Statusing Updates for Cost Resources

[subbucse]

Hi all,

I have a query regarding Cost Resources.

We have added a type of resource in our application called 'Miscellaneous' that must be mapped to a Cost Resource in Microsoft Project.

As of now, let's assume that for every Misc. Resource, I create a counterpart in MSP's Enterprise Resource Pool. First question: Can I set the default assignment owner (as myself) for such a Cost Resource during creation in the Enterprise Pool?

Now let's assume I can do that. Then I proceed to import that cost resource into the Project Team (which includes myself) and create an assignment to the respective tasks which include it.

We have a requirement that we should be able to record Actual Cost incurred over that Cost Resource Assignment during the execution of the project. The problem is, I'm unable to locate that assignment in the ChangeXML sample program.

Can the Status Update mechanism be used to update Actual Costs incurred over Cost Resource Assignments? If not, what is the solution to my requirement? ie: How does one record Actual Cost incurred over a Cost Resource through the PSI?

Regards,

Subramanian

[subbucse]

I've tried the following stuff, none of which seems to work.

1. I've tried setting myself as the Default_Assignment_Owner for the Cost resource when I create it in the Enterprise pool, but I'm not able to do that through PWA/Project Professional Client.

2. I've tried adding myself as Assignment Owner for the assignment in the specific project though Project Professional, but that field shows up as disabled/un-editable.

3. Through the Statusing Web Service, I've tried ReadStatus() to read the list of assignments I'm eligible to post status updates for, but the cost resource assignment alone is not visible. If i disregard that, and construct ChangeXML to update actual cost for that assignment_uid of the cost resource anyway, and try to post the status update, it throws back an exception. (Invalid Assn_Uid)

4. I've tried reading in the ProjectDataSet, modifying the ASSN_ACT_COST or the ASSN_ACT_WORK for that assignment and using QueueUpdateProject() to update those fields, but that throws me back an exception as well, saying 'ProjectCannotEditCostResource' with Error code 1050.

Running out of ideas. Posted it on several blogs and the Project.Developer NewsGroup, no replies till now.

Best Regards,

Subramanian

[ssanderlin]

For the edification of those in the forum, Brian Smith answered this question here: Brian Smith's Project Support WebLog : Adding Timephased Actual Work through the PSI