File Error with Resource Pool

[Jim Aksel]

Project2003 SP2.
I have a master Project with 9 inserted.mpp plans. There is also a resource
pool. No resources in the individual plans, only the pool. Resource pool
takes precedence (of course).
We open the Master.mpp to make updates, when we open the associated resource
pool we usually open it as "open" which is the default option.

Make changes within Master.mpp and Inserted.mpp as necessary. Changes to
inserted.mpp are made from within Master.mpp Click Save.

What appears to happen is that some insert.mpp files are saved directly
whereas other insert.mpp files open again before saving. We know this
because we see the virus scan dialog in the status area and we are asked if
we want to enable Macros. This is only done on file open.

Eventually, we get a Visual Basic dialogbox that says "File Not Found." We
have no idea what file it cannot find. The error repeats itself exactly 4
times, always. Eventually we hit a "Ready" in the status area. We have
examined every external link and they are all valid.

So, it should be safe to close project at this point. When we do, we are
again asked if we want to save changes. There are no other files showing
open in the Window menu except Master.mpp and Resource.mpp. No other
inserted.mpp appear. However, this puts us in a circular loop. The only way
out is to say "No To All." Fortunately, since a previous iteration has saved
the work, answering "no to all" the second time around is safe.

I tried to duplicate the error in some very small files (one line each, one
resource, etc) but cannot do so.

My gut tells me that some of the predecessor/succussor relationships we have
in the insert.mpp files are the problem. There are linkes between the
inserted.mpp files that go file to file, not through a milestone in
Master.mpp.

To keep things safe, all these files are in the same folder at all times.
No name changes ever.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to look for the root cause of this File
Not Found error and the Morphius Loop of saving all the files time and time
again? Again, I cannot duplilcate the error in other file stacks, just this
one.

Ok, long post. Now it's my turn to listen. Thanks in advance. We must
not let the software win.

Jim

 

[Jim Aksel]

One more thing. If we select the "Do Not Open Other Files" option when the
resource pool is first opened .... no problems ever.

 

[John]

Project2003 SP2.
I have a master Project with 9 inserted.mpp plans. There is also a resource
pool. No resources in the individual plans, only the pool. Resource pool
takes precedence (of course).
We open the Master.mpp to make updates, when we open the associated resource
pool we usually open it as "open" which is the default option.

Make changes within Master.mpp and Inserted.mpp as necessary. Changes to
inserted.mpp are made from within Master.mpp Click Save.

What appears to happen is that some insert.mpp files are saved directly
whereas other insert.mpp files open again before saving. We know this
because we see the virus scan dialog in the status area and we are asked if
we want to enable Macros. This is only done on file open.

Eventually, we get a Visual Basic dialogbox that says "File Not Found." We
have no idea what file it cannot find. The error repeats itself exactly 4
times, always. Eventually we hit a "Ready" in the status area. We have
examined every external link and they are all valid.

So, it should be safe to close project at this point. When we do, we are
again asked if we want to save changes. There are no other files showing
open in the Window menu except Master.mpp and Resource.mpp. No other
inserted.mpp appear. However, this puts us in a circular loop. The only way
out is to say "No To All." Fortunately, since a previous iteration has saved
the work, answering "no to all" the second time around is safe.

I tried to duplicate the error in some very small files (one line each, one
resource, etc) but cannot do so.

My gut tells me that some of the predecessor/succussor relationships we have
in the insert.mpp files are the problem. There are linkes between the
inserted.mpp files that go file to file, not through a milestone in
Master.mpp.

To keep things safe, all these files are in the same folder at all times.
No name changes ever.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to look for the root cause of this File
Not Found error and the Morphius Loop of saving all the files time and time
again? Again, I cannot duplilcate the error in other file stacks, just this
one.

Ok, long post. Now it's my turn to listen. Thanks in advance. We must
not let the software win.

Jim

Jim,
The software has already won - deal with it.

I can't say that I've seen this particular problem but here are some
things to consider.

The "File not found" message might be related to an event based macro
that is still present in one or more of the files, or to link fragments
from file links that were broken improperly. I would check each
subproject for private subs, or perhaps delete all macros (event based
or other) and see if that helps.

You said you reviewed all external links and they appear to be valid.
However, are all your inter-file links of the "forward pass" variety? If
not, you may have circular relationships and sending inter-file links
through a milestone in the master is often the source of this problem.
Does turning off automatic calculation make a difference?

I assume you do not have links on summary lines either in the master or
subprojects. If you do, get rid of them.

Rather than try to replicate the problem with new small files, try to
pare down your existing files to the point where the problem disappears
or you have a smaller structure that will be easier to troubleshoot. I
would copy the whole structure in tact to a separate directory for
troubleshooting.

By the way, how many total task lines are there in the whole structure?
How many inter-project links?

John
Project MVP

 

[Jim Aksel]

I will try some of these ideas on Monday when I am back on the clock. I know
there are macros in the inserted files, although nothing is event driven.
Some of them run recursively so I will look to be sure the base cases are
clearly valid and terminate.

I like the idea of chopping up the files. I think a good place to start
would be to eliminate all tasks that are not externally linked. That will
cut me down to about a couple hundred lines.

File size? We're somewhere about 8000 lines among 10 files. Two of the
files are under 300 lines, the remainder are all in the 1000-1700 line range.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim
It''s software; it''s not allowed to win.

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

 

[John]

I will try some of these ideas on Monday when I am back on the clock. I know
there are macros in the inserted files, although nothing is event driven.
Some of them run recursively so I will look to be sure the base cases are
clearly valid and terminate.

I like the idea of chopping up the files. I think a good place to start
would be to eliminate all tasks that are not externally linked. That will
cut me down to about a couple hundred lines.

File size? We're somewhere about 8000 lines among 10 files. Two of the
files are under 300 lines, the remainder are all in the 1000-1700 line range.

Jim,
Let us know how it works out.
John

 

[Jim Aksel]

Solution: I narrowed the problem to two files send from the Florida team.
I created two new files, copied and pasted the original file tasks into the
new files.
Saved by overwriting the old file names. Problem solved. Root cause still
unknown.
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim
It's software; it's not allowed to win.

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