Teams and team members can make use of online storage services such as Dropbox for storing and sharing MS Project (MPP) files.
Example One
Dropbox users (2Gb storage for free) can store any type of file in their Dropbox. From their Dropbox, they can send a link, via email, to any of those files including an MPP file. A project team member, with the Housatonic Project Viewer for Microsoft Project on their PC, can then simply click on the link to the project file and (bingo!) the viewer launches and opens the file with a single click.
Example Two
Using Dropbox for Teams, the project manager creates or updates the project file and (voila, just like magic!) the file is updated in every team members Dropbox. No email notification or attaching necessary. No one has an “old” copy of the plan. No (human initiated) upload necessary.
Example Three
You can use a Dropbox for storing a Project file on the web (in the cloud) and provide access to it for all team members using the Housatonic Project Viewer Web Server. In this example the only software that any team member needs is a web browser.
Option One
Create a link that combines the url of the Project Viewer and the url of the stored file on dropbox.
The syntax works like this:
viewer url + ?mppfile= + dropbox url
Here is an example using our demo viewer and a demo mpp in our dropbox:
Option Two
Navigate to the Housatonic Project Viewer online. In this example we’ll use the online demo.
http://www.projectviewercentral.com/projectviewerfree/Views.aspx
From the File menu, choose “Open From URL” and paste in the dropbox url. In this example the url is
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/46703316/projectoffice.mpp
These three examples should help give you an idea of how one might use online storage services such as Dropbox to facilitate project management. Obviously, there are many possible permutations. If you have a favorite trick or tip, please send it along and we’ll be happy to share it with others in the PM community.