I get contacted often by people asking me to review their software, and I am really bad at getting round to it. A book sits on my desk until I have reviewed it – a constant reminder that I have reading to do, but software… it’s just an email with a link buried in my inbox.
This year, however, I am going to try to do better at keeping on top of the software revolution that is happening online with project management tools. No more are you confined to using PMW (remember that?). Web 2.0 offers the opportunity for more developments in the project technology sphere, and makes it a lot easier for start-ups and small companies to launch their own stuff – and much of it is available free. Although not all of it is any good. In fact, some of the stuff I have been browsing over the break was awful.
So it was a pleasant surprise to come across Projec.to. Odd name for a company; it makes them sound like magicians. I can picture a project manager facing a troubled project, waving a wand and shouting “Projecto!” and all the project issues disappear. If only.
Projec.to is a tool that allows you to host MS Project files as interactive Flash Gantt charts. And it’s excellent. It looks great, it is easy to upload and the Flash version of my Gantt chart is clickable and beautiful. I imagine it is easier to do than the Visio conversion John Estrella has written about recently.
This year I have a hen party to plan, so I threw together a quick Gantt chart to give myself an idea of what Projec.to could do. See for yourself:
There’s huge scope for using a really simple tool like this. Project stakeholders don’t always have access to MS Project as it is expensive to licence for occasional use. A Flash version makes the plan available to everyone. The Projec.to licencing model allows free use for public plans (not suitable for business use) with prices for hosting private plans from $24 a month. Alex from Projec.to tells me that a new release is imminent, with users’ workspaces and private sharing functionality.
What do you think? About the tool, not the hen night preparations!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Elizabeth,
The idea is cool, but like you said the free version is not suitable to business use, moreover, if one PM uses MS Project it is very likely the company has an EPM, where the plan can always be kept up to date and accessible to business users & team members, for business users and team members who require PWA access (Project Web Access) the license is not very expensive, but the benefit will be much such showing performance indicators and status information, but with Projec.to you cannot even copy a text of one task!
Idea is cool, but business use is not very much compelling!
P.S. I love reviewing, and I always can help you with that if needed
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http://www.amiproject.com is another tool to view MS Project files in browser. It display Gantt Chart view only, but it is in beta and more features will come. You can also share your project with other people who does not have Microsoft Project installed on their PC. Just open your project on website and click File/Share to get a short link on your project like this http://www.amiproject.com/open/b6q6fx73
Elizabeth,
This so called MS Project viewer is way to simplistic. Just a very simple Gantt chart and nothing else. As Kareem says you can not do anything with it so it is not very helpful. There are other viewers way better… but generally not freeware. Still I would like to mention MOOS Project Viewer. Give it a try and then make a comparison. Ok it is not web-based but still…
Nifty, but I wish it generated high-level status reports based on analysis of the critical path and major milestones for sponsors and customers too.
Many sponsors and customers get glazed eyes as soon as a gantt chart hits their vision…
Hmm, it sounds as if you guys didn’t like it as much as I did! Valid points raised though. Josh, you are completely right that stakeholders switch off when Gantt charts are on the horizon.
I think it is fair to say that Projec.to is very simple and in that respect it isn’t much use for project management professionals who expect more from their Gantt charts – like Kareem and Tiberiu. If you just look at it as a Gantt viewer for people who don’t need more info than that, but who won’t freak out looking at a Gantt chart then it has validity.
I will take a look at the other chart viewers later in the year; thanks for pointing them out.
here is a MPP Viewer, ValleySpeak Project Server allows the Project Managers to use Microsoft Project as a Managing tools in real time. It enables me to view and share the Microsoft Project schedules with team members in real time It lets me continue to use for managing your schedules and projects and at the same time it is easy to use and have access to the web based browser. It lets me to update the schedules through the browser. As the server uses the native Microsoft Project file, I can report the task in real time.
For free 15days trail you can visit http://www.valleyspeak.com