Best way to import data.

[cr113]

I'm new to Microsoft Project but I'm very familiar with writing macros
in VBA. I need to update start and finish dates in a project on a
weekly basis and I'm wondering what is the best way to do this.
Suppose you had a project that looks like this:

ID Start Finish
1 1/1/2009 3/1/2009


If I wanted to change the Start date to 2/1/2009 for example, how can
I do this (other that typing it in)? I was thinking there might be 2
ways. One way might be to manually import tha data assuming Project
has some sort of Import feature. Another way might be to write a
macro.

I'll be receiving weekly data in Excel that looks something like this:

ID Start Finish
1 2/1/2009 3/1/2009
2 4/1/2009 8/1/2010

So my question is this. If you had to update to your Project file
weekly, given the data I have to work with, how would you do it? I'm
using Microsoft Project 2007.

Thanks!

 

[JulieS]

Hi cr113,

No need for macros. I am guessing you want to reflect changes in your dates
due to what is actually occuring -- that's called tracking.

Save a baseline for your project to copy the Start, Finish, Duration, Work,
and Cost data into Baseline Start, Baseline Finish, Baseline Duration,
Baseline Work, and Baseline Cost fields. Those pieces of data will not be
changed unless you rebaseline.

You had planned on the resource starting the task on 2/1 and for whatever
reason, they didn't start unti 2/20. Apply the tracking table to the view
and enter an Actual Start of 2/20. The finish date will automatically be
adjusted based upon the revised Actual Start and duration. Any successors
will also adjust appropriately. Update your tasks with actual start, actual
and remaining duration or actual and remaining work. Project will calculate
% complete as well as % work complete. You may then shift any remaining work
to a new date through Tools > Tracking > Update project, reschedule
uncompleted work.

I hope this helps.

Julie