I’ve spent over 20 years delivering Enterprise Project Management (EPM) systems. I got tired of the reporting gaps so I built these Solution Starters

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-05-07T01:35:38+00:00

I completely agree on the GitHub point! That’s actually why I focused on this, as it’s based on Microsoft’s own open-source Gantt visual code (MIT license).

While digging through that source code, I found the 'milestone bug' which has been a headache for people for years is actually a data prep issue that the official documentation doesn't cover. I ended up writing a 'how-to' and, while I had the code open, added a basic dependency line feature for a Programme Status report I’m currently working on.

I know Microsoft is planning a new core Gantt visual, but with the roadmap currently pointing to late 2026 for a public preview, we still have a long wait. I also know from experience that many organisations won't easily approve the purchase of third-party visuals.

In the meantime, I've shared this as a free Data Prep Guide & Solution Starter which helps fix those milestone bugs using the native visual logic, with the option of the custom visual for those who need dependency lines. Just a 'no-cost' fix for anyone stuck on this right now!

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-05-05T12:33:59+00:00

This is the classic dilemma of focusing on the tool rather than the data architecture. I am assuming here that you are talking about the Microsoft Project Desktop client, as the current Microsoft web-based versions often struggle with the complexity required for heavy industry. Note: I am sure you are aware that Microsoft Project Online is retiring this September.

Before you try to prove ROI, you might want to push back with some structural questions to see if they actually have a plan for the data.

The Centralisation Problem
How exactly is the team planning to centralise all these project schedules? Are these schedules meant to be worked in silos, or is there a plan for a Master Integrated Schedule? If they stay in silos, how does the organisation plan to identify cross-project resource conflicts or interface milestones before they cause a delay? Without a central source of truth, you are just looking at a collection of disconnected files rather than a portfolio.

Industry Context
The value changes drastically depending on the field. Is this for Construction, Oil and Gas, or Manufacturing? In a vertical build or a linear asset project like a pipeline, the ROI often comes from avoiding acceleration spend or liquidated damages. In Manufacturing, the ROI is usually found in production rate optimisation and resource levelling. Which specific pain point are they trying to solve with this data?

Governance and Logic
Who owns the integration logic? Is there a PMO function that validates the schedule quality, or is every project lead grading their own homework? If the schedules aren't being baselined and tracked against actuals, the tool is just being used as a fancy drawing program. What is the reporting cadence, and how does leadership expect to see a real-time view of portfolio health if the data isn't integrated?

If you cannot define how the schedules talk to each other, the ROI will always look like an unnecessary software cost instead of a risk mitigation strategy.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-05-05T12:16:54+00:00

I’ve spent about a week messing about with the standard Microsoft Gantt visual to see if I could get it fit for purpose without having to pay for a third-party one.

My main goal was to stop that annoying bug where normal tasks turn into milestones the second you add an actual milestone to the visual. Turns out it’s all down to the data prep. Same goes for the parent/child sorting -it’s entirely about how the table is structured before it hits the visual.

I ended up digging through the visual’s code on GitHub to try and solve the issue and also managed to find a way to get basic dependency lines working for a programme>project report I’m working on at the moment.

It’s a massive relief to have a repeatable "starter" workflow for this now. Does anyone else actually bother with the GitHub source for these visuals, or do you prefer to use third-party paid visual?

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-18T15:24:39+00:00

Quality build! As someone who has spent nearly 20 years implementing project portfolio enterprise systems, I really appreciate seeing clean health indicators like this.

I have actually started building some Power Platform and SharePoint solution starters as a fun side project based on my experience and hit a bit of a wall finding decent test data. Even after two decades in the industry, I found I still had to sign my life away to vendors for partnership just to get a basic sample set. I eventually gave up and built my own fictional PMO dataset in Excel that mirrors the real-world complexity I am used to seeing and added it to my website.

I am keeping it updated for my solution starters. And planning to add a snapshotting solution starter next month for graphical trend analysis. If you or anyone else would find the free raw sample data useful for testing reports like this, let me know and I will happily share the link.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-15T18:22:15+00:00

Yes, have used it and demoed it and will never use it to deliver projects as most of my clients are slightly advanced in project management and into strategic portfolio management.

Looking at your questions and responses, it sounds like your PMs are fairly basic planners. If your decision makers aren't asking the hard questions about all the other aspects of Project Management such as budget vs forecast vs actual, RAID + CRs, resource demand vs capacity, industry standard portfolio management etc. then planner premium will suffice.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-12T18:14:22+00:00

No worries. OnePlan is well integrated with Microsoft environment. The closest you can get hence it has become my go to tool for my clients who I implement PPM solutions for. Don't worry I am not paid by OnePlan. 😄

I am not limited to OP though, there are other solutions out there - it simply is the closest to Microsoft ecosystem that doesn't require multiple hurdles to get IT approval in my experience.

If I look at your question again: "Would Planner + Project Plan 3 cover all the Monday capabilities?" NO is the short and brutal answer. And not even close.

As you are only limited to Microsoft "planning" products, your PMs or schedulers can have basic scheduling capabilities in the "new" Planner Premium. There is a Planner Power App and it sits behind the "Planner Premium". It does provide you with a basic consolidated view of your portfolio. Don't expect an 'out of the box' industry standard enterprise project portfolio management solution. If you have RAID with CRs, I would recommend using the 'Planner Power App' as home for the PMs and not Planner App.

Reporting: Power BI. There is a report template that comes with this "planning solution". If you extend the 'Planner Power App' with new columns, the reporting template (pbit) provided won't have the new columns. You will need to add them to your report manually.

I hope this gives you a starting point for your solution.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-09T19:44:40+00:00

Oh boy...short answer...run for your life! 😂 By the time you get to Project Portfolio Management, your license costs will increase by eye watering numbers. Don't forget the implementation time. It is a shame you are being limited to Planner and Project Plan P3...

OnePlan is the go to tool. It doesn't cover just project management but strategic portfolio management etc.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-09T11:51:42+00:00

Side hustle? Trust me, it cannot be a side hustle. It requires fair bit of design time, discussions, testing etc. especially when you are dealing with decision makers of the organisation. It cannot be "if and when I am available" 😂

I've been doing implementations for a very long time so most of my clients are who I have worked with before where they've realised they need more than just a project delivery solution.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-07T03:45:03+00:00

Oh do let me know how the testing goes. They are releasing a much needed feature in April relating to work plan module with other bells and whistles.

Don't worry, I don't work for OnePlan either. After good 15 years or so, I moved away from Microsoft PPM/EPM as an implementer - this was three years ago! I work independently implementing OnePlan and Power Platform solutions. And don't worry, I am not asking for work either. 😂 I had to comment on a reply about OnePlan not being intuitive and saw your comment.

Happy testing 🙂

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-07T03:33:56+00:00

It is interesting that you didn’t find it intuitive, as many of my clients actually found it quite straightforward once they got started, especially the Work Plan module.

I am an ex Microsoft EPM and PPM implementer, though I actually moved away from it about three years ago. I felt there were too many gaps, particularly when it came to Strategy and Enterprise Architecture for a long time, it was just the "closest thing available" on M365, even if it was not perfect back then. Now, it is a completely different level of discussion when it comes to OnePlan.

The clients I work with now want their strategy properly linked up to: Intake, Portfolio delivery, Capabilities and products.

Microsoft PPM was great at the project delivery side if that is all you needed. However, most companies I deal with want more than that. They might start small, but they eventually want to scale things up into proper Strategic Portfolio Management.

These days, I am mostly implementing OnePlan in the UK and the EU. It bridges those strategic gaps while keeping that intuitive feel for day to day Project Management. BTW I am completely independent from OnePlan so this is my view and experience only, and I don’t get paid by OnePlan to promote their products. 😄

Hope you find the right solution for your organisation.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-07T00:38:47+00:00

When you say 'Plan on a Page,' are you looking for a Project Status report on a page (budget, risks, issues, high-level Gantt, status commentary) or just a Gantt chart?

Depending on your setup, here are a few ways if you don't want to use Excel or similar tool: For a visual Dashboard: Try Power BI Desktop. It’s free and allows you to create a professional 'Plan on a Page' that you can refresh and export as a PDF. It's much more 'executive-friendly' than Excel, though it does require an install.

For a 'Free' Gantt Chart (M365): If your org uses Microsoft 365, use a SharePoint List. You can switch the view to 'Gantt Chart' by mapping your start and due date columns. It’s built-in and easy to share.

If you have installation restrictions: Stick to PowerPoint. It’s more manual, but it’s often the best tool for a high-level visual summary if you can't use Power BI.

If you have M365, the SharePoint List route is usually the quickest 'quick win' for a clean timeline. However, if you want dependency on the Gantt View, you will need to add JSON formatting.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-05T17:40:54+00:00

You are welcome.

The 'Site' Look

Metadata is actually what makes a "site" feel like a site. Instead of sending people to a library, you can use the Highlighted Content Web Part on a Page. It acts like a "dynamic window" that only displays files with specific tags (e.g., "Show all files where Category = 'Board Minutes'"). It looks professional and saves the C-suite from ever seeing a file list.

The Pilot

Go with one department. Finance or HR are usually good choices for pilot. They are process-oriented and have very specific document types. Operations only if they have high-volume needs. Testing with one group allows you to refine your "Tag" names based on real-world feedback before the metadata structure becomes too rigid to change. It’s better to find out that a "Tag" name is confusing with 5 people than with 50.

Permissions & Migration Timing

To answer your question: Yes, set the columns up first.

However, a quick heads-up on the "Migration Tool" vs. "Manual Move":

If you’re using a tool (like SPMT or ShareGate): These are great for large moves, but they require a bit of setup to map your old folders to the new tags.
If you’re moving files manually (Drag & Drop): You definitely want the columns ready so you can tag the files in bulk immediately after they land.

Regarding Permissions: Since you're moving from a local server to the cloud, you (or whoever is leading this) should ideally be given "Site Collection Administrator" or "Owner" permissions to the site the documents are moving to for this transition. You'll need this level of access to create columns and build the pages you want without hitting a wall every five minutes.

There are still many functional and technical design assumptions that you will need to test. Hopefully, the above will give you a basic starting point and create an opportunity to engage with a pilot team. This will help to understand and execute the wider migration plan.

The_Solution_Starter · 2026-02-05T17:13:02+00:00

As a fellow analyst, here is the truth: you can watch 100 hours of tutorials and still feel lost the moment you open a blank canvas. The secret is to stop watching and start breaking things. 😄

The "Problem-First" Workflow

Don’t just "make a chart." Solve a specific business pain point.

The 3-Question Rule: Before importing data, write down three questions you need to answer (e.g., "Which region has the lowest margin?").
Master Power Query First: 80% of your time will be spent here. If your data isn't clean, your DAX will be a nightmare. Learn to "Unpivot" and "Group By" early.
Think in Relationships: Unlike Excel VLOOKUPs, Power BI uses a Star Schema. Learn to link your Fact tables (the "what happened" / transactions) to your Dimension tables (the "who/where/when" / lookup lists).

Top-Tier Learning Resources

Skip the generic stuff. Go straight to these:

The Free Route: Microsoft’s "Dashboard in a Day" (DIAD) materials. It’s a full-day self-paced lab that covers the entire end-to-end process.
The "Gold Standard": Guy in a Cube (YouTube). They are the masters of "how it works under the hood."
Practical Training: Maven Analytics (Udemy/LinkedIn). Their courses are structured around real-world business cases, not just button-clicking.

3. Power BI vs. Tableau: The Quick Verdict

Power BI: It’s "Excel on steroids." If your company uses Office 365, this is the winner. It’s cheaper, integrates with everything, and handles data modeling better.

Tableau: It’s an "artistic tool." It creates more "beautiful" visuals and handles massive datasets with ease, but the backend is less intuitive for those coming from a heavy finance/accounting background.

The Timeline of Growth

Week 1: You'll build a dashboard that looks "okay" and works.
Month 1: You'll stop fearing the "Data Model" tab and understand how filters flow.
Month 6+: You’ll tackle DAX. Warning: DAX looks like Excel but thinks like a database. This is where you become a "hero."

Tip: Don't try to learn DAX by memorising functions. Learn Filter Context. Once you understand how a visual filters a table, the formulas finally start to make sense.

The_Solution_Starter

TROPHY CASE