Circular relationship in task… error in Project 2003

[Yulia Libenzon]

Problem explanation:
Customer made project modifications after Project import as usual (add
tasks, changed fields) after processing the project file customer saved it
and in the middle of the save process he got error message (Please see
attachments error1 error2)

Customer couldn’t save the project, and wanted to reload it back from the
Server Project Lists, but it appeared as checked out (possible to open it
only in read mode).
Customer made force check-in to the Project and got the problem in it.


The problem is Zero line added and the project “SNB_QnR†closed as a result
of try expand/collapse tasks in it.

I opened the same corrupted Project from other client (PC) that configured
to be connected to the same server, and got error: Circular relationship in
task… messages (as attached)


Any help/information regarding this issue may help,
Thanks in advance

 

[ProjmanZA]

Problem explanation:
Customer made project modifications after Project import as usual (add
tasks, changed fields) after processing the project file customer saved it
and in the middle of the save process he got error message (Please see
attachments error1 error2)

Customer couldn’t save the project, and wanted to reload it back from the
Server Project Lists, but it appeared as checked out (possible to open it
only in read mode).
Customer made force check-in to the Project and got the problem in it.

The problem is Zero line added and the project “SNB_QnR” closed as a result
of try expand/collapse tasks in it.

I opened the same corrupted Project from other client (PC) that configured
to be connected to the same server, and got error: Circular relationship in
task… messages (as attached)

Any help/information regarding this issue may help,
Thanks in advance  

Hey there ,

One thing you could perhaps try : Try to save the file as an >XML
file , then reopen the XML file and then save as a project file again.
Worked 4 me before

Andre

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Yulia --

Does this project contain task dependencies on summary tasks? If so, this
is one of the common sources of circular reference errors. To determine
whether there are any dependencies set on summary tasks, do the following:

1. Click Tools - Options - Calculation.
2. Set the Calculation Mode option to Manual.
3. Click the OK button.

These steps will allow you to open the project in spite of the circular
reference error. Next, open the project and do the following:

1. Apply the Gantt Chart view.
2. Click View - Table - Entry.
3. Pull the split bar to the right side of the Resource Names column.
4. Right-click on the Resource Names column header and select the Insert
Column item on the menu.
5. In the Column Definition dialog, click the Field Names pick list and
select the Successors column.
6. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Filter pick list and select the
Summary Tasks filter.

Scan down the Predecessors and Successors columns and look for summary tasks
with dependencies. If you see dependencies, consider deleting them and then
add dependencies only on regular tasks (subtasks) and milestone tasks. Hope
this helps.

 

[Yulia Libenzon]

Hello Dale Howard, and thank you for your answer,
The explanation provides me information how to track linked summary tasks
problems but unfortunately isn't answering my problem.
The problem is that my corrupted project always accompanying by new Zero ID
line that has the same name as a project name and MS Project 2003 falls as
a result of any data manipulation like expand/ collapse tasks or add new task
in the project and etc...

I would send you a screen captures, Please send me your email
Thanks in advance for your assistance

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Yulia --

The line you refer to as the Zero ID line is called the Project Summary
Task. It is also known as Task 0 or Row 0. The Project Summary Task is a
GOOD thing and not a bad thing, and is certainly not an error. The Project
Summary Task shows you the summary of all information in your project, such
as:

- The scheduled Start date of the entire project.
- The current calculated Finish date of the entire project.
- The total Duration of the entire project.
- The total amount of Work for the entire project.
- The total amount of Cost for the entire project.
- The total Variance values for the project, such as Finish Variance and
Work variance.

Most people do not know how to display the Project Summary Task, so they
intentionally add a new task ID #1 task at the beginning of the project and
then indent every other task below it one level. This is not necessary if
you use the Project Summary Task. Although I do not recommend this, if you
want to hide the Project Summary Task, click Tools - Options - View and then
deselect the "Display Project Summary Task" option. Hope this helps.

 

[Yulia Libenzon]

Hello Dale, Thanks for trying to help…
I fill like didn’t provide full problem explanation to you...
I will try from the beginning:
I work in big organization with planner analysts (who works with MS Project
Server 2003 a lot).
Those analysts generate a huge amount of Projects, via similar way,
methodology and tasks constrains. The Problems did not exist in all projects!
Only in few of them and I can't track the way what make it happen.

ïŒ The ZERO line added randomly above the summary task, (usually after
import from PWA process and after PA work on tasks/resource assignments) but
I believe that it is Project configuration problem.
The corrupted project isn’t crushing every time I am opening it.
ï¶ Some time (I don’t know what cause it) it opened but only Zero LINE exists
in it, instead of full task lists, and dont mather what I do no data get
appear.

ï¶ Else When I am reopen it from other PC (station) it opened OK (without
Zero LINE IN IT) and then I can collapse /expand task and do all procedures
like in normal project.
ï¶ Some other time I'm opening the Project and it crushed in the beginning of
loading step. I can see in bottom status bar message about calculation step
(despite that I am using only manual calculation mode)
I can send you a problem print screens if would send me some email (gmail,
hotmail account it doesn't matter)...
We have already more than 6 corrupted projects with the same symptoms, the
problem very annoying!

Thanks in advance

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Yulia --

Given the inconsistent nature of your problems, I can't begin to make a
guess as to the source of your problems. Perhaps it's time to crack out the
old credit card and give Microsoft Support a call. Sorry I can't be more
help.