Getting access to the paste link path

[robgr]

Hello,

I have a solution I'm working with that is based on the copy and paste
special (paste link) method. Task start and finish fields are linked to start
and finish fields of a task in another project. In most cases this solution
works perfectly. There are only certain instances when this feature does not
work correctly and I'm trying to get access to wherever the link is stored.

In my situation MSP tells me that it can't find the link, but when I go to
update or change source, the path is pointing exactly where it should and the
file is also in the proper location as well.

I've looked through the MSP tables, but can't seem to find the link's path
stored anywhere. I'd appreciate any guidance.

-Rob

 

[Jack Dahlgren]

The copy/paste link method is based on DDE (I think...) and is a bit fragile.
You have found that it does not always work correctly and that
troubleshooting it is difficult. This is the reason that Microsoft moved to
using "external tasks" in project 98 and later. They did not remove this
earlier implementation and as far as I know have done nothing to make it more
robust in the past several versions. Most experienced project users that I
know simply avoid it.

As for finding them in the database, I don't think that the links are stored
anywhere visible. They are in an undocumented binary blob somewhere.

-Jack Dahlgren
http://zo-d.com/blog

 

[robgr]

Hi Jack, thanks for the response.

I'd like to let you in on what we're trying to accomplish and maybe you can
offer a better method.

The environment in which we're working has multiple levels of project
managers. The top level ("level 1") keeps a schedule but it is really a
rolled up schedule of the more detailed schedules below this level. Now I
know it sounds as though a master/sub project type structure would work, but
here's the issue.

Here is what the detailed schedules look like.

Hardware Subproject
Phase
Subphase
Develop Hardware
Sub task 1
Sub task 2


Software Subproject
Phase
Subphase
Develop Software
Sub task 1
Sub task 2


Now the Level 1 project manager would like his/her schedule to look like:

Level 1 Schedule
Phase
Subphase
Develop Hardware
Develop Software

The activities "Develop Hardware" and "Develop Software" in the Level 1
Schedule should mirror the same activities in the sub projects. Each of these
schedules can be quite lengthy which is why a higher level schedule is needed
to be able to filter through all the details to get a high level view of
what's happening with the project.

I've been looking at creating a master schedule which contains the sub
project schedules, but can't seem to figure out a good way to filter the sub
project's schedules for the desired format which would include summary levels
as well. External dependencies don't work because we would essentially need
to create hammock tasks so that the activities in the level 1 schedule showed
the same duration as their mirror images in the detailed plans. It was the
functionality of building hammock tasks that led us to the "paste link"
solution.

If there's a direction you can point me in I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Rob

 

[JD]

You might try creating the master file by consolidating all the subprojects
and use some coding/grouping to get the heirarchy you are looking for. It
sounds like it would require a few levels of grouping.

Some of what grouping can accomplish is shown here:
http://masamiki.com/project/Microsoft_Project_Examples.html

-Jack Dahlgren