R
Rob Schneider
I created a simple MPP file with Project 2007 SP-2. Nothing special in
the plan.
: Start milestone
: a set of fixed duration tasks linked in the local order prescribed by
the project strategy
: a few summary tasks to group it all
: a completion milestone task
: a line called "management" which was modeled as a hammock task (so as
to show the mangement overhead resources in the costs).
Save the project file as an XML to export to another program. The other
program could not read the file. Then asked Project 2007 SP-2 to read
its own XML file and discovered that it could not!
"An import error occurred. The element <ExtendedAttribute> in the
<Task>element with <UID>=0 has invalid data. The number you entered is
invalid or is outside the range for a Number field. Make sure you are
typing only number and no letters or other characters in this field, or
type a smaller number". Then OK button. After pressing OK, then a new
message "Invalid number. The numnber is invalid or is outside the range
for a Number field. Make sure you are typing only numbers and no
letters or other characters in the field, or type a smaller number".
Thinking the only "advanced" (sic) feature of the MPP file was the
hammock task, experimented by deleting it. Resaved both MPP and XML,
then *successfully* read the XML file.
Conclusion: Project 2007 can't export hammock tasks to XML.
However, I tested that hypothesis by doing a simple 5 line project file,
and hammocked the first and last task, saved as XML and the reimported
it. *Worked*.
So, I have what appears to be a perfectly normal MPP file that won't
export/import via XML. I have another completely separate project that
I'm working on. Did same experiment with it. Saved as XML, then tried
to read the XML. Got same error. Can't do it. This project file has NO
hammock tasks nor any known "advanced" techniques. Just straight
project definition.
I briefly looked at the two XML files. I could not find any <UID>0</UID>
in an <ExtendedAttributes> section. There were items tagged this way in
the Assignments, Resources, and Tasks. The <UID>0</UID> in Tasks was
the Project Summary Task. Clue.
So, I turned off the Project Summary Task. Resaved and created another
XML File. Then *successfully* read the XML file.
Conclusion: Project 2007 can't export XML files which have the Project
summary task displayed.
So I tested this hypothesis with the small 5 line project. Kept the
hammock task in and turned on the Project Summary. Saved as XML. Then
read the XML file *successfully*.
----
So now I'm confused. Everything works apparently with little test
files, but using Project 2007 on real project files that I need and
can't spend time debugging XML files, does not. Sigh.
So I guess I'm just reporting this. Not sure next steps.
I just want export to XML to work.
the plan.
: Start milestone
: a set of fixed duration tasks linked in the local order prescribed by
the project strategy
: a few summary tasks to group it all
: a completion milestone task
: a line called "management" which was modeled as a hammock task (so as
to show the mangement overhead resources in the costs).
Save the project file as an XML to export to another program. The other
program could not read the file. Then asked Project 2007 SP-2 to read
its own XML file and discovered that it could not!
"An import error occurred. The element <ExtendedAttribute> in the
<Task>element with <UID>=0 has invalid data. The number you entered is
invalid or is outside the range for a Number field. Make sure you are
typing only number and no letters or other characters in this field, or
type a smaller number". Then OK button. After pressing OK, then a new
message "Invalid number. The numnber is invalid or is outside the range
for a Number field. Make sure you are typing only numbers and no
letters or other characters in the field, or type a smaller number".
Thinking the only "advanced" (sic) feature of the MPP file was the
hammock task, experimented by deleting it. Resaved both MPP and XML,
then *successfully* read the XML file.
Conclusion: Project 2007 can't export hammock tasks to XML.
However, I tested that hypothesis by doing a simple 5 line project file,
and hammocked the first and last task, saved as XML and the reimported
it. *Worked*.
So, I have what appears to be a perfectly normal MPP file that won't
export/import via XML. I have another completely separate project that
I'm working on. Did same experiment with it. Saved as XML, then tried
to read the XML. Got same error. Can't do it. This project file has NO
hammock tasks nor any known "advanced" techniques. Just straight
project definition.
I briefly looked at the two XML files. I could not find any <UID>0</UID>
in an <ExtendedAttributes> section. There were items tagged this way in
the Assignments, Resources, and Tasks. The <UID>0</UID> in Tasks was
the Project Summary Task. Clue.
So, I turned off the Project Summary Task. Resaved and created another
XML File. Then *successfully* read the XML file.
Conclusion: Project 2007 can't export XML files which have the Project
summary task displayed.
So I tested this hypothesis with the small 5 line project. Kept the
hammock task in and turned on the Project Summary. Saved as XML. Then
read the XML file *successfully*.
----
So now I'm confused. Everything works apparently with little test
files, but using Project 2007 on real project files that I need and
can't spend time debugging XML files, does not. Sigh.
So I guess I'm just reporting this. Not sure next steps.
I just want export to XML to work.