Declutter Mode in Time Entry Calendar (Preview)
IntroductionIn this blog, I’m going to continue from our previous discussion on the Time Entry Calendar (Preview) feature in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations— the Declutter Mode (Preview Only). This update improves the readability and visual organization of your Time Entry, especially for users who often log time without specifying a start time. Previously, when users created time entries through the standard time entry grid without defining a start time, Project Operations automatically assigned a default start time of 12:00 AM (midnight). While this was functionally correct, it created a visual issue — multiple entries appeared stacked together at midnight. The Declutter Mode aims to fix this by rearranging time entries for a clearer, more structured view. Problem Statement When users enter time without selecting a specific start time, the system defaults to 12:00 AM. This leads to multiple entries being shown at the same position (midnight) on the Time Entry Calendar, causing a cluttered and confusing display. Example Scenario: Imagine a user logs the following entries without start time for the same date: All these entries appear stacked together at 12:00 AM, making it visually difficult to identify or review them individually. UPDATE: Declutter Mode (Preview Only) Declutter Mode introduces a smart visual re-arrangement of time entries. Instead of clustering all “no-start-time” entries at midnight, the calendar now spreads them across your working hours, beginning from the start of your working day. Example Let’s assume your working hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and you have two entries created without a defined start time, each lasting 2 hours. This visual rearrangement makes your calendar cleaner and more readable How to Enable Declutter Mode Enabling the Feature Declutter Option on the Time Entry Calendar showing rearranged entries starting from 8:00 AM Declutter Mode Behavior: Declutter Mode only affects: The system repositions the affected entries based on the user’s: Entries are displayed sequentially: Example: A user’s working hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and they created three entries (each lasting 2 hours): After enabling Declutter Mode: Making Changes in Declutter Mode: It’s important to understand that Declutter Mode only affects display — it does not actually change the start time. However, if you edit and save a time entry while in Declutter Mode, the system will save the visually displayed (decluttered) start and end times as the actual values. Recommendation: Avoid making edits to time entries while Declutter Mode is turned ON. If you need to make updates, turn off Declutter mode first to avoid changing the real start and end times. Conclusion The Declutter Mode (Preview) in Dynamics 365 Project Operations is an addition to the Time Entry Calendar experience. It helps users view entries clearly by redistributing those with a 12:00 AM start time into a visually cleaner format. While this feature doesn’t alter the data, it enhances the visual clarity of daily time logs. Users should refrain from editing entries in this mode to avoid unintended time changes. Thank you, Kalyani for your valuable inputs to this blog!
Time Entry Calendar Interface (Preview) in Project Operations
IntroductionIn this blog, I’m going to share about Time Entry Calendar interface (Preview) for Dynamics 365 Project Operations (version 4.141.0.X or later). In this feature users will gain a more visual and intuitive way to log, edit, and manage time entries—far beyond what the classic grid offered. Public preview: May 30, 2025; General availability: Sep 2025 Problem Statement In the existing setup, users rely heavily on the Time Entry Grid to input and review hours. Teams often face challenges such as: These limitations slow down task logging, increase errors, for managers and team members. UPDATE: Time Entry Calendar (Preview) To address these challenges, Microsoft has introduced the Time Entry Calendar, a calendar-style interface integrated into Project Operations. Key features include: How It Works: Enabling the Feature Viewing Entries Creating Entries You can also copy entries using Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V. Pasted entries carry most fields (project, task, description), while the duration adjusts based on where they’re pasted. Editing Entries Submitting / Recalling / Deleting UI Use the view picker to toggle between Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Agenda views. Use the date Icon to switch the dates Use the refresh icon to refresh the page Submit all the records directly by clicking on submit button Tracking & Filtering EXAMPLE: Sarah is a consultant who logs time across multiple projects. Before vs After: Time Entry Experience Aspect Before (Grid View) After (Calendar View – Preview) User Interface Tabular grid, requires manual entry for each day/task Visual calendar (Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Agenda views) Ease of Entry Manual typing of hours -> repetitive and error-prone Click, drag, resize, or copy entries directly on calendar Status Visibility Must open each entry to check Draft/Submitted/Approved Color-coded (Yellow = Draft/Returned, Blue = Submitted, Green = Approved) Editing Flexibility Open form -> change values -> save Drag-and-drop to new time slot, resize, or double-click to edit Tracking Progress Requires reports/dashboards Built-in charts for logged vs. target hours, daily/weekly trends Clarity Hard to spot missing/duplicated entries Tooltip details make it clear immediately Productivity Impact Slower, manual, error-prone Faster, intuitive, reduces errors, boosts efficiency Conclusion The Time Entry Calendar (Preview) brings a fresh, user-friendly approach to logging and managing time in Project Operations. While still in preview, it promises to enhance productivity and clarity by enabling users to visualize their hours, correct entries quickly, and remain aligned with targets—all within a single, intuitive interface. Thank you, Kalyani for your valuable inputs to this blog!
Implementing Access Restrictions in Project for the Web iFrame
IntroductionIn this blog, I’m going to share about Project for the web iFrame which plays an important role in task planning. It allows users to view, create, update, and manage project tasks directly inside Dynamics without leaving the system. However, one major challenge has been the lack of restrictions inside this iFrame — meaning that anyone with access to the project record could freely make changes. With the upcoming update, Microsoft is bringing access control inside the Project for the web iFrame. This gives project managers and admins the power to decide who can do what. Public preview: May 16, 2025; General availability: Mar 2026 Problem StatementUntil now, once a user had access to a project record, they could: This lack of restrictions often led to: For example, if a sales executive (who is not part of the project delivery team) but has access to the record, opens the iFrame, they still had access to create or delete tasks which could cause confusion and project delays. UPDATE: The new feature introduces a security system for Project for the web iFrame that allows: This means if a user is part of project team member, their access can be limited to read-only mode. Availability Timeline: HOW TO ENABLE?? After Enabling, within few minutes, Go to Project team member you will see a Read only column on form. EXAMPLE: A team member can only read the iFrame. So, for that we will provide read access. After, providing read access, User will not be able to edit anything on the iFrame. Everything will be read only. CONCLUSIONThe new access restriction system for Project for the web iFrame ensures that only the right people can make the right changes, at the right time. By giving admins and project managers fine-grained control. With this feature rolling out from May 2025 (preview) and March 2026 (GA), organizations can start planning their access control strategies to take full advantage of it. Thank you, Kalyani for your valuable inputs!
How to Set up OneNote integration in Power apps
Introduction: Enabling OneNote integration to provide the advantage of seamlessly incorporating OneNote for capturing or revisiting customer notes directly within our records. This integration can be configured alongside SharePoint Online, but it requires a Microsoft 365 subscription for leveraging OneNote functionality within model-driven and customer engagement apps. Steps to Turn on OneNote integration. Implementation:
Streamlining Project Scheduling with D365 Project Operations’ Calendar Control Feature
Introduction: In the fast-paced world of project management, efficiency is key. Microsoft’s Project Operations has long been a valuable tool for managing resource and non-stocked based scenarios. However, a notable pain point existed in the previous versions, particularly when it came to managing work hours and calendars. The cumbersome process of copying work hours from resources to calendar templates and then to projects often led to confusion and inefficiencies. Fortunately, with the latest update, Microsoft has introduced the Project Calendar Control feature, simplifying the way project calendars are managed. Applies To: The Project Calendar Control feature is specifically designed for resource and non-stocked based scenarios within Project Operations. It is compatible with Project Operations in a Microsoft Dataverse environment, version 4.88.0.127, and became generally available in November 2023. The Problem Area: In earlier versions of Project Operations, work hours were set on individual resources, and a time-consuming process ensued to create project calendars. Work hours were copied from resources to calendar templates and then applied to projects. The major drawback was that these copies were static, not dynamic links. Any changes made to the calendar template wouldn’t automatically propagate to the projects already using it. This resulted in a confusing and error-prone experience for project managers. Latest Feature Update – Project Calendar Control: The new Project Calendar Control feature addresses the challenges posed by the previous workflow. Instead of navigating through the resource -> calendar template -> project process, Project Managers can now directly access and edit project work hours through a dedicated calendar tab on the project entity itself. Key Advantages: Streamlined Process: The new feature eliminates the need for intermediary steps, offering a more intuitive and streamlined process for managing project calendars. Real-time Updates: With the direct editing capability on the project entity, any changes made to work hours are instantly reflected in the project calendar. This ensures that project managers always have the most up-to-date information at their fingertips. Reduced Confusion: By removing the static copies and implementing dynamic links, the Project Calendar Control feature significantly reduces the chances of confusion arising from discrepancies between calendar templates and project calendars. Enhanced Collaboration: The simplified process enhances collaboration among project teams by providing a clear and efficient way to manage work hours without the need for complex copying procedures. Conclusion: The Project Calendar Control feature in D365 Project Operations marks a significant leap forward in the realm of project management. By addressing the challenges of the previous workflow and introducing a more user-friendly interface, Microsoft has empowered project teams to work more efficiently and collaboratively. As organizations continue to strive for excellence in project execution, embracing this latest feature ensures they stay at the forefront of innovation in project operations. Reference: What’s new November 2023 – Project Operations for resource/non-stocked based scenarios | Microsoft Learn Thank you, Sayantan for your insights!