Managing Enterprise Projects Using Microsoft Office Project Server 2003

I have purchased 3 books by Gary Chefetz. The first on Project Server 2002 was excellent, just the chapter on how to install and configure Project Server was worth the price of the book. This book "Managing Enterprise Project Using Microsoft Project Server 2003" is a very good hands-on tutorial style book. It does not give you a tremendous amount of background information around project management or on how to structure a project management office using Project Server as a tool, or why it is that you would do something one way as opposed to aother. But it is a very good intoductory and hands-on book. I have also purchased another of the author's books, and to be honest there is about an 80% overlap in content. Same text, same screen shots, with possibly two chapters being substantially different. So I would caution anyone to purchase more that one title from the author because of the high redundancy factor in the different publications. He has the word processing template down cold. It struck me that the author would make an excellent consultant, because the books tell you enough, without you yourself really being able to do it yourself, which then means you have to rely on their consulting services. After you have read these books, be aware that some assembly may still be required.

After having been spoiled by Mr. Chefetz's Project Server 2002 book, I was disappointed in this work. My primary complaint with this book is that it is much less complete than the earlier book. As another reviewer mentioned, this edition does not even have an index. In addition, the coverage of enterprise outline codes, enterprise fields, Project Web Access views, built-in functions and the differences between Project Center and Project views was all less than stellar. The other gripe I have is that what was deliverd in one book before (Chefetz's 2002 book), is now separated into two $50+ books. Is this a conspiracy by the publisher to sell more books? That being said, the basics of MS Project Server were covered, and this book should serve well as an introductory treatment on the subject. I'm still looking for a solid reference manual for the 2003 product. James T. Heires, PMP President James Heires Consulting, Inc. Home of EZ-Metrix code counting tool (...)

This book is packed with tips and recommendations you won't find in other books like Step by Step and SEU. It adds another layer of knowledge to make you reach a deeper understanding of the complex environment which is Project Professional in a Project Server system. And best of all, it's easy enough to read to be the first book you read on the subject.

I have Gary's PS2002 book and was fortunate to sit with him and observe him troubleshooting one day. Just like the PS2002 version Gary and Dale have done a superb job for Project Server 2003. If you are a PS Admin and you do not have this book, you are probably doing it the hard way. Both the 2002 and 2003 versions capture the "Meat and Potatoes" of what Project Server is all about. There is only one word to describe it, "Invaluable!" Timothy D. Smith I - Collaborative Technology Architect/Admin