Forum Discussion
How to import a Project for the Web export into Project Pro (desktop)
Hi all, so I'm working with someone who is using Project for the Web. This will only allow them to export to excel. I'm trying to take this and import it into my desktop Project Pro, but can't seem to do it. Here's the steps I'm following:
- New from Excel workbook
- Import Wizard selections
- New map
- As a new project
- Tasks & Import includes headers
- Source worksheet name auto populates with the only tab value in the excel, Project tasks
- Here's the issue... Under "From: Excel Field", I'm not able to select anything at all. The dropdown is empty. Clicking Add All does nothing. It's like it's not recognizing the headers.
I did make sure to remove the excel export's Project Information that ends up at the top of the tab, so that the field names are in the header row.
Anyone able to help or have another idea? Goal is that this smaller plan will be part of my larger plan so that this vendor is managing their plan but right now just trying to convert theirs before doing that.
TIA!
- wolfie42 --
I ran into this exact problem a couple of years ago, and decided it is way too much work trying to import into Microsoft Project an Excel workbook that was exported from Project for the Web. However, if this something you absolutely have to do, then copy all of the cells from the exported Excel workbook (including the column names) and then paste them into a competely new Excel workbook. Then save the new workbook. You should now find that the information appears as expected in the Import dialog in Microsoft Project. Hope this helps.
- wolfie42 --
I ran into this exact problem a couple of years ago, and decided it is way too much work trying to import into Microsoft Project an Excel workbook that was exported from Project for the Web. However, if this something you absolutely have to do, then copy all of the cells from the exported Excel workbook (including the column names) and then paste them into a competely new Excel workbook. Then save the new workbook. You should now find that the information appears as expected in the Import dialog in Microsoft Project. Hope this helps.- Thanks Dale! Will give this a try first thing in the AM. Been reading up on this "light" version of Project and looks like MS's hope is for it to become more robust but still a little shocked you can't export as an mpp file. Unfortunately this file is coming from a small vendor and while we've requested they upgrade, not sure that's going to happen. 😕
- Hey Dale, finally got a minute to test this out and it works, mostly lol! So thank you! BUT one question. The import doesn't seem to retain the summary tasks, the indentations. So all tasks are at the same "level". I did import the Outline values that were in the exported file and was hoping Project would use that to know what the summary tasks were but no luck there. Did I do something wrong or is this just something that's part of this type of process?
Thanks again!- wolfie42 --
No, the Outline Number field will not import into Microsoft Project because this is a field that is calculated by the software. What you CAN do, however, is to create a custom Number field named Outline Level in your Project for the Web project. You will need to manually enter numbers that represent the outline level of each task, where 1 is the first level of indent, 2 is the second level of indent, etc. Then import the Excel spreadsheet into Microsoft Project and the Outline level values from the Excel workbook WILL BE imported into your Microsoft Project schedule. I tried this and it did work as expected, however, there is quite a bit of manual labor involved. Now I think you can see how difficult it is to import a Project for the Web project into Microsoft Project! 🙂 Hope this helps.
A screen shot would help but did you select an import of tasks, resources, or assignments, or perhaps, all three? Also, did you select a specific sheet in the Excel Workbook?
You also mention something about removing Project information at the top of the tab. What tab? A screen shot of your Excel Workbook would help.
John
John-project Thanks John for the quick response! There's only one worksheet so as I mentioned, the wizard auto selected it for the Source worksheet name. I only selected tasks as I mentioned.
Apparently when you export out of Project for the Web, at the top of the only worksheet in the file, it adds the info you'd find under Project Information in pro at the top, pushing the column headers to Row 9. I deleted that info so the headers were in row 1.
Unfortunately I cannot share screenshots as this is for my job and it's not allowed. I'm posting this from my personal computer since this site is blocked on my work computer. That's why I detailed out the steps, hoping that would be a fair middle ground. Happy to share any other info you need!
- wolfie42,
On my system the wizard auto-selects "none" for the worksheet. I must manually select "sheet1" in order to see Excel data. Are you saying on your system the wizard auto-selects "sheet1"?
You didn't answer my initial question about what type of data you want to import. Did you select "tasks", "resources", "assignments", some combination thereof, or did you not make a selection?
John
