How to compare two/more separate & different Project 2003 files

[M]

Hi,

Is there a way to compare two or more files in MS Project 2003 at the same
time?

I have 3 files with same starting date, similar finish date and share
somewhat same resources. I'd like to compare schedules, tasks, and resources.

Any feedback is welcomed.
Thanks,
M

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

M --

You can compare two projects with each other by clicking View - Toolbars -
Compare Project Versions. You can use the compare Project Versions utility
to compare the data in the projects. Hope this helps.

 

[M]

Hi,

Thank you for your reponse and help; I have two questions regarding the
version comparision.
1. Can I compare more than 2 files at once?
2. I had an "error" and it stopped running the report, is there anywhere I
can find more information on how to use this function?

Thank you,
M

 

[Jack Dahlgren]

No, only one.
I seem to recall that there was a help button within the function.

-Jack

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi M,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You can do it manually by opening all 3 files, then Windows/Arrange All.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials

 

[John]

Hi,

Thank you for your reponse and help; I have two questions regarding the
version comparision.
1. Can I compare more than 2 files at once?
2. I had an "error" and it stopped running the report, is there anywhere I
can find more information on how to use this function?

Thank you,
M

M,
Just to clarify, when Jack replied, "No, only one", to your first
question, that means you can only compare TWO projects at ONE time.

Unfortunately there is no help file. There is an information window that
explains the legend for the resulting compare file but as far as help
with troubleshooting, there is no help - other than through this
newsgroup.

You didn't mention which version of Project you are using. In my
experience the compare utility has had poorer and poorer performance
with each new version of Project since the utility was first introduced
in Project 2000. I'm told the utility will be upgraded in any new
versions of Project.

Meanwhile here are a few things to be aware of:
1. Projects being compared must be genetically related. That means one
of the files must be an edited version of the other (the utility indexes
the comparison based on the Unique ID field). The utility will not
compare two totally independent Project files.
2. Project fields must not be used more than once as column in the view
to be compared. For example, you may not have two columns with the Name
field displayed.
3. The utility does not work on consolidated master files.
4. Even though the files are genetically related, the utility may fail
if the outline structure is significantly modified. For example, one
file has no summary lines but summary lines were added to the edited
version.

Based on your original post, it sounds like your files may not meet the
item 1 criteria above (i.e. are not genetically related). In that case,
using Mike's suggestion is your best bet.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[Jim Aksel]

Might you be able to place some of the files into a new file creating a master?
If you have four files to compare, would it be useful to put 1 & 2 into
Master1 and then 3 and 4 into Master2? Then run the file compare utility on
Master1 and Master2.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

Check out my new blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[John]

Might you be able to place some of the files into a new file creating a
master?
If you have four files to compare, would it be useful to put 1 & 2 into
Master1 and then 3 and 4 into Master2? Then run the file compare utility on
Master1 and Master2.

Jim,
Unless you know something I don't know, (very possible), the compare
utility does not work with consolidated masters because the Unique ID
structure does not track and that's how the utility indexes between the
two files being compared.

John
project MVP