In this article, we will review how to import External Activities (Suggestions) as PPM Express Time Entries.
To start using this functionality, external suggestions should first be created via API. For the detailed instructions, please refer to this article.
When the external suggestions are created via API, users can import them to PPM Express as Time Entries on the My Time page following the steps described below.
1. Open the My Time page -> Actions -> Import External Time.
2. When using the Import External Time panel, some information is pre-filled and cannot be modified, while other details need to be provided or adjusted directly on the panel.
1. The date filter will display only the dates within the selected timesheet period. To change the date range, update the time period on the Timesheet.
2. Time spent on the activity:
- Includes project tasks, custom tasks, or administrative tasks. Each suggestion displays a unique icon to simplify navigation and selection.
- Suggested time can be added via the API or provided/modified directly on the Import External Time panel.
3. Project selection:
- For Project tasks, the project is preselected and cannot be changed.
- For custom tasks, the project can be preserved as suggested or manually selected on the panel. The projects added to the timesheet will appear in the projects list at once. If you need to add different projects, click the 'Search globally' button and use the search option to locate them quickly.
The suggestion date is automatically retrieved from the API and cannot be modified.
You can use the Search option to find the necessary activities by name.
3. Click 'Add' next to the activities that you need to import as Time Entry.
4. The added Time Entries will appear on the My Time panel.
When importing Time Entires, all rules and settings from the Time Tracking Settings page are applied:
- Report Time on Unassigned Tasks: If disabled, time entry suggestions cannot be imported for tasks that are not assigned to the resource for whom the time entry is being created.
- Enable Custom Time Entries: If disabled, time entry suggestions cannot be imported for custom tasks.
- Override Cost Type Value: If disabled, creating a time entry with a Cost Type value different from the one defined by rules will not be allowed, as overriding is restricted.
- Override Billable Type Value: If disabled, creating a time entry with a Billable value different from the one defined by rules will not be allowed, as overriding is restricted.
- Use Cost Type Value From: For example, if "Use Cost Type from = Project" is configured, the Cost Type value for the imported suggestion will be taken from the Project unless a different value is explicitly defined during the creation of the external suggestion.
- Use Billable Value From: For example, if "Use Billable from = Project" is configured, the Billable value for the imported suggestion will be taken from the Project unless a different value is explicitly defined during the creation of the external suggestion.
- Cut-Off Date for Time Reporting Lock: Time entry suggestions cannot be imported for dates that are locked.
- Administrative Categories: If a category is inactive, it will not be possible to import time entry suggestions associated with it.