deleting inserted schedule

[Peggy]

How can I delete a Project schedule that i previously inserted into my
schedule? I have tried to delete it and it behaves like it is being deleted
but it isn't. I have also successfully deleted the entire schedule
(underneath the main task), but I still can't delete this main line. It still
even has a + beside it like there is something in it, but when I click the +,
there is nothing there. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[JackD]

To delete an inserted project (one that is linked) select the main line and
hit the delete key. This removes it from the project it is inserted in. It
does not delete the schedule itself, but just removes the link. That way you
can open it outside of your master project.

Deleting the tasks within the inserted project is not a good thing to do.
They will be deleted from the inserted project if you save it.

 

[John]

To delete an inserted project (one that is linked) select the main line and
hit the delete key. This removes it from the project it is inserted in. It
does not delete the schedule itself, but just removes the link. That way you
can open it outside of your master project.

Deleting the tasks within the inserted project is not a good thing to do.
They will be deleted from the inserted project if you save it.

Jack,
Is the method you suggested really the best? I thought the better method
was to open the Inserted Project Information window and uncheck the link
under the advanced option. And THEN save both the master and inserted
files to "lock in" the change. At least that's the best method for paste
links.

John

 

[Peggy]

I tried to delete it the way John mentioned below and it gave me messages
indicating that it was deleting it, but it did not.
I did not create a link between the two schedules. It was inserted for
information purposes only. Is the link done automatically?
Any other suggestions? Thanks
Peggy

 

[JackD]

--
-Jack ... For project information and macro examples visit
http://masamiki.com/project

..

Jack,
Is the method you suggested really the best? I thought the better method
was to open the Inserted Project Information window and uncheck the link
under the advanced option. And THEN save both the master and inserted
files to "lock in" the change. At least that's the best method for paste
links.

John

Yes, I think so.

As far as I can tell, the inserted project doesn't know and doesn't care if
it is inserted or not. As you know you can insert a linked project in any
number of master projects and deleting any of the master projects which it
is inserted in does not make any difference to the inserted project.

So I would think that your proposal is great for linked tasks which ARE
double ended - for interproject links there is a reference in BOTH
projects - but not necessary and maybe even wrong for inserted projects.
I've never done it your way, so I don't know what it does, but I have been
deleting projects from master projects my way since Project98 with no
problems. It has the benefit of taking only a single keystroke and then a
click to get rid of the "are you sure" message.

-Jack

 

[John]

I tried to delete it the way John mentioned below and it gave me messages
indicating that it was deleting it, but it did not.
I did not create a link between the two schedules. It was inserted for
information purposes only. Is the link done automatically?
Any other suggestions? Thanks
Peggy

Peggy,
I probably misled you when I described the unlinking method. I left out
a step (yeah, I erred but not intentionally). Keep in mind that there
are two types of master (i.e. consolidated) files. One is dynamically
linked and the other is static. Just breaking the link as I suggested
does not remove the file from the master. By just breaking the link the
inserted project is still part of the master except it is now actually
part of the master and not just a pointer to the subproject. Take a look
at the Task ID sequence. Before the link was broken, you will note that
the Task ID sequence of the subproject starts over at 1. That is because
the master only contains a pointer to the actual subproject (i.e. the
subproject is not physically part of the master). After the link is
broken, the Task ID sequence of what used to be the subproject is now
contiguous with the master itself (i.e. a snapshot of the subproject has
physically been inserted into the master). Therefore to fully delete the
inserted project tasks, select them all in the master and hit delete.

My apologies for causing confusion. After all is said and done, Jack's
suggestion is clearly easier and more efficient. I was just trying to
ascertain if Jack's method was thorough. After his reply to my query, I
believe Jack's method is both thorough the best approach.

John

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Peggy,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

If none of the other suggestions work, you might consider this update, which
doesn't quite seem to fit your case ... on the other hand....


Microsoft has released an update to Microsoft Office Project 2003. This
update fixes a problem where you cannot remove an indent of a task after the
task becomes part of a summary in Microsoft Office Project Standard 2003.
For details, please see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832887.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on )

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP

!

 

[Peggy]

Thanks for all your help. Where do I find the "Inserted Project Information"
window mentioned in John's suggestion?

 

[Peggy]

I believe I found where you were talking about unchecking the link. I do this
and then click OK, but still can't delete the project. Then if I look at the
Project Information, the link is checked again. What am I doing wrong?

 

[John]

I believe I found where you were talking about unchecking the link. I do this
and then click OK, but still can't delete the project. Then if I look at the
Project Information, the link is checked again. What am I doing wrong?

Peggy,
Ok, now I understand what is going on. Let me guess, you have Project
2003 but you don't have the update (SP-1) installed. Mike's suggestion
is more on the money than he thought.

I normally use Project 2000. With that version, the method I described
or the method Jack described will effectively delete an inserted
subproject from a master. Then I tried Project 2003 (I had not yet
installed the update) and I got exactly the response, or should I say
non-response, you described. I couldn't delete a subproject to save my
life. Then I installed the update. Walah! With the latest updated
version of Project 2003, either method will delete the subproject.

One more question for Jack though. If there is no link "tag" in the
subproject file, why does Project pop up a message asking if the user
wants to save the changes to the subproject when a subproject is deleted
from the master?

Sorry for the miscues. As you can tell, we're all still in the learning
mode.
John

 

[JackD]

It pops up that message because that is what it does whenever a subproject
has been edited via being opened through a master project.

To prove this to yourself. Create a master project with an inserted
sub-project. In windows explorer, delete the master project. Now open the
sub project. You will find no indication that it was ever part of any master
project.

 

[John]

It pops up that message because that is what it does whenever a subproject
has been edited via being opened through a master project.

To prove this to yourself. Create a master project with an inserted
sub-project. In windows explorer, delete the master project. Now open the
sub project. You will find no indication that it was ever part of any master
project.

Jack,
I'll take your word for it because I have noticed "save" messages
popping up under certain conditions even though no changes were made to
the file in question. It would be nice if the app were a little more
savy in that regard (i.e. no changes - no pop up).

John

 

[Peggy]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I downloaded and installed Service Pack 1
and was able to delete the inserted project!

 

[John]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I downloaded and installed Service Pack 1
and was able to delete the inserted project!

Peggy,
Great. It's nice when the elusive solution is finally found.

John