map issue

[Joy]

I find some map issue with MS Project. I am using 2007 SP2.
In Project file, we have:
Unique ID Number1
1 123
2 124
3 125
4 176
5 126

the task with UID 4 is actually an external task (colored gray instead of
black) . Number1 is a customized filed.


in our map: we map column 1 in csv to UID in MS Project; map column 2 in csv
to Number 1 in MS Project.
We set UID as the merge key.


now, I have a csv file which contains:
1 11
2 12
3 13
5 14




after mapping, we expected:
UniqueID Number1
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 176
5 14

However, what we got:

UniqueID Number1
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 126

this is apparently wrong.



I am wondering whether there is a workaround??

we have a large number of tasks (>5000), the problem is very hard to find,
and it is impossible for us to do checking each time after mapping.

thanks,
Joy

 

[Jack Dahlgren MVP]

The import looks like it skips external tasks (which is what I'd expect)
If you have to keep the external tasks you might want to put them at the end
of the file or perhaps include them in the csv file.

-Jack Dahlgren

 

[Joy]

yes, the external tasks should be kept in the file.

but when do map, we need to skip them.
cos the data in the csv file is for tasks in the master project only

so, do you mean the only way is to put some data in csv file for external
tasks too?


I have to think about it..

thanks,

 

[Rod Gill]

I usually recommend that no tasks or resources are added to Master Projects.
This would also resolve this issue maybe? Master projects are the most
likely to corrupt as well so take care!

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Joy]

I agree

However, this is what users usually do. some of them have large number of
tasks together with several sub projects in it.

 

[Rod Gill]

Make sure they never ever rename projects, over-write them or move them.
Each time they do, the corruption dice get rolled and it's when not if one
or more files corrupt. A Master file with data just makes things riskier.

I never create linked masters or Resource Pools: because of the corruption
risk. A Network glitch can also roll the dice and they can occasionally
happen many times a second!

I always use a macro to create masters with copies of Project data and use
them for reporting purposes. (Insert Project and deselect link option).
There are no links this way, Resource data is consolidated and I get a
snapshot of all projects for Archive purposes.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Jack Dahlgren MVP]

Rod,

Just a question, do you find the same level of unstability on Master Plans
stored in Project Server?

-Jack

 

[Rod Gill]

No. The instability comes from that old Windows technology: DDE. Master
projects in Project Server don't use it.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Jack Dahlgren]

Thanks Rod. I thought so, but nice to have a confirmation.

-Jack