Microsoft Project Server Data Integration with SharePoint

Microsoft Project Server data can be integrated codeless with native SharePoint lists using the Layer2 Business Data List Connector. Please take a look here for more supported systems and applications.​​​ In case you are looking for Online data integration, you will find the right tool here.

Benefits of Microsoft Project Server Integration in SharePoint

• Very easy to setup in a few minutes: Create a SharePoint list, click "Connect to external data source" in the list settings, select the data provider, enter connection settings and data query as shown below. That's it.
• No changes on the Project Server side: No programming, no additional tools.
• Connected data always up-to-date: The connected data updates automatically in background (via SharePoint Timer Job), or alternatively, on-demand (Action Menu / Ribbon Button, URL, via workflow, API).
• One-way and optional two-way connection: You can write-back the changes made in SharePoint to the Project Server data source automatically with full CRUD (Create / Update / Delete) functionality. The SharePoint list can act as a full-featured front-end for selected Project Server data.
• Well-known BCS "external list" issues and limitations are completely solved: ALL list features are to you. Views, sorting and grouping, filters, calculated fields, search, managed metadata. Lookups, additional columns and attachments can be created as normal. All kind of lists can be used, e.g. contacts, tasks, calendar, or custom lists. You can take external data offline via Outlook.
• SharePoint workflows and notifications on Project Server data change: List workflows and change notifications per RSS or email can be used to take business actions in SharePoint, when external data records in Project Server are changed.
• Application logging, reporting, and notifications: A SharePoint list is used to store settings and log information. SharePoint item versioning and workflows can be used to manage reporting and notifications. Direct notification per email in case of errors is supported as well.
• Highest Security, best performance, easy to maintain: SharePoint Secure Store can be used to store security relevant configuration information safely in one central place. Users are working with the SharePoint lists as an external data cache with highest security and performance.
• 100+ more external systems supported: Layer2 Data Providers included (e.g. for SharePoint/Office 365, Exchange, Dynamics, OData, XML/RSS, SOAP), vendor specific data providers can be used (e.g. SQL Server Oracle, mySQL etc.), 3rd party data providers also supported, e.g. for ERP/CRMs, Facebook or Twitter. See here for supported systems and applications.

Microsoft Project Server Specific Configuration Settings

In the SharePoint List Settings, the data source must be configured as follows to connect to Microsoft Project Server:

Figure 1: Example connection configuration to connect to Microsoft Project Server via Layer2 Data Provider for OData and Business Data List Connector.

​Please note the following specific settings.

• Select the Layer2 OData Data Provider to connect. The provider is part of the Layer2 Cloud Connector ADO.NET provider package and should be already installed. You will find a OData Provider specification here.
• Several different authentication methods are generally supported like for Office 365 standard, ADFS, Windows. See provider specification linked above for more.
• You can make use of OData to query your data as supported by the data provider and source system. For any specification of supported queries see Microsoft Project Server OData documentation. You can map your data fields to specific external fields in the Layer2 Business Data List Connector. Please take care about data types (simple type conversions are supported).
• Please enter an appropriate primary key (column with unique values), depending on query (see data preview for this).
• Write-back is not supported as the ProjectData end-point is read-only.
• No installation or changes are required at the Microsoft Project Server data source or data destination.
• No programming required for setup a connection and sync.
• In case of Project Server Online: No need to open your local network for access from outside.

Microsoft Project Server Connection Details

​Provider:

.Net Framework Data Provider for OData

Connection string sample:

Url=https://yourServer.sharepoint.com/sites/pwa/_api/projectData;
Collections=Projects;Authentication=Office365;[email protected];Password=yourPassword

Select Statement sample:

$select=yourProjectName,ProjectDescription

Project Server SharePoint Integration - Known Issues and Workarounds

The integration of Microsoft Project Server data with SharePoint via Layer2 Business Data List Connector has the following known issues and workarounds:

• Project Online's OData API does not support write operations to ProjectData. It is read-only and thus cannot support write-back.
• The integration is for query data (lists) only, not for documents (files).

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