterprise global.
  1. Click Browse to locate the backup file for the enterprise global template you want to restore.
  1. Click Restore. Microsoft Project Server will have the current enterprise global template replaced by the file you just specified.
  1. Close and restart Microsoft Project Professional. This will refresh the enterprise global template cached on your local machine.

The Enterprise Resource Pool

Enterprise resources are the people, equipment, and materials used to complete tasks in an enterprise project. Enterprise resources are part of your organization's pool of resources and are stored centrally in the Microsoft Project Server database. You should define the contents of the enterprise global template before adding resources to the enterprise resource pool. Once the enterprise global template is ready, you can import resources into the enterprise resource pool by using the Import Resources Wizard.

For more information about the enterprise resource pool, see:

  • The Enterprise Implementation Framework (EIF). For the latest version of the Enterprise Implementation Framework, see Microsoft Project Enterprise Implementation Framework Files in the Deployment and Administration Tools section of the resource kit toolbox.

Enterprise resources

A typical enterprise project contains primarily enterprise resources, but can also contain non-enterprise resources (local resources). Microsoft Project schedules both types of resources the same way. Resources become enterprise resources only after they are added with the Import Resources Wizard.

Generic resources

A generic resource is a placeholder resource. You can use generic resources to specify the skills required for an assignment before you know which individual resources are available, for example, in an enterprise project template. Microsoft Project schedules generic resources as if they are work resources; generic resources will behave similarly to work resources.

Generic resources are used primarily for resource substitution. Resource substitution replaces generic resources with specific resources who match the skill requirements specified by the project manager who created the assignment. Generic resources can also be used in the early stages of developing a project plan, or when you may not care who specifically works on a project, yet you still want to track completed work.

Generic resources are entered into a project just like a normal work or material resource, and are specified on the General tab of the Resource Information dialog box.

Using the Import Resources Wizard

To add resources to the enterprise resource pool using the Import Resources Wizard in Microsoft Project Professional, on the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options, and then click Import Resources to Enterprise.

For more information about using the Import Resources Wizard, see the topic "Add resources to the list of enterprise resources" in Microsoft Project Help.

Checking out the enterprise resource pool

To check out the enterprise resource pool

  1. Open Microsoft Project Professional and connect to Microsoft Project Server as a user with permission to check out and modify the enterprise resource pool.
  1. On the Tools menu, point to Enterprise Options.
  1. Click Open Enterprise Resource Pool.
  1. In the Open Enterprise Resources dialog box, select the resources you want to open, and click Open/Add. The selected resources will open in a temporary project in Microsoft Project Professional.

To save the enterprise resource pool, close it in Microsoft Project Professional. When asked whether you want to save changes, click Yes.

Backing up and restoring the enterprise resource pool

You should use normal SQL Server 2000 procedures to back up and restore the enterprise resource pool. The enterprise resource pool cannot be backed up or restored in the same manner as the enterprise global template.