Excel linked schedule dates affecting excel linked actual dates

[aaa]

In order to create a baseline I have linked planned start date and durations
from excel to the scheduled start & duration columns in project. Once the
plan information has been fed into the project file via excel, I save a
baseline.
The actual date columns in project are also linked from excel but do not
always match the dates in the cells they are linked from. It seems they are
affected by the links in the scheduled columns as the problem disappears if I
delete the links in the scheduled columns. Why is this??
The problem is that the project file has lots of links in both the actual
and scheduled columns and it is not practical to delete only the ones in the
scheduled columns (once a baseline has been saved ) via: edit > links > break
links, or edit > clear > contents.

 

[Jack Dahlgren MVP]

Just a word of warning, those sort of excel/project links are fragile and
difficult to troubleshoot when they go wrong. I'd avoid using them if I were
you. You can import the dates in excel to your project file. That is a much
better way of doing this.

If you persist in using them, you will eventually stay up all night trying
to figure out why nothing is working the way you want it to.
Don't ask me how I know this.

-Jack Dahlgren

 

[aaa]

Thanks Jack, I know the links are fragile but I thought there may be some
other reason. I have already been up all night!

What is the best way to import the dates and will they update in the same
way links do? (My spreadsheet does not have the dates in columns like they
are in project; they are in rows interspersed with non date columns.)

Derrick

 

[Jack Dahlgren MVP]

Format the sheet so they are in rows and columns. To get a good format, try
exporting from project to create what is called a "map" and then use the
spreadsheet which is exported as the form to be updated. Then it will go
right back in with no issues. Include task unique ID as the merge key.

-Jack Dahlgren

 

[aaa]

Thanks!

Format the sheet so they are in rows and columns. To get a good format, try
exporting from project to create what is called a "map" and then use the
spreadsheet which is exported as the form to be updated. Then it will go
right back in with no issues. Include task unique ID as the merge key.

-Jack Dahlgren