When a MPP File Inserted into another File, the Project Summary Changes

[Rob Schneider]

Folks,

Having a bit of a mystery here. I have long experience with using
subproject files, and have never seen this. I'm hoping someone can help.

I have a project file, created by others, which a Project Start date of
Feb 20. Per the Project Summary Task Bar, Start is 15 Feb (where the
actual first start of the earliest task is) and Finish is 27 Mar 2007
(which is when the last task finishes). This looks all ok.

When we insert this MPP file as a subproject into another empty file
(using the same standard calendar), the Project Summary Task finish date
remains the same (27 March 2007), but mysteriously the Project Summary
start date changes to May 3. Further, non of the tasks in the
subproject file shift right. They are shown to to the left of the start
of the Project Summary bar.

Clearly the Project Summary bar when inserted is wrong. But I can't
figure out what is wrong and why it recomputes this.

Thinking this a problem with Project 2003 SP2, I tried with Project 2002
SP-1, but get same result.

What causes the Project Summary Task bar to be wrong when inserted into
another file?

 

[John]

Folks,

Having a bit of a mystery here. I have long experience with using
subproject files, and have never seen this. I'm hoping someone can help.

I have a project file, created by others, which a Project Start date of
Feb 20. Per the Project Summary Task Bar, Start is 15 Feb (where the
actual first start of the earliest task is) and Finish is 27 Mar 2007
(which is when the last task finishes). This looks all ok.

When we insert this MPP file as a subproject into another empty file
(using the same standard calendar), the Project Summary Task finish date
remains the same (27 March 2007), but mysteriously the Project Summary
start date changes to May 3. Further, non of the tasks in the
subproject file shift right. They are shown to to the left of the start
of the Project Summary bar.

Clearly the Project Summary bar when inserted is wrong. But I can't
figure out what is wrong and why it recomputes this.

Thinking this a problem with Project 2003 SP2, I tried with Project 2002
SP-1, but get same result.

What causes the Project Summary Task bar to be wrong when inserted into
another file?

Rob,
The only way I can replicate what you are seeing is to turn calculation
to manual and set the Project Start Date of the master file to 5/3/06.
First I insert the subproject with the Start and Finish dates you gave,
and then I turn on the Project Summary Task for the master. Is that
anything close to what you may have?

John
Project MVP

 

[Rob Schneider]

Rob,
The only way I can replicate what you are seeing is to turn calculation
to manual and set the Project Start Date of the master file to 5/3/06.
First I insert the subproject with the Start and Finish dates you gave,
and then I turn on the Project Summary Task for the master. Is that
anything close to what you may have?

John
Project MVP

John,

Thanks. I can't replicate, but it clearly is happening with the actual
file. (Sigh). I also am not sure what you did to replicate, given I
can't replicate. (Another big sigh).

What I did to try to replicate.

: created a project5.mpp file with two tasks. Project start Feb 20, one
task starting Feb 15 (yes, before project start), and another task of a
year duration to end next year.
: created a new empty master file, with project start as may 3
: inserted project5.mpp into that.
: result - works fine.

Something wrong with the actual project file I have. I can't release it
to others to try, due to proprietary issues of course.

 

[John]

John,

Thanks. I can't replicate, but it clearly is happening with the actual
file. (Sigh). I also am not sure what you did to replicate, given I
can't replicate. (Another big sigh).

What I did to try to replicate.

: created a project5.mpp file with two tasks. Project start Feb 20, one
task starting Feb 15 (yes, before project start), and another task of a
year duration to end next year.
: created a new empty master file, with project start as may 3
: inserted project5.mpp into that.
: result - works fine.

Something wrong with the actual project file I have. I can't release it
to others to try, due to proprietary issues of course.

Rob,
First, I guess I missed the year part of the date, but, no matter. I set
up my test file to have a Project Start Date of 20 Feb 2006. I created
three short tasks with the first starting on 15 Feb 2006 and the third
ending on 27 March 2006. Next I created a blank master with a Project
Start Date of 3 May 2006, the Project Summary Task option "off" and
calculation set for "manual". Then I inserted the test file. Finally I
turned on the option for the Project Summary Task.

That replicated your problem.

John
Project MVP

 

[Rob Schneider]

Rob,
First, I guess I missed the year part of the date, but, no matter. I set
up my test file to have a Project Start Date of 20 Feb 2006. I created
three short tasks with the first starting on 15 Feb 2006 and the third
ending on 27 March 2006. Next I created a blank master with a Project
Start Date of 3 May 2006, the Project Summary Task option "off" and
calculation set for "manual". Then I inserted the test file. Finally I
turned on the option for the Project Summary Task.

That replicated your problem.

John
Project MVP

John,

This is now getting weird. Tables have turned I did (far as I can tell,
and tried twice) did exactly as you did with Project 2002 Standard.
Could not replicate the problem. That being said, the problem still
exists on the "real" MPP file ... bummer. More thinking.

rms

 

[John]

John,

This is now getting weird. Tables have turned I did (far as I can tell,
and tried twice) did exactly as you did with Project 2002 Standard.
Could not replicate the problem. That being said, the problem still
exists on the "real" MPP file ... bummer. More thinking.

rms

Rob,
Well to be honest I don't know what the heck is going on. When I try to
replicate my test (I'm using 2003 Pro) I do not get the same result. Now
the master Project Summary Task starts on the Current Date before I hit
"calculate", even though I set the master's Project Start Date to 5/3/06
and have the options set to start everything on the project start date.

I seems we are both going in circles - hey, maybe it some kind of
circular relationship....... ;-)

The only other suggestions I have are: Try rebuilding the problem file
using the suggestions in FAQ 43 on our MVP website. You might also want
to try running Detect and Repair if you haven't already.

John
Project MVP