Compare Utility with External Tasks

[ET902]

I am trying to run the Project Compare utility with MSP 2003. The files I am
trying to compare have many external linked tasks. Is there a problem with
this? I get errors when I try compare the files.

 

[John]

I am trying to run the Project Compare utility with MSP 2003. The files I am
trying to compare have many external linked tasks. Is there a problem with
this? I get errors when I try compare the files.

ET902,
Aren't you supposed to phone home?

I just ran a test file with external links and the compare utility
worked fine so external links in and of themselves shouldn't be causing
a problem. However, are you trying to run the compare on a consolidated
file (i.e. master with inserted subprojects)? If so, the compare utility
can't handle consolidated projects. If your file is NOT consolidated,
what errors do you get? One common mistake I've found that chokes the
compare utility is if the user has the same field showing more than once
in the view table being compared. For example, if your view has the Cost
field shown in more than one column, an error will occur.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[John]

You seem to be correct that the problem is not with external links in and of
themselves. I have made successful comparisons with other schedules with
external links since yesterday. However, I am still having problems with this
schedule in particular. I am wondering if there is some corruption in the
files I am comparing, or if it is the amount of external links in the
schedule. There are 36 external links out of around 160 tasks total, (25%).
If I remove 4 or 5 of the external tasks the utility will run. I double
checked the other scenarios you had mentioned as potential problems. None of
those cases exists.

The messages I get are:
Run-time error '1101'
The argument is not valid
Then...
An error occured in the COM add-in named: Compare Project Versions
Error# 440
Automation error
Please restart Microsoft Office Project to restart the COM add-in.

ET,
I can't tell you whether there is a limit on the number of external
links that can be handled but I seriously doubt that 36 external links
in a file of only 160 tasks will be a problem for the utility.

Since the code behind the utility is not available, the error messages
cannot be addressed directly but there are some options. First, you
mentioned that if some of the external links are removed the utility
runs fine. Try a controlled experiment to find out if one or two
particular links are relevant to the problem. Second, Even though I
don't have the code for the utility I do know it uses the Unique ID
(UID) field to index the comparison process. Take a look at the UID
field of the file with the problem. One good way to do that is to sort
on the UID and see if anything looks unusual (e.g. the UIDs suddenly
jump to a much larger number or there are one or more "rogue" lines
between the last real task and the last UID "task"). Third, if you like
I can take a look at your files. Years ago I wrote my own compare
utility and I can use it on your files to find out what is going on. If
your files contain sensitive information, I can provide a macro that
will de-sensitize the file(s). If you are interested in this option,
write me direct.

John

 

[John]

What I do have is links to links to links......It's a big monster. I am
thinking that I may have duplicate UIDs between the linked schedules. I am
investigating that path.

Et,
I don't like the sound of, "links to links to links". If it is what it
sounds like, you are courting file corruption. I can see a big
complicated mess with tons of links on some very large files (I worked
with such a beast last week), but if you only have 36 links and less
than 200 tasks, your file should be pretty clean (at least in theory).

I guarantee you will have the same UIDs in different files but that is
not a problem because they are not duplicate. The link address not only
includes the UID but it also includes the file name.

John

 

[ET902]

Beast is the word for it. I did not create the schedule, I just perform
schedule analysis on it. The master schedule is made up of 41 seperate
schedules...yep, 41 schedules for 7000 tasks!! This one subproject is the
only one I am having a problem with. It almost has to be some sort of
corruption.
I would send you the schedule to look at ( just out of a sense of defeat)
but it is loaded with proprietary info so I can't.
Do you know of anyway that I can make the linked tasks not be linked
tasks. In other words, like in excel when you do a paste special values, so
that the information and links would "look like" they are not external.
Thanks for your help on this by the way.

 

[John]

Beast is the word for it. I did not create the schedule, I just perform
schedule analysis on it. The master schedule is made up of 41 seperate
schedules...yep, 41 schedules for 7000 tasks!! This one subproject is the
only one I am having a problem with. It almost has to be some sort of
corruption.
I would send you the schedule to look at ( just out of a sense of defeat)
but it is loaded with proprietary info so I can't.
Do you know of anyway that I can make the linked tasks not be linked
tasks. In other words, like in excel when you do a paste special values, so
that the information and links would "look like" they are not external.
Thanks for your help on this by the way.

ET,
I assume the one subproject you are having problems with is the 160 task
file with 36 external links that you mentioned in your original post.
The quantity of subprojects and total size of the master shouldn't be
any problem. I personally worked with 70+ subprojects in a master of
approx. 10K tasks. The only issue with maintaining that complex
structure is that it requires expertise, experience, and a lot of
patience and discipline.

You mention you suspect corruption. Is one or more of the subprojects
that do NOT seem to cause a problem about the same number of tasks as
the file you suspect has a problem? If so, take a look at the file size
of the subproject(s) without an issue and the file with an issue. If the
file with an issue is significantly larger, (e.g. other files are 100K
while the suspect file is 5 Meg), then yes, the file is corrupt. For
tips and tricks for dealing with corrupt files go to the MVP website at:
http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm
and look at FAQ 43 - File Bloat? Might be corruption

With regard to your files having proprietary information, as I mentioned
previously I have a macro that will de-sensitize the file. If
interested, contact me direct. A similar macro is also available on
fellow MVP, Jack Dahlgren's website at:
http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm
Look for the "scrub" macro. Either my macro or Jack's macro will remove
all sensitive information yet will not affect file structure.

And finally, yes, there is a method for converting externally linked
tasks to internally linked tasks. I have a macro that will do that but
it is NOT freeware. If you want more information, contact me direct.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP