After reading about the scenario and watching my live demo in part I, it is now time for you to try out KPI roll-ups for yourself.

Note: You’ll need site owner permissions on your site collection to set up the demo.

 

I am providing all the templates needed to replicate my demo in the download section. This includes 4 files:

Projects_List.stp (List template)
Each program site has a projects list. This is where the project managers will update their project status: progress and 4 health indicators.

Projects.webpart
This is a Data View Web Part that displays the visual indicators, progress bar and traffic lights.
Placed on the home page,  it will find all the project lists in the sub-tree. For example, if added to the home page of BU2, it will find all the project lists in BU2, Program 2.1, Program 2.2 and Program 2.3.


  
Projects_with_Overall_Status_=_Red.webpart 
Similar to the previous Web Part, but with an additional filter that only selects the projects in poor health (overall status = red).

Program_Site.stp 
A site template to create program sites. The template includes both the Projects list and the Project DVWP.

So you have the choice: either use the site template, or use the list template with the DVWP template. See below detailed instructions on how to use the files.

A couple comments:
- I used a site content type to manage centrally the project items. It is excluded from the templates, as the SharePoint UI doesn’t provide a way to export/import content types.
- the DVWP includes two grouping levels that are based on the site collection hierarchy.

What’s next?

I am really looking forward to your feedback. I think it is a very convenient implementation of the  “HTML Calculated Column”, as it doesn’t rely on a Content Editor Web Part. Also, the method works on both wss and MOSS, gives you access to a large choice of visual indicators, and doesn’t require images.

If everything works as advertised, please leave a comment here! If not, you may also leave a comment, but more importantly contact me so that I can help you out.

Also, let me know if you’re not clear about the scenario and the benefits of such an implementation.

In part III I’ll explain how I built the projects list.

Detailed instructions

Start by downloading the templates from the download section, under the topic ”KPI roll-up”. To download a file, right click on it and select “save target as”.

To use the Projects list template (you need site owner permissions):
- On your top level site, go to the List template gallery:
Site Actions | Site Settings | Galleries | List templates
- Select Upload
- Upload the Projects_List.stp template

You can now create lists based on the ProjectsList template, on any site of your site collection:
Site Actions | Create | Custom Lists | Projects List

To use the Data View Web Parts:
- On your top level site, go to the Web Part gallery:
Site Actions | Site Settings | Galleries | List templates
- Select Upload
- Upload the two templates Projects.webpart and Projects_with_Overall_Status_=_Red.webpart

You can now add them to your Web Part pages like any other Web Part.

Alternately, you can use the Program_Site.stp site template that contains both the projects list and the Data View Web Part (you need site owner permissions):
- On your top level site, go to the site template gallery:
Site Actions | Site Settings | Galleries | Site templates
- Select Upload
- Upload the ProjectsList template

To create a site based on the template:
Site Actions | Create | Web Pages | Sites and Workspaces

Good luck!