Project Compare Tool

[Jstinn14]

When using the project compare tool MSP 2003 SP1 or SP2, the tool freezes and
MSP stops responding. It gives an event 1004 error.

All external links have been removed. I have been able to replicate the
error on multiple XP machines using different files.

 

[John]

When using the project compare tool MSP 2003 SP1 or SP2, the tool freezes and
MSP stops responding. It gives an event 1004 error.

All external links have been removed. I have been able to replicate the
error on multiple XP machines using different files.

Jstinn14,
Error 1004 is a run-time error associated with an application or object
problem. It could either be a problem with your installation of Project
itself or with the file. Try a little test. Create a simple file (i.e.
20 tasks or so) and then save it. Then make some changes and save that
version. Run the Compare utility. Does it work? If so, then the original
problem is probably with your file structure - it could be various
things and we may be able to help you troubleshoot the files. If the
Compare utility does not work, I suggest you first run "Detect and
Repair" found under the Help menu or if that doesn't help try
re-installing Project.

Based on your statement about the problem occurring on multiple PCs, I
would guess the problem is with the structure of your file(s). But let's
see how the test goes before we delve into that.

John
Project MVP

 

[Jstinn14]

We tried running the compare against a template file in 2003, it did work, we
tried running it with several other files with the same error, if we delete
all but a few activities in the files that are erroring it, we can complete
the compare.

Once the files are selected, and we select the compare task, we get a pop up
asking if we want to rename the compare file (Project1), if you click cancel,
it freezes, if you click no, it will either freeze or occasionally generate a
"440" error and stop responding.

We did try resetting the GLOBAL settings, detect and repair and complete
reinstall on 2 seperate machines with no change.

thanks

Jim

 

[Jstinn14]

I did try the test as you described above, using a sample template in project
2003, saved it, made some changes to both versions, saved it. It does work
in that regard.

The files we having issues with are generally larger files between 2000-6000
lines, they have however worked in the past, and the compare does seem to
work ok when running on a w2k machine with MSP2000.

 

[John]

I did try the test as you described above, using a sample template in project
2003, saved it, made some changes to both versions, saved it. It does work
in that regard.

The files we having issues with are generally larger files between 2000-6000
lines, they have however worked in the past, and the compare does seem to
work ok when running on a w2k machine with MSP2000.

Jim,
OK, thanks for the additional information. I don't recall if there were
any problems with the Compare utility that required one of the updates
to Project 2003 but if you don't already have them installed, it is
certainly worth a try.

Even though your files are on the large size, the file size shouldn't be
an issue unless your PCs are strapped for memory and I doubt that is the
case with present day PCs.

There are some quirks with the utility but unfortunately Microsoft has
never made the code available (as far as I know) so that it can be run
in debug mode. You already mentioned you deleted all external links
(that caused a problem for another poster to this newsgroup a few weeks
ago). I assume you are not trying to run the Compare on a consolidated
master (the utility can only compare tasks that are part of the master
itself). There is also a problem if you have duplicate fields (e.g. Cost
field is shown in more than one column).

I don't have any experience with using the utility under Windows 2K (I
use XP) but I don't see why the Windows version would cause a problem.

I don't know if it will help, but I would be willing to do a little
troubleshooting with your actual files if you are willing to e-mail them
to me. I also have my own version of the Compare utility and I could try
that. If your files have sensitive data, I can give you a macro that
will desensitize them or you can go to fellow MVP, Jack Dahlgren's
webstie at:
http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm
and use his "scrub" macro. If you send the files be sure to zip them
(believe it or not, I still use dial up).

John
Project MVP

 

[Jonathan E. \(NZ\)]

Hi there,
For what it is worth I will mention that the Compare tool hungs if I run
it
and do anything else on the computer. That includes Outlook automatically
sending/receiving email in the background.
For me to get this tool not to hang, I must set it up... run it and then
leave the computer alone entirely (just taking the focus to another window
can be an issue) until it has finished. It will finish just fine when I
take
these precautions. It always hangs when I don't (at least on the files I
was
comparing... which are about 2500 lines).

I am running MS Project 2003 with no updates or service packs (about to
install those). Running Office XP SP2, on Win XP SP1.

Regards,

Jonathan

 

[John]

Hi there,
For what it is worth I will mention that the Compare tool hungs if I run
it
and do anything else on the computer. That includes Outlook automatically
sending/receiving email in the background.
For me to get this tool not to hang, I must set it up... run it and then
leave the computer alone entirely (just taking the focus to another window
can be an issue) until it has finished. It will finish just fine when I
take
these precautions. It always hangs when I don't (at least on the files I
was
comparing... which are about 2500 lines).

I am running MS Project 2003 with no updates or service packs (about to
install those). Running Office XP SP2, on Win XP SP1.

Regards,

Jonathan

Jonathan,
Thanks for the info. Whenever I run VBA I don't try to do other
operations on the PC. At best, it diverts processor time from the
running code and at worst, can cause a hang, as you experienced. In the
case of the Project Compare utility I'm guessing it hangs because there
are parts of the utility's code that appear to run in foreground
processing, and that requires the focus to be the active view.

John
Project MVP