How does global.mpt work in Project 2007?

[BonnieB]

I have been experimenting with customized elements and global.mpt. It seems
like the global.mpt file is no longer where Project stores things like views,
tables, and toolbars. Does anyone know where elements and customized elements
are kept?

As an example, I had deleted a "built-in" toolbar. A friend sent her
global.mpt to me, but no matter what I did, the deleted toolbar was deleted
and the custom toolbar I created was still ther. After trying about 20 things
(and confirming with my friend), I actually took the global.mpt files
completely off my system onto a USB drive. I searched and confirmed that no
global.mpt files exist on the machine. I've rebooted, etc, etc Still, when I
start Project, the deleted toolbar is not there and the custom one is. So
where is PRoject getting this?

 

[JulieS]

Hello Bonnie,

Custom view, filters, tables etc are still stored in the Global.mpt
file. You mention that you deleted a toolbar in Project. To the best
of my knowledge, the only toolbars you can delete (other than custom)
are the toolbars which are part of COM add-ins. The Analysis toolbar
(for example) is one of the COM add-ins. See if the following helps
resolve your problem.
============================
From Help:

There are several reasons the toolbar may not appear on the View menu.
For example, if there are problems during the installation of the
Component Object Model (COM) add-ins (COM add-in: A supplemental program
with the filename extension .dll or .exe that extends the capabilities
of a program by adding custom commands and specialized features. COM
add-ins can be designed to load and run in one or more Office
programs.), the Analysis toolbar is not installed. If the global file
(global file: A Project file [Global.mpt] that contains information you
can use for different projects. Information in a global file can include
views, calendars, forms, reports, tables, filters, toolbars, menu bars,
macros, and options settings.) is deleted, the toolbar will not be
listed on the View menu. Regardless of the cause for the toolbar not
appearing on the View menu, the resolution is the same.

Resolution
To install the Analysis toolbar, manually turn off the COM add-ins used
by the toolbar, and then turn them back on.

On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Customize.
Click the Commands tab.
In the Categories box, click All Commands.
In the Commands box, click the ComAddInsDialog command and drag it to
one of the toolbars currently displayed in the Project window.
For example, click the ComAddInsDialog command and drag it to the end of
the Standard toolbar.

A line appears on the toolbar, indicating where the button for the
command will be placed. Release the mouse button to add the
ComAddInsDialog command to the toolbar.

Click Close on the Customize dialog box.
Click COM Add-Ins on the toolbar where it was added.
Clear the check boxes for the Adjust Dates, Copy Picture to Office, and
PERT Analysis add-ins, and then click OK.
Click COM Add-Ins again.
Select the check boxes for the Adjust Dates, Copy Picture to Office, and
PERT Analysis add-ins, and then click OK.
On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Analysis to display
the Analysis toolbar.
======================

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[BonnieB]

Hi Julie,

I figured out the com add-in toolbar part of it. It's the other part of this
that has me confused. I created a custom toolbar and a custom view which I
copied to my global.mpt file.

I replaced my global.mpt file with one from my friend. The custom toolbar
and custom view are still appearing in the ORganizer as being in the
global.mpt file.

Then, I removed all copies of global.mpt from my computer to a thumb drive.
Still, the custom toolbar and custom view show up in the Organizer as being
in the global.mpt file. In this case, I would have expected an error, or
Project to create a global.mpt file. Neither occurred. But PRoject is getting
these elements fromsomewhere other than the global.mpt.

B

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I have similar "ghost appearances" with calendar options - had them since
2000 btw.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Bonnie,

I see Jan has replied with a similiar situation. I've never personally
seen what you describe and have deleted the copy of the global on my
laptop before. It has re-created a new global file.

Sorry I can't offer more advice/solutions.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[BonnieB]

Hi Jan,

I"m not sure if it's good to know that others see these ghosts.

When you refer to the ghost appearances, do you mean that they show up even
though they aren't in your global template?

 

[BonnieB]

Hi Julie,

I want to make sure that we're talking about the same thing. This is
happening with Project 2007. Project 2003 creates a global template if I
delete mine.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Bonnie,

Yes, I was referring to Project 2007. The method of deleting the
Global.mpt file was a fix recommended by a Microsoft representative when
I was having some odd behavior show up in the beta version of Project
2007.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

They reappear in my Global template even though I "resetted as default" many
times over.

 

[BonnieB]

I figured out the problem with the global.mpt. I wonderful assemblage of
features that make things very confusing.

There are two global.mpt files after you install.

One in C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/OFFICE12/1033, which is the original


One problem is that the Application Data folder is a hidden folder, which
won't appear if you have your OS set to hide hidden system folders and files.
Searching in Windows Explorer won't find this file, either. You will see it
if you change the Windows Explorer setting to show hidden files.

Also, the ORganizer says nothing but global.mpt so you don't know which one
it's pointing to. Bottom line, if you want to use a different global.mpt -
like one that someone sends you -- you must put it in the Application Data
folder not the Program Files path.

Bonnie

 

[JulieS]

Hi Bonnie,

I'm glad to hear you worked it out. I apologize for not being more
clear about where the global.mpt file(s) are stored. I assumed when you
said you deleted all copies that you had found the global.mpt in the
application data folder.

Anyway -- thanks for the update and I'm glad all appears to work working
normally now.

Julie
Project MVP