3 strange errors.

[Steve]

The last few weeks I have been getting two error messages when using
projects. I use a large schedule that has about 15 summary tasks that are
physically part of the file. Under those summary tasks are anywhere from 10
to 40 subtasks that are imbedded project files. I don't like this format
much, but it is the first step I am taking to integrate into Project
Enterprise without making too many changes that will freak my computer
illiterate boss out.

The first thing I noticed was that the summary tasks dont have some crazy
number is the % complete and duration fields (baseline duration, actual
duration, remaining duration, etc.) until I open all of its subtasks.

The second is that when I open up some of the subtasks, I get a message
telling me:
"Invalid Date. This is not a valid date, or it is outside the range for
dates which is January 1, 1984 through December 31, 2049. Type a date in the
correct format: for example, 6/15/00 or June 15, 2000."

And the thrid is comming from my excel sheet link. I set the links up in the
subtasks file, not on the "master schedule". I tried to link it on the
master, but I was not able to. every time I open the subtask, before I get
the invalid date message, I get a pop up error that repeats twice for every
link I have established. It says:
"This field contains data that is dynamically linked to another field or
program. If you clear or change the information in this field, all links
included in this link will be removed. Do you want to continue to remove the
entire link?"

Any help would be great! Thanks

 

[JulieS]

Hi Steve,

My comments are inline.

Julie

The last few weeks I have been getting two error messages when
using
projects. I use a large schedule that has about 15 summary tasks
that are
physically part of the file. Under those summary tasks are
anywhere from 10
to 40 subtasks that are imbedded project files. I don't like this
format
much, but it is the first step I am taking to integrate into
Project
Enterprise without making too many changes that will freak my
computer
illiterate boss out.

The first thing I noticed was that the summary tasks dont have
some crazy
number is the % complete and duration fields (baseline duration,
actual
duration, remaining duration, etc.) until I open all of its
subtasks.

[Julie] I'm not sure if you think the "crazy" number is good or bad
It is common when using embedded projects that the durations
and schedules adjust when you fully expand the project file to show
all subtasks. It is only when you expand the subtasks that project
actually goes and refreshes the information from the embedded
project file.

The second is that when I open up some of the subtasks, I get a
message
telling me:
"Invalid Date. This is not a valid date, or it is outside the
range for
dates which is January 1, 1984 through December 31, 2049. Type a
date in the
correct format: for example, 6/15/00 or June 15, 2000."

[Julie] Are you trying to enter dates in the subtasks outside of
the listed date range? Do you get the message if you open the
embedded project by itself?

And the thrid is comming from my excel sheet link. I set the links
up in the
subtasks file, not on the "master schedule". I tried to link it on
the
master, but I was not able to. every time I open the subtask,
before I get
the invalid date message, I get a pop up error that repeats twice
for every
link I have established. It says:
"This field contains data that is dynamically linked to another
field or
program. If you clear or change the information in this field, all
links
included in this link will be removed. Do you want to continue to
remove the
entire link?"

[Julie] Have you attempted to paste/link information from an Excel
spreadsheet into the Project file? If you check this newsgroup for
paste/link you'll note a number of comments from many Project MVPs
and other wise sages warning against using paste/links --
particularly for date information. Even the careful care and
feeding of paste/links is bound to create corruption in the project
file eventually. It's possible that you have some mild corruption
which has crept in -- hence the error messages.

Keep in mind that Project's forte is scheduling so, as much as
possible, let Project determine the date information.

Any help would be great! Thanks

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

 

[Steve]

Hi Steve,

My comments are inline.

Julie

The last few weeks I have been getting two error messages when
using
projects. I use a large schedule that has about 15 summary tasks
that are
physically part of the file. Under those summary tasks are
anywhere from 10
to 40 subtasks that are imbedded project files. I don't like this
format
much, but it is the first step I am taking to integrate into
Project
Enterprise without making too many changes that will freak my
computer
illiterate boss out.

The first thing I noticed was that the summary tasks dont have
some crazy
number is the % complete and duration fields (baseline duration,
actual
duration, remaining duration, etc.) until I open all of its
subtasks.

[Julie] I'm not sure if you think the "crazy" number is good or bad
It is common when using embedded projects that the durations
and schedules adjust when you fully expand the project file to show
all subtasks. It is only when you expand the subtasks that project
actually goes and refreshes the information from the embedded
project file.

-Crazy is not a good thing. Some projects that should only take 30 days or
do will have 6000 days listed in the duration. I am going to wirte a macro to
automatically refresh the whole project when i start it up. That should work.

The second is that when I open up some of the subtasks, I get a
message
telling me:
"Invalid Date. This is not a valid date, or it is outside the
range for
dates which is January 1, 1984 through December 31, 2049. Type a
date in the
correct format: for example, 6/15/00 or June 15, 2000."

[Julie] Are you trying to enter dates in the subtasks outside of
the listed date range? Do you get the message if you open the
embedded project by itself?

No, that is what is really troubling me. I dont get any of these error
messages if I open the embedded project by itself.

And the thrid is comming from my excel sheet link. I set the links
up in the
subtasks file, not on the "master schedule". I tried to link it on
the
master, but I was not able to. every time I open the subtask,
before I get
the invalid date message, I get a pop up error that repeats twice
for every
link I have established. It says:
"This field contains data that is dynamically linked to another
field or
program. If you clear or change the information in this field, all
links
included in this link will be removed. Do you want to continue to
remove the
entire link?"

[Julie] Have you attempted to paste/link information from an Excel
spreadsheet into the Project file? If you check this newsgroup for
paste/link you'll note a number of comments from many Project MVPs
and other wise sages warning against using paste/links --
particularly for date information. Even the careful care and
feeding of paste/links is bound to create corruption in the project
file eventually. It's possible that you have some mild corruption
which has crept in -- hence the error messages.

Yeah... I use the paste link method. I dont want to, I know there is a
better way, but the system my company uses forces me to. I've tried talking
them into something else, but they dont listen so Im stuck for now. I am
working on a script that will read the data from excel and post it into the
right project. I've been coding longer than Ive been using Projects, which
has helped me automate a lot of things, but I run into problems with my lack
of project understanding sometimes.

Keep in mind that Project's forte is scheduling so, as much as
possible, let Project determine the date information.

I am pretty good about letting project determine the dates. i try to be very
accurate in my task linking. Another company has their schedule embedded on
my schedule. It is poorly constructed and mainted. I think the error might be
comming from them, but I removed their schedule and Im getting the same
stuff.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Steve,

My comments are inline.

Julie

The last few weeks I have been getting two error messages when
using
projects. I use a large schedule that has about 15 summary
tasks
that are
physically part of the file. Under those summary tasks are
anywhere from 10
to 40 subtasks that are imbedded project files. I don't like
this
format
much, but it is the first step I am taking to integrate into
Project
Enterprise without making too many changes that will freak my
computer
illiterate boss out.

The first thing I noticed was that the summary tasks dont have
some crazy
number is the % complete and duration fields (baseline
duration,
actual
duration, remaining duration, etc.) until I open all of its
subtasks.

[Julie] I'm not sure if you think the "crazy" number is good or
bad
It is common when using embedded projects that the durations
and schedules adjust when you fully expand the project file to
show
all subtasks. It is only when you expand the subtasks that
project
actually goes and refreshes the information from the embedded
project file.

-Crazy is not a good thing. Some projects that should only take 30
days or
do will have 6000 days listed in the duration. I am going to wirte
a macro to
automatically refresh the whole project when i start it up. That
should work.

The second is that when I open up some of the subtasks, I get a
message
telling me:
"Invalid Date. This is not a valid date, or it is outside the
range for
dates which is January 1, 1984 through December 31, 2049. Type
a
date in the
correct format: for example, 6/15/00 or June 15, 2000."

[Julie] Are you trying to enter dates in the subtasks outside of
the listed date range? Do you get the message if you open the
embedded project by itself?

No, that is what is really troubling me. I dont get any of these
error
messages if I open the embedded project by itself.

[Julie] It sounds as though your master project may have some
corruption. Have you rebuilt the master? Same errors?

And the thrid is comming from my excel sheet link. I set the
links
up in the
subtasks file, not on the "master schedule". I tried to link it
on
the
master, but I was not able to. every time I open the subtask,
before I get
the invalid date message, I get a pop up error that repeats
twice
for every
link I have established. It says:
"This field contains data that is dynamically linked to another
field or
program. If you clear or change the information in this field,
all
links
included in this link will be removed. Do you want to continue
to
remove the
entire link?"

[Julie] Have you attempted to paste/link information from an
Excel
spreadsheet into the Project file? If you check this newsgroup
for
paste/link you'll note a number of comments from many Project
MVPs
and other wise sages warning against using paste/links --
particularly for date information. Even the careful care and
feeding of paste/links is bound to create corruption in the
project
file eventually. It's possible that you have some mild
corruption
which has crept in -- hence the error messages.

Yeah... I use the paste link method. I dont want to, I know there
is a
better way, but the system my company uses forces me to. I've
tried talking
them into something else, but they dont listen so Im stuck for
now. I am
working on a script that will read the data from excel and post it
into the
right project. I've been coding longer than Ive been using
Projects, which
has helped me automate a lot of things, but I run into problems
with my lack
of project understanding sometimes.

[Julie] I understand the difficulties. I suggest exploring the
importing issue then -- it's more stable than paste/link.

I am pretty good about letting project determine the dates. i try
to be very
accurate in my task linking. Another company has their schedule
embedded on
my schedule. It is poorly constructed and mainted. I think the
error might be
comming from them, but I removed their schedule and Im getting the
same
stuff.

[Julie] Try rebuilding the master if possible -- one by one project
at a time. Test in between and see if you can insert the other
company's schedule.