Forum Discussion
Custom Columns in Project Professional won't update in project online or task view
Currently our company is trying to implement interactive tasks list with custom columns. These custom columns are the text1 or text2 columns that can be added to a project in project professional as well as inside the online view. Entering data in either the online view or the desktop project professional then publishing and checking in does not show any updates to the other when it is opened after the other version has been closed. We are currently using the PWA server version of online and project professional on our desktops.
Our goal is for others with assigned tasks to change indicators in these custom columns from "X" for new, to "S" for started, "D" for done and the changes backflush into the server and thus show up in the desktop project professional. I have looked thru all of the administrative settings looking for something that is not activated that should be and activated that shouldn't be, perhaps I missed something so wide open to any and all suggestions.
Hello Mike Sullins ,
These custom columns will need to be Enterprise Custom Fields created in PWA > PWA Settings > Enterprise Custom Fields and Lookup Tables. Once created, in PWA, start project desktop and connect to the PWA instance then you will be able to add the enterprise custom fields into the view. Here are some posts that will help:
- Creating enterprise fields (Skip over the permissions setting part): https://pwmather.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/getting-started-with-projectonline-part-2-ps2013-office365-project-ppm-sharepointonline-pm/
- Adding custom fields to Project Desktop: https://pwmather.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/getting-started-with-projectonline-part-3-ps2013-office365-project-ppm-sharepointonline-pm/
- Adding custom fields to PWA views: https://pwmather.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/getting-started-with-projectonline-part-4-ps2013-office365-project-ppm-sharepointonline-pm/
Hope that helps
Paul
- Mike SullinsCopper Contributor
Paul_Mather Thank You! I will review these and reply with outcomes.
- Mike SullinsCopper Contributor
Paul, the information you shared previously worked very well to get the custom columns to talk between project professional and the web app version in the project center. It was easier to set them up than it was to update all the schedules 🙂
I still seem to be hung up getting things flowing for an assignee to see their assignments in the "Tasks" screen of the web app. For a bit more detail, we have multiple projects feeding into the master. Our hope is that a resource can sign onto the web app and see all their tasks as they would in a task view with the master opening. At the moment, don't seem to be getting but a handful of the tasks out of 1 schedule then none of the data in the now enterprise custom columns.
If you need more detail, let me know.
Thank you Paul and community in advance for all your help!
Had to block out some detail to keep privacy up.
Mike Sullins
Hi Mike Sullins ,
Some things to check:
- If some tasks are appearing and others not on the Tasks page - is the difference between a task that is appearing and a task that isn't? Any filters on the Task page view?
- For the Task level custom field, if you want this on the Task page - have you set that field "Calculation for Assignment Rows" to roll down on the Enterprise Custom Field setting in PWA Setting? If this is currently not set to roll down to the assignment, update the field settings then open the project and republish the project plan and try again.
Paul