Best way to update inter-project links?

[anovak]

A colleague has created numerous sub-plans and for some tasks, there
are inter-project links. All these projects were created as *.mpp
files and from his c: drive.

I walked him through the import wizard for the importing of all the
sub-plans into the server. However, all of the inter-project links
still reference the *.mpp project on the c: drive.

1. What is the easiest way to get all these inter-project links
changed to where they are referencing the version of the project on
the server?

2. I've read about creating inter-project links via deliverables.
However, it seems to me that once the dependencies have been
established....big deal? How is a PM alerted / shown that the task
having the dependency on the deliverable is scheduled to start late if
the deliverable is late in the predecessor project? Perhaps I'm
reading too much into this, but deliverables don't seem to bring that
much value to the table in terms of inter-project dependency tracking.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Andy Novak
UNT

 

[Jonathan Sofer [MVP]]

Answer to question 1.

Make sure all the mpp files are open at the same time and and start saving
them 1 by 1 to the server rather than using the import button. You will see
that as you save each plan to the server, any other plan that had external
references to the old mpp will not be automatically updated to point to the
server plan. When you finish saving all the plans to the server, all the
cross project links should be fully updated. Make sure to leave the plans
you save to the server open as well and resave them again once you are done
loading them all to the server.

Make sense?

Jonathan

 

[andy.novak]

Answer to question 1.

Make sure all the mpp files are open at the same time and and start saving
them 1 by 1 to the server rather than using the import button.  You will see
that as you save each plan to the server, any other plan that had external
references to the old mpp will not be automatically updated to point to the
server plan.  When you finish saving all the plans to the server, all the
cross project links should be fully updated.  Make sure to leave the plans
you save to the server open as well and resave them again once you are done
loading them all to the server.

Make sense?

Jonathan

Jonathan,
We have already used the Import Wizard to pull the *.mpps into the
server. Now, I want to correct the Predecessor reference in the
server so that it points to the sub-project (now) in the server, not
on the c drive. Just open them all and do a search/replace changing c:
\directory_path\ to <>\?

Thanks,
Andy Novak
UNT