Rename a Project in MS Project Server Part 1

blank

Rename a Project in Microsoft Project Server – Part 1

Version: 2.3

Applies to:
MS Project Server 2010
MS Project Server 2013
MS Project Online (Office 365)

When working on projects in a PMO environment using Enterprise Project Management (EPM) system like Microsoft Project Server, you come across situations where you might have to rename objects. Those rename item request could be for project, resource, tasks or other objects in the system.

MS Project Server has evolved as a mature EPM / PPM solution compared to its predecessor editions. In MS Project Server 2003 edition, we had to use other utilities to rename a project. Sometimes, special characters in project names used to cause so much trouble to the Cube build process.

These series of articles will explain the details of different cases and how to best rename a project schedule in Microsoft Project Server EPM.

Table of Contents

Summary

1. Steps to rename a project using Project Web Access (PWA)
2. Steps to rename a project using MS Project Professional
3. Rename Project site
4. Scenarios: Renaming Project and different Statuses of Timesheets
5. Renamed Project Schedule and Business Intelligence Center Reports
Conclusion

Summary

A project was created in Microsoft Project Server (MSPS) with a name. Later PMO / business teams wanted to change the name of the project.

1. Steps to Rename a Project using Project Web Access

Follow the steps below to rename a project using Project Web Access (PWA):

1. Go to PWA and click Project Center on left navigation

MS Project Web Access (PWA) - Project Center Link
MS Project Web Access (PWA) – Project Center Link

2. Find the project from the list that you would like to rename and then select a cell other than the project name in the row or click the first empty cell on the left of the row [Hint: Don’t click on the project name as it will bring the project details page]

Project Web Access PWA - Select the Project to Rename
Project Web Access PWA – Select the Project to Rename

3. Click on PROJECTS ribbon tab on top, Click on OPEN dropdown under Project ribbon group and select ‘In Project Web App for Editing’

Project Web Access PWA - Open Project in PWA for Editing
Project Web Access PWA – Open Project in PWA for Editing

4. On top area of left navigation, under project name, click on ‘Project Information’ or any PDP that has Name (that has project name) field in it.

Project Web Access PWA - Project Information PDP Page containing Name field
Project Web Access PWA – Project Information PDP Page containing Name field

5. Change the name of the project under NAME field
6. Click Save button in top left area of ribbon.
7. You will be presented with this message. Click OK to the following message:
“The page and left navigation titles will not be updated with the new name of the project until the page has been reloaded.”

Project Web Access PWA - Warning after Project Renamed in PWA
Project Web Access PWA – Warning after Project Renamed in PWA

You will see Save job message popping out from top right of screen.

Project Web Access PWA - Save Job Queued message
Project Web Access PWA – Save Job Queued message

then

Project Web Access PWA - Save completed successfully message
Project Web Access PWA – Save completed successfully message

At this point you can close the project and it will show the new name in PWA. I prefer to publish it just so that other database tables are updated as well.

8. Refresh the page to confirm the project has been renamed

Project Web Access PWA - Refresh the page to confirm the new project name on left nav
Project Web Access PWA – Refresh the page to confirm the new project name on left nav
9. Click on SCHEDULE link on top left
10. Under Schedule Tools > Tasks tab of ribbon, click on PUBLISH.
Project Web Access PWA - Go to Schedule PDP page and Publish the Project
Project Web Access PWA – Go to Schedule PDP page and Publish the Project
11. Watch for message popping from the top right with status message:
   a. Processing
   b. Save job queued
   c. Publish completed successfully
12. Once the Publish operation is complete, click on PROJECT ribbon tab on top
13. Click Close button
Project Web Access PWA - Close the Project in PWA
Project Web Access PWA – Close the Project in PWA
14. You will be presented with the Check-in message. Click Yes
Project Web Access PWA - Check in project in PWA
Project Web Access PWA – Check in project in PWA

Exceptions:

The TASKS page for team members will show the new project name. But the TIMESHEET page will show the old project name, if the timesheet was created prior to project rename. In that case delete / recall and create the timesheet again. It will then show the new project name.
More on this and other scenarios is coming in next parts of this series. So far we have completed the first part. Stay tuned for the second part.
Summary
1. Steps to rename a project using Project Web Access (PWA)
2. Steps to rename a project using MS Project Professional
3. Rename Project site
4. Scenarios: Renaming Project and different Statuses of Timesheets
5. Renamed Project Schedule and Business Intelligence Center Reports
Conclusion


References:
1. Back to Basics: Renaming a Project correctly in Project Server 2013


Keywords:

  • Renaming a project in Project Server
  • Renaming a project in Microsoft Project Server
  • Rename a Project in Project Server
  • best practice to rename a project in Project Server
  • best practice to change a project name in Project Server
  • How to change a project name in Project Server
  • How To guide for renaming a project in Project Server
  • Primer on renaming a project in Project Server
  • Step by step guide to rename a project in project server
  • Edit Project details to rename a project
  • Rename a project schedule in Project Server
  • Rename a project plan in Project Server
  • How to rename projects in Project Server
  • How to rename a mpp file in Project Server
  • Renaming Projects
  • Project rename process
  • Project rename job aid
Visit www.softvative.com for professional services.

2 Responses

    1. Yes most of them are. But in the previous versions most of them were not aware of issues arising from renaming project in a Project Server environment. Hence this post.

Leave a Reply

Sign up for Softvative Newsletter

Get notified about new articles and deals

Receive the latest technology and leadership news and resources from us

Subscribe To Softvative Newsletter