Compare function - can't get to work in 2007 version

[Pratta]

Hi All,
When I select the compare function it begins to compare and then half way
through the following run-time error appears:
"Run-time error "1101". The argument is not valid."
And once I select ok the following error occurs:
"An error occurred in the COM Add-in named: Compare Project Versions Error
#:440.
Please restart Microsoft Office Project to restart the COM Add-in."
I have been on the web and I've tried the following fixes but still getting
the same error.
-Ensure duplicate columns don't exist in the table
-Remove the COM Add-in 'Compare Project Versions Utility' and add back

Any assistance greatly appreciated
Pratta

 

[JulieS]

Hello Pratta,

The compare project function uses unique IDs (task and resource) to
make the comparison. Are the two project files you are attempting
to compare different versions of the same file?

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

 

[Pratta]

Hi Julie

Yes. We are trying to provide program managers with a view of schedule
changes - inserted and deleted tasks, since the last reviewed schedule. Week
one version to Week 2 version.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Pratta,

Have you been able to get the compare function to work with any
Project 2007 files? What service pack do you have applied?

I just ran another quick test using files created in Project 2007
using SP-2. I could not reproduce what you report.

Please try a test run on two versions of another file and let us
know how it goes.

Julie

 

[Jim Aksel]

The compare utility requires a table for the basis of comparison. So, if the
displayed table in each version of the file contains different variables,
this may cause the crash. As Julie mentioned, the files must share a common
ancestor as well.


--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim Aksel, MVP

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

 

[John]

Hi Julie

Yes. We are trying to provide program managers with a view of schedule
changes - inserted and deleted tasks, since the last reviewed schedule. Week
one version to Week 2 version.

Pratta,
There have been technical issues with the compare add-in for some time.
I seem to remember being told, (by Microsoft), that the utility is being
updated in the next release of Project. Unfortunately that doesn't help
you right now.

I've seen the compare utility fail under various conditions. One thing
"it" doesn't like is having a Project field shown in more than one
column in the view table (e.g. Name field in two different columns). The
utility failed on a trivial file (10 tasks) where the only difference
was that a hierarchy was added to the file structure in the later file
version.

Try Julie's suggestions. If those don't help, take a careful look at
which fields are in the view table. Look at the data in those fields. Is
anything out of place? For example, if one of the fields being compared
is a spare date field and one of the files has a few instances of "NA"
in that field, the utility may not like that and give an error.

John
Project MVP

 

[John]

Hi Julie

Yes. We are trying to provide program managers with a view of schedule
changes - inserted and deleted tasks, since the last reviewed schedule. Week
one version to Week 2 version.

Pratta,
Right after I posted I did a quick test run of the trivial file I
mentioned in my first post. It ran partway through and then failed with
the error message.
"Run-time error 1101. The argument is not valid"

It sounds like that may be your issue. If the later version file has a
hierarchy but the earlier version does not, or the hierarchy has
changed, then that is the problem.

The compare utility should not fail under the above condition but like I
said, it has technical issues.

John
Project MVP

 

[Pratta]

Hi John/ Jim and Julie S
Many thanks for your responses,
Have ensured the tables/views are the same, with common ancestor. And that
fields are not duplicated. Also have uninstalled/reinstalled the add-in. To
no avail.
Not sure what John means by hierarchy - you mean inserted summary tasks, or
project summary?

Note - have got around the problem (though somewhat painfully) by copying
Finish to to "Finish 4" for all projects in the Master, exporting to Excel
and showing the tasks, added, completed and slipped; using Pivot tables.
Happy to send if requested/interested.

Best Regards.......Pratta

 

[JulieS]

If I read your response below correctly -- it appears as though you are
trying to compare master projects against one another? I don't believe
that will work in the best of circumstances. Master projects don't
actually contain tasks -- they just contain pointers to tasks.

If you compare subprojects against one another does it work?

Julie
Project MVP

 

[John]

Hi John/ Jim and Julie S
Many thanks for your responses,
Have ensured the tables/views are the same, with common ancestor. And that
fields are not duplicated. Also have uninstalled/reinstalled the add-in. To
no avail.
Not sure what John means by hierarchy - you mean inserted summary tasks, or
project summary?

Note - have got around the problem (though somewhat painfully) by copying
Finish to to "Finish 4" for all projects in the Master, exporting to Excel
and showing the tasks, added, completed and slipped; using Pivot tables.
Happy to send if requested/interested.

Best Regards.......Pratta

Pratta,
Julie made a valid point, the compare utility does NOT work with master
(i.e. consolidated) projects. So if that's what you are trying to do,
all bets are off. As I recall, it says something to that effect in the
utility info window.

However, since you said the comparison started and then bombed part way
through I'm guessing you are not actually trying to compare master
projects. But then again, I haven't actually tried the utility on a
master project so perhaps it does try to run.

What I meant by hierarchy is exactly that. If you take a simplistic
file, say 10 task lines, and then create an updated version that has
summary lines added, the utility will bomb when it tries to compare
them. As I said, there is a problem with the code in the utility, it
should run fine with that scenario. About a year ago I asked our MVP
lead if I could get access to the code behind the utility so I could
find out why it bombs. Unfortunately the response was "no can do", but I
was told the code was being updated for inclusion in an upcoming version
of Project.

I'd be happy to take a look at your files if you're willing to send
them. Just make sure they are zipped and send to my address below.

John
Project MVP
jensenljatatfastmaildotdotfm
(remove obvious redundancies)