Custom field called "Parent"

[andrewandrew]

When I rename a custom text field "Parent" things get screwy: I can't import
data to the field, when I select the field for a custom group I get an error,
etc. Any idea why?

 

[Jack Dahlgren]

I'd guess it is because "Parent" is a task property. You can't overload task
properties. Project probably "should" handle this correctly for a custom
field name - but since it doesn't, the simple thing is to not use that name.
Just another project quirk...

-Jack Dahlgren

 

[Hadi]

Jack,

I had a question related to the Parent property. I am trying to desing some
reports in Access using the Project Database Table. I was wondering if there
is a way that i can group activities by Parent-Child in a report. right now,
I get a list of the activities in my queries/report but not sure how to group
them like i would inside Project.

thank you

 

[JulieS]

Hi Hadi,

In Access, you can create groups in a report. Create your query
combining the data you wish to see and then run through the report
wizard to create the report based upon the query. The report wizard
should ask how you want your report organized.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

 

[Hadi]

Julie,

I understand the grouping capability in Access but what field should I group
by and what table does it belong to. I assume it's one of the fields in the
MSP_TASKS table?

thank you

 

[JulieS]

Hello Hadi,

I don't believe there is a field in Project which lists the name of
the summary task. You may wish to run Jack Dahlgren's SummaryName
macro to populate a spare text field with the summary name of the
task in the Project file. For Jack's macro see:

http://masamiki.com/project/macros.htm

The MSP_Tasks table does contain information about whether a task is
a summary, but on quick check, only through reconstruction of the
task ids and task outline level, can you determine which is the
summary task for each task.

I guess I'm a bit baffled about what you are trying to create -- I"m
assuming you are not dealing just with task data -- but also
assignment data?


I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project

 

[Hadi]

Julie,

I was thinking about applying the summary task macro so thanks for the
confirmation.

No need to be baffeled, I have about 200 schedules (80-100 activities each)
that are posted on our Project 2003 Server. I am trying to avoid building
master schedules off the server esp with the flow response time, Project
crashing, etc. I need to be able to roll up these projects and do grouping,
sorting, and filtering down to the task level.

So i had our Administrator give me a snap shot of the MSP view tables off
the Server and I have been testing it to see if I can use Access to do the
reporting. I am trying to duplicate some of the views (without the graphics)
I can generate inside MS Project. It seems to me that it would be much faster
to get a snap shot of the tables in Access format and then run reports than
trying to deal with a huge master project file. I would appreciate any
suggestions

thank you,

 

[JulieS]

Hi Hadi,

Sorry for the delay in response. I understand your desire to pull
reports from Access particularly when working with large master
projects. As you've discovered, the relationships between the
tables are not shown in the Access db -- so you need to discover how
to relate the tables together and then track down the details in the
fields to "re-make" the info from the project file. I don't work
with Project Server at all so, I can't suggest if there may be a
method by working directly with the data on the server through PWA
that may help speed you along.

Try posting your questions and scenario to the Project Server
newsgroup and someone there may be able to suggest alternatives or
different approaches.

Julie

 

[Joe]

Hi,

I have the same problem with grouping, that I assign a text1 to "Phase" and
add a value list on it. When I create a group and use "Phase" as my group
field, I get and error "This is not a valid Field Name", please help cause in
my other project this is working. I'm not sure where I screwed up.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[JulieS]

Hi Joe,

If you group by Text1 does it work? Did you rename Text1 to Phase
or just use Phase as the title.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional
information about Microsoft Project