Max Number of Outline Levels Excel can accept/display

[Ann Marie DeNeen]

One of our users is trying to export a large project into excel and she gets
an error message that the Max number of Outline levels has exceeded the excel
limits.

We were wondering what the Max number of outline levels accepted by excel is?

Thanks!

 

[JulieS]

Hi Ann Marie

As far as I know there is no "maximum outline level" in Excel.

There is a limit to the number of indents (15) that can be done.

Is it possible you are trying to export a project file which contains
more than 65,536 tasks? In Project 2003, that is the limit on the number
of rows in a worksheet.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Ann Marie DeNeen]

Hello,

Thanks. Our project was 8 outline levels and the message said it exceeded
the max. I typically would never move a project into excel but this user
wanted to. It worked in XML so maybe that is just the way it is. If I find
anything else, I will post it.

Thanks again,

Ann Marie

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Ann Marie and thanks for the feedback. Do let us know if
you discover anything else of note.

Julie
Project MVP

 

[MarekMG]

As a matter of fact, there IS a "maximum outline level," and it is 8 levels.
I have found that if you try to "group" a ninth level (via pick-n-click,
macro, or VBA), Excel doesn't complain or give you an error, it just ignors
your command.

 

[MarekMG]

In response to my own reply: Is there ANY possible way to get around this
limitation? I am tracking mass properties for a vehicle's components in a
assembly/part or parent/child hierarchy. There are some parts that are MORE
THAN 8 levels deep in the assembly. Any ideas?

 

[JulieS]

Hello MarekMG,

I just quickly created a project file with 16 levels of outline (summary
and subtasks) and exported to Excel. All tasks exported fine and I
assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that was the problem that Ann Marie was
posting.

I'm not sure I see where the problems are in Project but I assume you
are referring to the number of Grouping Levels you can apply in Excel
through Data > Group and Outline? If so, I suggest posing the question
about increasing that limitation in an Excel newsgroup.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project