PSLink 3.0 SE (Standard Edition), developed by The Project Group in the Munich area, comprises a detailed, rule-based integration between Microsoft Project and SAP. The company reports that it can be tailored to the requirements of individual customers using its configuration parameters and additional programming.

PSLink 3.0 SE meets the prerequisites of common project management tasks, such as deadline and resource planning and SAP-related tasks like the initial cost planning carried out in Microsoft Project, the company reports, and also supports all objects in SAP's project management module, including WBS elements, networks, and network activities.

The company states that "customers do not need to worry about whether actual hours were entered in SAP via CATS and are visible to the project manager in Microsoft Project, or whether the entire planning process was carried out in Microsoft Project. The PSLink integration between the two systems ensures that the data is always synchronized and up-to-date on both sides."

In the Controlling Edition, PSLink 3.0 CE, SAP acts as a back-end system for financial controlling activities, while project management tasks are executed solely with Microsoft Project. PSLink 3.0 CE supports both WBS elements and WBS milestones. WBS structures are synchronized using the Microsoft Project outline or with an outline code definition. For accounting purposes, costs and work can be summarized into a balance based on WBS element and controlling indicators per fiscal year period.

Both versions verify data for SAP-related rules and restrictions before they transfer the information to the other system. A differential analysis function ensures that only the actual changes are transferred.

The Project Group Informationstechnologie GmbH (TPG), www.theprojectgroup.com, is based near Munich, Germany, develops Microsoft Project add-ons, and offers implementation services for Microsoft Enterprise Project Management (EPM) solutions to large and mid-sized enterprises. The company is one of four Microsoft Premier Project Partners in the German-speaking countries.