In this article, we will review how to link the PPM Express Project to the Project for the web Project. Also, we will review how to import Resources from Project for the web to PPM Express.
In this scenario, we consider that you are linking projects from Project for the web to PPM Express for the first time.
Linking PPM Express project to Project for the web
To link the PPM Express project to the Project for the web project, perform the following:
1. Open the PPM Express project that you would like to link to the Project for the web project and press the Connect button.
2. On the 'Link to Project' tab, select the Project for the web option.
3. Open the Connection drop-down and select the 'Add new connection' option.
4. As you select the 'Add new connection' option, the 'Create connection' window will be opened. Please refer to the 'How to add Project for the web connection to PPM Express' article to add a connection.
5. When the connection is added, in the 'Select project' section, select the project from Project for the web that you would like to link to PPM Express.
7. Click the 'Link project' button.
When linking the PPM Express Project to the Project from Project for the web for the first time, and there are tasks within the PPM Express Project, PPM Express will suggest switching from the primary PPM Express Schedule to the Schedule synced from Project for the web. If there are no PPM Express tasks on the Project selected for linking, the Primary Schedule will automatically switch to Project for the web (without showing a message).
The primary schedule setting defines from what schedule the rolled-up values will be displayed in the global Project rolled-up fields on the Project dashboard Details section. For more details, please refer to the Project Settings article. Please refer to the 'Project Schedule rolled-up fields for each connection' article for a detailed description of the roll-up fields for external connections.
Project linking will start immediately.
Importing Projects from Project for the web
1. On the Projects, open the Actions drop-down and choose the Import Projects option.
2. On the Import Projects to PPM Express page, choose the source system, Project for the web.
3. If you have the connection added, click on the connection name. If you do not have it added, click the Add new connection button. As the connection is added, you can import Project for the web Projects to PPM Express.
4. In the next step, choose the Projects from Project for the web you want to import into PPM Express by marking the corresponding checkboxes in the list.
5. When the Projects are selected, click the Import button.
When importing projects from Project for the web, new Projects are created with the Project for the web Primary Schedule by default. If a Project already exists, the primary schedule is also changed to the Project for the web Schedule.
Depending on the amount of data to process, this operation may need some time. You can see the import progress on the progress tab above the selected Projects.
6. As soon as the Project import is completed, you will see the Already linked status for the linked Projects.
To exit the Import Projects screen, just click on the left part of the page outside the Import Project screen. First, you will get to the step where you can add another Connection. After the first import operation, you can select another account to import your Projects from Project for the web.
Now open one of the Projects we have just imported and navigate to the Schedule section either by clicking on the Schedule in the page navigation menu or by scrolling down the page.
This section includes four cards where you can quickly review the task statuses, progress, and summary. All the task numbers are clickable and open the Project for the web tasks page in PPM Express, filtering out the tasks by the selected value.
You can review tasks synchronized from Project for the web on a separate Project for the web tasks page.
To manage your Project, use the control panel in the upper right part of the Project dashboard:
- Force sync project. This button allows manually synchronizing your Project with the linked item at the source system. If it's grayed out, sync is currently in progress.
- Project for the web button opens the Project for the web Project in a new tab.
- Link Project. Opens Configure connections menu for the current Project allowing changing the linked item at the source system or unlinking the Project completely.
Importing Resources from Project for the web
In a very similar way, you can import your Resources from Project for the web to PPM Express.
1. On the Resources page, open the Actions drop-down and choose the Import Resources option.
2. On the Import Resources to PPM Express page, choose the source system, Project for the web.
3. If the connection is added, click on its name. If the connection is not added, select the Add New Connection option.
4. On the next step, select the Resources with Not linked status for import by checking their checkboxes.
Click the Import Resources button.
As the import process is completed, you will see the linked status next to the Resources selected for import.
To exit the Import Resources screen, just double-click on the left part of the page outside the Import Resources screen.