Copy paste problems

[jdelaney]

In MS Project Pro 2007 SP1, attached to Server version 12.0.0.6219, we can't
copy paste task groups without it dropping the predecessors internal to the
group. Not normal. This works off line in a brand new file. Something happens
once it gets connected to the server.

It's worked for years in previous versions of course.

This is not a newbie error. I could be over looking something incredibly
simple, but I don't think so.

I've posted this question before so I think we are all stumped. If anyone
has even the smallest clue it might help, please let me know.

Getting ready to write a bit of code to traverse all the cells looking for
non-printable characters and what not.

Failing that I'm going to have to write our own task copy macro I guess.

Many Thanks,
John

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

John --

If you are copying and pasting entire rows in the project (by selecting the
task ID number before you copy), then you are committing a definite "no no"
with Microsoft Project 2007 with Project Server. Doing so can result in the
corruption of your project. A better way to move a block of tasks is to
select the ID numbers for the group of tasks, release the mouse button, and
then click and hold on one of the ID numbers in the selected block. This
"grabs" the block of selected tasks, and now you can drag them and drop them
where you want them. Hope this helps.

 

[jdelaney]

John --

If you are copying and pasting entire rows in the project (by selecting the

Dale:
Thanks for the reply. Not trying to move the task group. What we normally do
is create a standard task group and replicate it many times, then we edit
parts of the names of each one to change the identity. This is to create a
base build. Then we work with the lead software developers to dial in the
durations of each task.

To do this we select the entire row, yes, by clicking in the grey border on
the left on the ID of the row. Hit Ctrl-C, go down to the next open row, hit
Ctrl-V.

Other than the predecessors dropping it seems copy all else OK and is seems
to set new UIDs fine. Not sure I understand the corruption potential. Why
would this be a no-no? Just trying to understand.

Best,
John

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

John --

Copying and pasting entire rows of tasks in an enterprise project can lead
to duplicate Unique ID numbers, thus corrupting the project. Therefore, do
so at your own risk. Hope this helps.

 

[jdelaney]

John --

Copying and pasting entire rows of tasks in an enterprise project can lead
to duplicate Unique ID numbers

Dale:
Thanks for the quick reply. I was totally unaware of this, uh, "feature"?

Aside from doing the copy paste off-line. Is there another way to get the
end result that I am missing? Off-line will work.

OBTW - we had the same problem with the copy past off line on one machine.
Found out it was running .NET 2.0. Upon moving it to 3.5 everything is fine
in that regard.

Best,
John

 

[jdelaney]

I think the best way to go about this, if it's a constant and recurring
need, is to develop a macro ...

Gary & Dale,
Thank you again. I do have several VBA classes and modules I've built for
this purpose over the past couple years. I just build the task group out in
code, so no need to store it in another file, but that's an interesting idea
to be sure. I haven't made them very user friendly, so I'm really the only
guy who can use them effectively. So this is a perfect opportunity to better
that mousetrap or write my own copy program.

It was very handy on previous non server versions to be able to to the copy
paste and entire task group and have the preds within the group translate.
Our schedule build methodology is centered on this ability. We track
literally hundreds of like task groups. So, for us, it's a real need.

I hope the powers that be in Redmond see fit to remedy this. I can see where
it's a tricky bit of code.

If you hear of a better solution, keep me in mind. I'll be sure to follow up
if anything pops here too.

Best,
John

 

[dfeigen115]

Dale,
I've tried multiple variants of copy/cut & paste in the PS2007 environment
specifically to try and create or reuse a UID that's already been used in a
schedule and have been unable to do so. I've copy/pasted and cut/pasted
single tasks, groups of tasks, from within the same project as well as
between projects and can't duplicate an existing UID. Even after deleting a
task and it's associated UID, I could not cause the deleted UID to be reused.
Do you have any event sequence that I can try to replicate the UID
duplication.
Dan

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Dan --

No, I do not have a test script to give you. If the duplication of Unique
IDs happened EVERY time somebody copied and pasted an entire task (by
selecting its ID number before copying), then you would have easily
replicated the problem I described using your own testing script. The
problem is that the corruption via duplication of Unique ID numbers is
INTERMITTENT. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. Just because
you couldn't replicate the problem through testing doesn't mean that it
doesn't happen, or will not happen eventually.

Believe me, I have talked to way too many people who were having untold
problems with their projects after repeated times of copying and pasting
complete tasks, and who saw these problems disappear when they stopped
copying and pasting entire tasks. Because of this, I stand by my original
assertion: Do so at your own risk! Hope this helps.