Import tasks selectively from one project to another project

[DCBanks]

I want to import tasks into a 'programme' project from other projects based
on values in a customised column.

Scenario: Each month I want milestones marked as 'Key' or 'Payment' in a
customised column to be imported to a high level project which is used at
Project Board meetings - the attendees do not need the full project plans.
The column is Text1 and has a title of 'Key'. Valid values are 'K' or 'P'.
There does not seem to be a project - project import/export wizard!

David

 

[John]

I want to import tasks into a 'programme' project from other projects based
on values in a customised column.

Scenario: Each month I want milestones marked as 'Key' or 'Payment' in a
customised column to be imported to a high level project which is used at
Project Board meetings - the attendees do not need the full project plans.
The column is Text1 and has a title of 'Key'. Valid values are 'K' or 'P'.
There does not seem to be a project - project import/export wizard!

David

David,
You could do what you want but I don't think it is the easiest or best
approach. I suggest you create a dynamic master file. Go to
Insert/Project and then select each of the individual projects and hit
"Insert". What you will create is a master shell file that has pointers
to each of the subproject files. Expand the inserted subprojects if
necessary and then filter on your custom field.

Another approach would be to create a new project file with a duplicate
listing of just those tasks you want to show. Use external predecessors
as links from each of the individual files to set up the dates for the
tasks in the new files. For more information on how to set up external
predecessors, see the Project help file.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[John]

Hi John, the projects are very dynamic and new tasks are being added daily.
The programme manager will not know when new key milestone tasks are added
and he may be called on at moments notice to present a programme project to
a CEO. I want him to be able to hit a button and 'scoop' up all the key
milestones - he is a PMO, not a project expert! Ideally I want an
export/import but from project to project - I may have to resort to Project
to Excel import/export.
Is there a VBA macro or something elseI could use.

David

David,
A dynamic master will automatically update any new tasks - that's what
dynamic means. If the program manger can manage a filter, (a pretty
basic operation), then he has a one-button approach (i.e. open the
dynamic master and apply the filter). All that is required is for the
person adding the new key milestones to set a spare flag for the added
items. The filter in the master file then simply looks for the flag. It
really doesn't get any easier than that.

A VBA approach could be used to do exactly what you suggest, but, that
approach is a whole lot more complex than what I suggest above. Unless
there is something more to your scenario that you haven't told us, using
VBA to address this need would be like using a shotgun to kill a bug.

John
Project MVP