Custom Fields in the GLOBAL.MPT Template

[stephen]

Hello All,
In Project 2000, I have created 2 custom fields (using Text1 and
Text2) including a Value List and Graphical Indicators. I've added
these custom fields (along with an associated View and Table) to the
GLOBAL.MPT template using the Organizer to make them available in all
of my project plans.

When I create a NEW project plan, the custom fields (and View/Table)
work great. But, when I open an EXISTING plan that was created prior to
the modification of the GLOBAL.MPT file, the results seem very strange.
Using the Organizer, I can see that the new View and Table were copied
from the GLOBAL.MPT file to the existing .mpp file correctly. But the
new custom fields are either not copied to the open .mpp file or only
one of the fields is copied.

Additionally, the custom field sometimes displays the custom text
instead of the graphical indicator (the word "green" instead of a green
circle).

Again, these problems do not occur when I create a NEW project plan.
Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
Stephen

 

[JackD]

Custom fields can exist in the Global file and the project file. This is by
design.
Project looks first in the file and if there is a custom field defined there
in the file it will use it, otherwise it uses what is in the global file.

You can fix this by using the organizer to copy your customized Text1 and
Text2 fields from the Global.mpt to the individual files. Make sure you
agree to let them overwrite the field that is there.

 

[stephen]

Hello Jack,
Thanks for the quick response.

I am actually sending the GLOBAL.MPT file out to many end users and
would prefer to have the custom fields available automatically as
opposed to training every user to use the Organizer.

Unfortuately, for projects created prior to my modifications to the
GLOBAL.MPT file, it appears that the custom fields in the GLOBAL.MPT
file are not being used by Project even though there are no custom
fields defined in the .mpp file. Do I have something set up
incorrectly?

Do you know of a way to automatically copy the custom Fields in the
GLOBAL.MPT file to an existing .mpp file? The Views and Tables are
automatically copied but the Fields are not.

Thanks again,
Stephen

 

[JackD]

..

Hello Jack,
Thanks for the quick response.

I am actually sending the GLOBAL.MPT file out to many end users and
would prefer to have the custom fields available automatically as
opposed to training every user to use the Organizer.

That will work.

Unfortuately, for projects created prior to my modifications to the
GLOBAL.MPT file, it appears that the custom fields in the GLOBAL.MPT
file are not being used by Project even though there are no custom
fields defined in the .mpp file. Do I have something set up
incorrectly?

You need to fix them. You can do it once and they should stay. Use the
organizer.
They won't be converted automatically.

Do you know of a way to automatically copy the custom Fields in the
GLOBAL.MPT file to an existing .mpp file? The Views and Tables are
automatically copied but the Fields are not.

Really? Did you go to the fields tab?

-Jack

 

[stephen]

Yes. The Views and the Tables tabs show the newly created View and
Table in both the GLOBAL.MPT file and the current .mpp file. But the
Fields tab only shows my new fields in the GLOBAL.MPT file. Kinda
strange that the the Views and Tables act differently than the Fields.
Oh well...

I guess I will have to train my users to fix their older existing .mpp
files using the Organizer. I was hoping to avoid that but it sounds
like that is my only option.

Thanks for your help.
Stephen

 

[JackD]

That is correct. The tab only shows the fields which have been customized.
The rest of the fields don't need to be shown.