#ERROR in all new "project" custom fields

[PatLac]

Hi,

I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:

IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)

Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance

This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.

I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.

When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember that the same
formula works fine for my tasks.

Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2

I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphical indicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.

Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!

Any idea what is going on ??

Patrice

 

[PatLac]

Sorry,

[Durée planifiée] = [Baseline Duration]

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Patriece,

I did have this phenomenon once as well a couple of weeks ago. All my
formulars that worked fine suddenly had the #Error in the field, eventhoug
the formula was fine.

The only way I was able to resolve this was to delete all Custom fields and
re-create them, this resolved the #Error issue. PLEASE NOTE: this has
consequences. If you have projects in your server, all need to be opened and
republished and your cube build configuration needs to have the new custom
fields added on.

I am not sure if you are "at your installation" or already use Project
Server, but this may be an option for you. I know I spend one day trying to
resolve this issue, but this was the only way I was able to resolve it.

I hope this helps
--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com

Sorry,

[Durée planifiée] = [Baseline Duration]

Hi,

I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:

IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)

Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance

This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.

I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.

When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember that the same
formula works fine for my tasks.

Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2

I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphical indicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.

Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!

Any idea what is going on ??

Patrice

 

[PatLac]

Thanks a lot for responding.

You know what, I was expecting an answer like that... and that was scaring
me...

This drives me crazy ! First of all, this was working fine and all of a
sudden, it stopped working. This is in a prod environment, there is
approximatly 25 projects with info in about 20 custom fields (Project, task
and ressource level). Some fields are based on formulas and some are not.

I simply cannot delete all my custom fields.

Is your environment completly in english or do you have other languages ?

Isn't there a Hotfix ?

This version of MS Project is full of bugs and our clients are getting
impatient. Why can't MS release a SP ?

PatLac

Patriece,

I did have this phenomenon once as well a couple of weeks ago. All my
formulars that worked fine suddenly had the #Error in the field, eventhoug
the formula was fine.

The only way I was able to resolve this was to delete all Custom fields and
re-create them, this resolved the #Error issue. PLEASE NOTE: this has
consequences. If you have projects in your server, all need to be opened and
republished and your cube build configuration needs to have the new custom
fields added on.

I am not sure if you are "at your installation" or already use Project
Server, but this may be an option for you. I know I spend one day trying to
resolve this issue, but this was the only way I was able to resolve it.

I hope this helps
--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com

Sorry,

[Durée planifiée] = [Baseline Duration]

Hi,

I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:

IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)

Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance

This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.

I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.

When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember that the same
formula works fine for my tasks.

Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2

I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphical indicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.

Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!

Any idea what is going on ??

Patrice

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

PatLac --

Out of curiosity, after you created the custom field and then opened any
project, did you press the F9 function key to recalculate the project? Let
us know.

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Hi PatLac,

yes my environment is all english. Before I deleted the custom field i did
try the recalc as Dale suggests ( and so should you). I also deleted all
cashed Project Professional data to ensure that nothing was wrong with the
cash. You should do the same. If this doesnt help, then at this point the
only thing I can see works is the process I described in my first post. By
the way, yes they are hotfixes and I applied them all before I deleted the
customfields.

I wish I could help more. Please let me know if you need any further
assistance.
PS: should you delete all Custom fields, make sure to have proper backup in
place. Just in case if it doesnt work, that you can refer back to your
current version.

--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com

Thanks a lot for responding.

You know what, I was expecting an answer like that... and that was scaring
me...

This drives me crazy ! First of all, this was working fine and all of a
sudden, it stopped working. This is in a prod environment, there is
approximatly 25 projects with info in about 20 custom fields (Project, task
and ressource level). Some fields are based on formulas and some are not.

I simply cannot delete all my custom fields.

Is your environment completly in english or do you have other languages ?

Isn't there a Hotfix ?

This version of MS Project is full of bugs and our clients are getting
impatient. Why can't MS release a SP ?

PatLac

Patriece,

I did have this phenomenon once as well a couple of weeks ago. All my
formulars that worked fine suddenly had the #Error in the field, eventhoug
the formula was fine.

The only way I was able to resolve this was to delete all Custom fields and
re-create them, this resolved the #Error issue. PLEASE NOTE: this has
consequences. If you have projects in your server, all need to be opened and
republished and your cube build configuration needs to have the new custom
fields added on.

I am not sure if you are "at your installation" or already use Project
Server, but this may be an option for you. I know I spend one day trying to
resolve this issue, but this was the only way I was able to resolve it.

I hope this helps
--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com

Sorry,

[Durée planifiée] = [Baseline Duration]

:

Hi,

I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:

IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)

Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance

This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.

I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.

When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember that the same
formula works fine for my tasks.

Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2

I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphical indicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.

Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!

Any idea what is going on ??

Patrice

 

[mike.mahoney]

Hi PatLac,

yes my environment is all english. Before I deleted the custom field i did
try the recalc as Dale suggests ( and so should you). I also deleted all
cashed Project Professional data to ensure that nothing was wrong with the
cash. You should do the same. If this doesnt help, then at this point the
only thing I can see works is the process I described in my first post. By
the way, yes they are hotfixes and I applied them all before I deleted the
customfields.

I wish I could help more. Please let me know if you need any further
assistance.
PS: should you delete all Custom fields, make sure to have proper backup in
place. Just in case if it doesnt work, that you can refer back to your
current version.

--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPMhttp://marcsoester.blogspot.com

Thanks a lot for responding.

You know what, I was expecting an answer like that... and that was scaring
me...

This drives me crazy ! First of all, this was working fine and all of a
sudden, it stopped working. This is in a prod environment, there is
approximatly 25 projects with info in about 20 custom fields (Project, task
and ressource level). Some fields are based on formulas and some are not.

I simply cannot delete all my custom fields.

Is your environment completly in english or do you have other languages?

Isn't there a Hotfix ?

This version of MS Project is full of bugs and our clients are getting
impatient. Why can't MS release a SP ?

PatLac

Patriece,
I did have this phenomenon once as well a couple of weeks ago. All my
formulars that worked fine suddenly had the #Error in the field, eventhoug
the formula was fine.
The only way I was able to resolve this was to delete all Custom fields and
re-create them, this resolved the #Error issue. PLEASE NOTE: this has
consequences. If you have projects in your server, all need to be opened and
republished and your cube build configuration needs to have the new custom
fields added on.
I am not sure if you are "at your installation" or already use Project
Server, but this may be an option for you. I know I spend one day trying to
resolve this issue, but this was the only way I was able to resolve it.
I hope this helps
--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com
:
Sorry,
[Durée planifiée] = [Baseline Duration]
:
Hi,
I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:
IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)
Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance
This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.
I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.
When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember thatthe same
formula works fine for my tasks.
Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2
I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphicalindicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.
Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!
Any idea what is going on ??
Patrice- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Patrice

As a work around try rephrasing your project level formula. Set the
Enterprise Project Level field = Enterprise Task Level field. This
will pick up the values of the Project summary task. If the problem
persists then its a problem with French edition or a corruption of the
enterprise global.

regards

Mike

 

[PatLac]

Thank you all for your replies

Dale, yes, I tried pressing F9... many times.

Mike, I also tried what you suggested and unfortunatly it did not work either.

I also make sure I delete the project cache (I delete the cache folder
content) everytime I change a formula because I have absolutly no confidence.

Right now, I simply cannot afford to delete all custom fields so next week,
I am using one of my MS incident, I need this to be fixed.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Best of luck PatLac, let us know how you go
thanks
--
Marc Soester [MVP]
State Manager: EPM
http://marcsoester.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your replies

Dale, yes, I tried pressing F9... many times.

Mike, I also tried what you suggested and unfortunatly it did not work either.

I also make sure I delete the project cache (I delete the cache folder
content) everytime I change a formula because I have absolutly no confidence.

Right now, I simply cannot afford to delete all custom fields so next week,
I am using one of my MS incident, I need this to be fixed.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again

Hi,

I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:

IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)

Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance

This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.

I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.

When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember that the same
formula works fine for my tasks.

Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2

I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphical indicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.

Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!

Any idea what is going on ??

Patrice

 

[PatLac]

Hi again everybody,

Just to inform you that I am still waiting for an answer from Microsoft
support !

They are probably too busy fixing all the bugs in this version of MS
Project...

Thank you all for your replies

Dale, yes, I tried pressing F9... many times.

Mike, I also tried what you suggested and unfortunatly it did not work either.

I also make sure I delete the project cache (I delete the cache folder
content) everytime I change a formula because I have absolutly no confidence.

Right now, I simply cannot afford to delete all custom fields so next week,
I am using one of my MS incident, I need this to be fixed.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again

Hi,

I have a custom field defined at the task level with the following formula:

IIf([Durée planifiée]<>0,[Variation de fin]/[Durée planifiée],0)

Durée planifiée = Planned duration
Variation de fin= Finish variance

This formula works fine and displays my graphical indicators.

I want the exact same formula to work at the "Project level" (because I need
the indicator in some Project center views). So I create a new custom field,
write my same formula, define my graphical indicators the exact same way.

When I go in Project Professionnal (french version), I open a project,
insert my new column but it always displays #ERROR. Remember that the same
formula works fine for my tasks.

Just to see if my formula was wrong, I changed it to be:
[Variation de fin] + 2

I get the same #ERROR message. I also tried removing my graphical indicators
and display the data instead, it did not work.

Now, I try to create new custom fields (Project level) and none of them work
!!

Any idea what is going on ??

Patrice

 

[Sebastian Cordoba]

Hi Patrice.
Let me tell you: You're not the only one having troubles with custom fields.
We're having a similar problem: if we create a custom field wich involves a
formula, we're able to save it, but when we open it again, we find out that
the formula is totally corrupted. The Fields' names change into a strange
code like MSP34356.
And just like you, we're waiting for Microsoft's response (for so long).

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Sebastian, on your issue, as a workaround, if this happens to your formula
all you need to do is go back into the formula and replace the "funny
numbers" with the original code name again. Usually it will only do this
once. Also make sure that you have project professional already open. I
discoverd that this will "lower" the probabillity of it happening again.

Not a nice workaround, but one that usually works.
Lets all pray for the SP1 gods to arrive soon

 

[PatLac]

Sebastian,

We had the exact same problem on many different Project installations. It
has to do with the list separator on the computer that is used to view or
save a formula.

I don't think your formula is not corrupted. It is the way the formula are
saved in the database.

Have you tried this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927606

If fixed our problem everywhere we had it. Hope it helps you too.

Patrice

 

[Sebastian Cordoba]

Hi guys. Thanks for your help.

The problem was the list separator, just like Patrice said. But now I'm
having the same problem that she does: The formula doesn´t work in "Project
level" Custom fields.

Patrice, if you receive a response form Microsoft, please let us know about
it. And Marc, if you find a solution different from deleting all the customs
fields and creating them again, please let us know about it too. These
indicators are very important to us.


Goo bye and thanks again.

 

[PatLac]

Hi again Sebastian,

First of all, I am not a "she" I am a "he" ! I know, it is a girls name in
the states but not in canada (at least in the french part... )

Regarding your new problem, I got an answer from Microsoft !!

One of your other custom field containing a formula is still corrupted. You
have to fix it and it will magically fix your other problem. Even if the
formulas are not linked, it causes the problem. It is another bug that should
be fixed in SP1 if it ever gets out.

Tell me if it works !!

 

[Sebastian Cordoba]

Ooops! I'm so sorry Patrice. Now I know you're a man.

By the way, thanks for your help. I'll try to find the formula I have to fix
and then I'll tell you if it works. See you.