export/import to/from excel

[Lugo]

In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the default task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original percentages of resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in excel. ¿any ideas?.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the exported data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[Lugo]

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization of my problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work 10 days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name, Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete the mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and B loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for "Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the exported data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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

In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original percentages of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in excel. ¿any
ideas?.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did not export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80 hours. You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that resource A was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I imported the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization of my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work 10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name, Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for "Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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

In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original percentages of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[Lugo]

Done. Excellent!
Thankyou

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did not export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80 hours. You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that resource A was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I imported the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization of my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work 10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name, Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for "Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original percentages of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie

Done. Excellent!
Thankyou

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80 hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work 10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[Jacques D.]

Hi Julie,

I have a question related to the same subject.
I exported the task assignments to Excel so people can update their
completed work figures in it. I then want to import it into MSP. But it
looks like when a task has more than one assignments, only the last one is
kept from Excel import process.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jacques

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie

Done. Excellent!
Thankyou

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80 hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work 10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jacques,

Yes, I have seen exactly what you report. I did a quick search in
google groups and found a few pointers that may lead you to the correct
direction.

Look for a post in this newsgroup titled: "How you do import multiple
resources from Excel to MS Project?" started on 7 June 2006 by JenB.

If you're feeling ambitious and want to use VBA code to automate the
process -- I highly recommend Rod Gill's book "VBA Programming for
Microsoft Office Project".

It's available through Amazon or directly through:
http://msprojectexperts.com/

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

Hi Julie,

I have a question related to the same subject.
I exported the task assignments to Excel so people can update their
completed work figures in it. I then want to import it into MSP. But
it
looks like when a task has more than one assignments, only the last
one is
kept from Excel import process.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jacques

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie

Done. Excellent!
Thankyou


:

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the
data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80
hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I
imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting
both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization
of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work
10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete
the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and
B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the
exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are
you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into
an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original
percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in
excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[Jacques D.]

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.
I checked the post you mention and tried exporting as described.
Unfortunately the problem is still there. If I have 4 resources assigned to
a task (let's say A,B,C,D), they all get exported to Excel with a separate
assignment line for each, with task name on each. I then enter a new actual
work value for each (let's say 1,2,3,4).
When I import it back to MSP, only actual work for the first resource gets
updated, with the value specified for the last one in Excel (Resource A gets
the value 4). No change for the other resources assigned to the task.

It really seems to be a bug in MSP 2003.

Regards,

Jacques

Hi Jacques,

Yes, I have seen exactly what you report. I did a quick search in
google groups and found a few pointers that may lead you to the correct
direction.

Look for a post in this newsgroup titled: "How you do import multiple
resources from Excel to MS Project?" started on 7 June 2006 by JenB.

If you're feeling ambitious and want to use VBA code to automate the
process -- I highly recommend Rod Gill's book "VBA Programming for
Microsoft Office Project".

It's available through Amazon or directly through:
http://msprojectexperts.com/

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

Hi Julie,

I have a question related to the same subject.
I exported the task assignments to Excel so people can update their
completed work figures in it. I then want to import it into MSP. But
it
looks like when a task has more than one assignments, only the last
one is
kept from Excel import process.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jacques

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie
Done. Excellent!
Thankyou


:

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the
data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80
hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I
imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting
both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good characterization
of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days, work
10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75% respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but delete
the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A and
B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the "default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the
exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data are
you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data into
an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original
percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in
excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Jacques,

In quick testing I was able to get the following to work.

I created a new map and exported the following data from Project to
Excel:

*Assignment data*:
Unique ID
Task ID
Task Name
Resource ID
Resource Name
Start Date
Finish Date
Actual Start
Actual Finish
Work
Actual Work
Remaining Work

Once the data was in Excel I updated Actual Work and Remaining Work for
several resources assigned to the same task. Upon importing the data
back in and merging by Unique ID, I did not see the actual work data
from one resource overwriting another.

Once I had updated the Project file, I re-exported (using the same map I
created). I updated the information in Excel again, and re-imported,
again merging by Unique ID. Again, things updated as expected.

What are you exporting? What are you updating once the data is in
Excel?


I hope rhis 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

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.
I checked the post you mention and tried exporting as described.
Unfortunately the problem is still there. If I have 4 resources
assigned to
a task (let's say A,B,C,D), they all get exported to Excel with a
separate
assignment line for each, with task name on each. I then enter a new
actual
work value for each (let's say 1,2,3,4).
When I import it back to MSP, only actual work for the first resource
gets
updated, with the value specified for the last one in Excel (Resource
A gets
the value 4). No change for the other resources assigned to the task.

It really seems to be a bug in MSP 2003.

Regards,

Jacques

Hi Jacques,

Yes, I have seen exactly what you report. I did a quick search in
google groups and found a few pointers that may lead you to the
correct
direction.

Look for a post in this newsgroup titled: "How you do import multiple
resources from Excel to MS Project?" started on 7 June 2006 by JenB.

If you're feeling ambitious and want to use VBA code to automate the
process -- I highly recommend Rod Gill's book "VBA Programming for
Microsoft Office Project".

It's available through Amazon or directly through:
http://msprojectexperts.com/

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

Hi Julie,

I have a question related to the same subject.
I exported the task assignments to Excel so people can update their
completed work figures in it. I then want to import it into MSP.
But
it
looks like when a task has more than one assignments, only the last
one is
kept from Excel import process.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jacques



:

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie
Done. Excellent!
Thankyou


:

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did
not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make
some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the
data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80
hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that
resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I
imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and
effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported
by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting
both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good
characterization
of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days,
work
10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75%
respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but
delete
the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A
and
B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the
"default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the
exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data
are
you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data
into
an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using
the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original
percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as
fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in
excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[Jacques D.]

Hi Julie,

You're right. It works using the mapping you listed.
I think the only difference with all other tests I've made and with all
other posts I've checked is with the "Unique ID". Nowhere else it was
mentioned and all other posts had the same results I had.

So the "Unique ID" is the key.
Thank you very much, Julie. I was about to give up.

Best regards from Montreal, Canada.

Jacques

Hi Jacques,

In quick testing I was able to get the following to work.

I created a new map and exported the following data from Project to
Excel:

*Assignment data*:
Unique ID
Task ID
Task Name
Resource ID
Resource Name
Start Date
Finish Date
Actual Start
Actual Finish
Work
Actual Work
Remaining Work

Once the data was in Excel I updated Actual Work and Remaining Work for
several resources assigned to the same task. Upon importing the data
back in and merging by Unique ID, I did not see the actual work data
from one resource overwriting another.

Once I had updated the Project file, I re-exported (using the same map I
created). I updated the information in Excel again, and re-imported,
again merging by Unique ID. Again, things updated as expected.

What are you exporting? What are you updating once the data is in
Excel?


I hope rhis 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

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.
I checked the post you mention and tried exporting as described.
Unfortunately the problem is still there. If I have 4 resources
assigned to
a task (let's say A,B,C,D), they all get exported to Excel with a
separate
assignment line for each, with task name on each. I then enter a new
actual
work value for each (let's say 1,2,3,4).
When I import it back to MSP, only actual work for the first resource
gets
updated, with the value specified for the last one in Excel (Resource
A gets
the value 4). No change for the other resources assigned to the task.

It really seems to be a bug in MSP 2003.

Regards,

Jacques

Hi Jacques,

Yes, I have seen exactly what you report. I did a quick search in
google groups and found a few pointers that may lead you to the
correct
direction.

Look for a post in this newsgroup titled: "How you do import multiple
resources from Excel to MS Project?" started on 7 June 2006 by JenB.

If you're feeling ambitious and want to use VBA code to automate the
process -- I highly recommend Rod Gill's book "VBA Programming for
Microsoft Office Project".

It's available through Amazon or directly through:
http://msprojectexperts.com/

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


Hi Julie,

I have a question related to the same subject.
I exported the task assignments to Excel so people can update their
completed work figures in it. I then want to import it into MSP.
But
it
looks like when a task has more than one assignments, only the last
one is
kept from Excel import process.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jacques



:

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie
Done. Excellent!
Thankyou


:

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did
not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make
some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import the
data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80
hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that
resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I
imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and
effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then re-imported
by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by exporting
both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good
characterization
of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10 days,
work
10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75%
respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID, Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but
delete
the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have A
and
B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the
"default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the
exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what data
are
you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the data
into
an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using
the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original
percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as
fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in
excel.
¿any
ideas?.

 

[JulieS]

Jacques,

You're most welcome and thanks for the feedback. Sorry to have left the
out vital piece of information (assignment unique ID) earlier, but glad
you didn't give up.

Greetings from Maine -- I hope it's warmer for you there than it is
here. brrrrrrrr

Julie
Project MVP

Hi Julie,

You're right. It works using the mapping you listed.
I think the only difference with all other tests I've made and with
all
other posts I've checked is with the "Unique ID". Nowhere else it was
mentioned and all other posts had the same results I had.

So the "Unique ID" is the key.
Thank you very much, Julie. I was about to give up.

Best regards from Montreal, Canada.

Jacques

Hi Jacques,

In quick testing I was able to get the following to work.

I created a new map and exported the following data from Project to
Excel:

*Assignment data*:
Unique ID
Task ID
Task Name
Resource ID
Resource Name
Start Date
Finish Date
Actual Start
Actual Finish
Work
Actual Work
Remaining Work

Once the data was in Excel I updated Actual Work and Remaining Work
for
several resources assigned to the same task. Upon importing the data
back in and merging by Unique ID, I did not see the actual work data
from one resource overwriting another.

Once I had updated the Project file, I re-exported (using the same
map I
created). I updated the information in Excel again, and re-imported,
again merging by Unique ID. Again, things updated as expected.

What are you exporting? What are you updating once the data is in
Excel?


I hope rhis 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

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply.
I checked the post you mention and tried exporting as described.
Unfortunately the problem is still there. If I have 4 resources
assigned to
a task (let's say A,B,C,D), they all get exported to Excel with a
separate
assignment line for each, with task name on each. I then enter a
new
actual
work value for each (let's say 1,2,3,4).
When I import it back to MSP, only actual work for the first
resource
gets
updated, with the value specified for the last one in Excel
(Resource
A gets
the value 4). No change for the other resources assigned to the
task.

It really seems to be a bug in MSP 2003.

Regards,

Jacques

:

Hi Jacques,

Yes, I have seen exactly what you report. I did a quick search in
google groups and found a few pointers that may lead you to the
correct
direction.

Look for a post in this newsgroup titled: "How you do import
multiple
resources from Excel to MS Project?" started on 7 June 2006 by
JenB.

If you're feeling ambitious and want to use VBA code to automate
the
process -- I highly recommend Rod Gill's book "VBA Programming for
Microsoft Office Project".

It's available through Amazon or directly through:
http://msprojectexperts.com/

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


Hi Julie,

I have a question related to the same subject.
I exported the task assignments to Excel so people can update
their
completed work figures in it. I then want to import it into
MSP.
But
it
looks like when a task has more than one assignments, only the
last
one is
kept from Excel import process.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jacques



:

You're welcome Lugo and thanks for the feedback.

Julie
Done. Excellent!
Thankyou


:

Hi Lugo,

I believe the difficulty you are seeing is coming from is
not
exporting
enough detailed data.

When you exported a task with two resources assigned but did
not
export
the specific details of the assignment, Project has to make
some
assumptions about what to do with the data when you import
the
data
back.

In your example, when you exported Work (which shows as
Scheduled_Work)
the data project exported was the total amount of work of 80
hours.
You
didn't export the information key to your schedule that
resource A
was
working 20 hours and resource B was working 60 hours.

When I followed your steps, I got different answers when I
imported
the
data back in depending upon default task type settings, and
effort
driven and non-effort driven settings in the project file.

I was able to get consistent data exported and then
re-imported
by
adding a few additional pieces to your export map by
exporting
both
Tasks and Assignment Data as noted below:

Task Data:
ID to Task_ID
Name to Task_Name
Duration to Duration
Resource Names to Resource_Names

Assignment Data:
Resource Name to Resource Name
Task ID to Task_ID
Units to Units
Work to Scheduled_Work

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

Julie

I did some research, and I think this is a good
characterization
of
my
problem:

a) Create a plan in MSP with just 1 task, duration 10
days,
work
10
days,
and two resources say A and B, loaded 25% and 75%
respectively.

b) export the plan to Excel with a map having ID,
Task_Name,
Duration,
Scheduled_Work, Resource_Names. The result should be:

ID Task_Name Duration Scheduled_Work Resource_Names
1 xxxxxxxxxxx 10 days 10 days A[25%],B[75%]

c) Close the plan in MSP.

d) Open the resulting excel file using the same map, but
delete
the
mapping
for "Duration" in the wizard. The imported plan will have
A
and
B
loaded
100% each, and a resulting duration of 5 days.

e) If you do the same, but deleting the mapping for
"Scheduled_Work"
instead, the plan will show the right percentages.

Weird...


:

Hi Lugo,

A couple of questions that will hopefully help us help
you:

What specific export map are you using? You note the
"default
task
map" -- do you mean the Default task information map?

Once you export the data to excel -- are you changing the
exported
data
and trying to re-import back to Project? If so, what
data
are
you
changing?


When you import back into project are you merging the
data
into
an
existing file?

Julie
Project MVP

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


In MSP2003, SP2, if I export any project to excel using
the
default
task map,
after importing back from excel I lose the original
percentages
of
resource
assignments, i.e., resources assigned 50% will come as
fully
assigned,
although resource_names shows it OK (e.g. Jhon[50%]) in
excel.
¿any
ideas?.