ProjectWizards Merlin

Merlin for Mac OS X - overview



Merlin is recognized globally not only by its customers but with numerous industry awards. Thanks to ProjectWizards GmbH's professional experience in all fields of project management, Merlin stands apart as the most professional tool for projects of all kinds on the Apple Macintosh.

Network Aware

PUBLISHING - Merlin allows you to publish projects so other Merlin users can work on the same project together. Collaborating on Merlin projects works equally well whether team members are located in the same office via a local area network or accessing the project file remotely via the internet. Project access is controlled through user permissions and passwords to ensure the upmost data security.

WEB BROWSER - Merlin is architected specifically for Mac OS X. Take advantage of Merlin Web-Sharing to publish your projects and enable access for Windows PC, Linux or Solaris users. With a supported Web browser, Merlin project files can not only be viewed but actively worked on.

IPHONE - Free Download from AppStore Merlin iPhone. This optional module allows you to work on published Merlin project files direct from your iPod touch or iPhone. Project Management has truly gone mobile.

SERVER - The optional Merlin Server enables you to easily administer all your projects in one centralized location, along with one convenient location to control all publishing and sharing options including Mac OS X, web browser, or iPhone access.

Plan and Direct

IEWS - Good project management requires a 360-degree perspective, and Merlin allows you to work on your project from whichever point of view you want. Enter your activities and link them in the Activities View, add your resources in the Resources View, and see who is doing what in the Utilization View.

INSPECTOR - The Inspector is your one stop shop for all the data you need to enter or extract. Inspector is context sensitive, offering you the relevant information for each selected item. With the Inspector, you see only what you need to see, reducing workspace clutter and information overload associated with other project management applications.

BUDGETS AND COST CONTROL - Managing projects is more than just managing time, it's also managing budgets and costs. Merlin offers extensive financial capabilities and full costing engine for successfully driving projects within budget. Merlin helps drive the approval and budgeting process up through the allocation of budgets for phases and activities, whether it be a top down or bottom up process, in both percentage and absolute terms. Merlin supports the comparison of planned and real values across different cost categories (process costs, element costs and resource costs) can be given.

LIBRARY - Think of Merlin's Library as your own little information warehouse. You can drag-and-drop project-specific information wherever you need it without losing it. The Library helps you store resources and construct complex projects using snippets of information you have stored. The Library also contains all addresses (from the Address Book, LDAP, and MS Entourage) that can used in establishing your available resources for a project.

SEARCH - Merlin allows you to search through your project using as much or as little information as you've got. A search field integrated into the toolbar for each section allows you to perform straightforward searches or to define more complex search parameters, which can be saved and accessed again later.

Group Collaboration

IMPORT & EXPORT - Beginning with MS Project 98 and up through MS Project 2007, Merlin understands the file formats offered for this Windows program. Merlin reads MPP, XML and MPX file formats. It can write XML and MPX file formats for Windows compatibility.
Merlin offers rich support for many other file formats as well. Import of NovaMind, Mindmanager, Excel, XML and many other file formats ensures rich data integration.

ICAL SYNCHRONIZATION - You can synchronize your Merlin project file with iCal so you can see your entire project activities list in a familiar calendar view. If you want to distribute your team’s project activities, Merlin can create iCal calendars for each assigned resource in your project, which your team members can then subscribe to to keep all their activities updated. Merlin will even update the iCal calendars when you make changes in your Merlin project file.

PRINTING REPORTS - A project printout is perhaps one of the most important features in a project management application. Merlin's customized printing and reporting functions give you the flexibility to preview your printouts, highlight certain information and produce a polished printout which will help bolster your case to even your toughest audiences. Merlin's reporting allows you to access pre-defined reports templates or one you've created yourself. The reports can then be displayed or e-mailed in familiar formats, including PDF and HTML.

MINDMAPS

Brainstorm with your colleagues and capture information as a Mindmap. Whether you are using Novamind or MindManager, you can quickly and easily take the results of your brainstorming sessions and open it in Merlin as the basis for creating the initial structure of your project.

MS PROJECT

Beginning with MS Project 98 and up through MS Project 2011, Merlin understands the file formats offered for this Windows program. Merlin can read MPP, XML or MPX files and write to XML or MPX formats if necessary. This helps pave the way free of obstacles to easily collaborate with those using Microsoft Office Project on Windows.

ELEMENTS

Elements represent one of the most compelling and unique features in Merlin. Elements allow you to attach key data and information to individual activities, milestones, and projects. Take advantage of the six different types of Elements that Merlin provides to integrate into your project plans. Elements helps ensure that all key data, documents, and information is readily available and optimally organized to help you retain control of your projects. Elements also offer a rich layer of knowledge by offering version control, allowing you to trace the history of changes made to critical information during the course of a project.