Import Merging

[Ken Kast]

I'm importing from Excel. I get the option to start new, append or
merge. I understand the first 2 but not the 3rd. Help doesn't help
and the book I have provides no info. Can someone briefly explain
or point me someplace that explains what happens when you merge vs append
and
what "primary key" they are asking for?

Thanks.

Ken

 

[JackD]

Merge allows you to merge new data in with the old or overwrite specific
data.

Using an example would help.

Suppose you have a project which is just the way you want.
Then you realize that it would be great if you had some additional data in
there. Perhaps you have additional information for the tasks that you want
to enter in the Text1 field and that you have this in a spreadsheet along
with the task names.

If you want to import this and choose start new it won't go into your
existing project.
If you choose append then a whole new set of tasks with duplicate names (and
no information except the name and what is in Text1) will be added.
If you choose merge and select task name as the merge key, then if the task
name in project matches the task name in your excel file, then the text1
data will be copied over into the EXISTING task in project.

This is a simple example. I'm sure now that you know what it does, you can
think of ways it might be useful.

One thing to remember about the merge key is that it is best if it is
something Unique and unchanging. For this reason, I typically use the task
unique ID. You can export it to excel along with the task names, then add
the data to your sheet then reimport and it will go to the right place.