Import Wizard to update fields in existing project

[Charles130123]

I am using the Import Wizard to update two fields in my existing project using the Unique ID as a key. The two fields are both Textxx fields. When I import, I get 

for every task and it either deletes all the start/finish/duration details (Yes) or just the duration and effort fields (no). I don't want MSP to touch these fields. 

What can I do?

Thanks

Charles

[#2]

Charles130123,
First of all, what version of Project are you using?
Are you attempting to Append or Merge the data?
What are the two fields you are tying to update?
Also, a screen shot of your import map would be useful.

John

[#3]

@John-project 

Thanks for replying. Answers below. Charles

Version:

Import Wizard:

MS_Planner_ID is Text10

MS_Planner_Completed_Off is Text16

Grateful any help on this. An example of before and after is:

Before:

After (replying No to above dialog box)

[#4]

Might be worth adding that the required fields are updated - I just don't want this side effect (obviously!). I am sure this has worked before (I have used it for two years) - and also not worked before. So I don't know what is different? Maybe a silent MS Project version upgrade?

Charles

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[#5]

Charles,
Thanks for the plethora of screen shots. Doing a quick overview, nothing pops out. I emulated your file and did a merged import. As expected everything works fine for me, only the custom text field was updated, nothing else.

Project test file:

Excel sheet:

Import map:

Final result in Project:

Would you be willing to share your Project and Excel files with me? It would make troubleshooting a lot easier. If you can share I'll give you my address.
John

[#6]

Yes, but I will have to redact most of the material. Let me see if I can reduce the example to something I can share which isn't Official Sensitive. I am sure this is something I am doing different and that exercise might expose what it is ...

Charles

[#7]

Charles,
No problem, I fully understand your need to protect sensitive information. I can send you a macro that will remove all sensitive information from your Project file. It reduces the file to a generic structure. Let me know if you want it. I don't have anything for Excel files, you'll have to desensitize it yourself.

Once you have something to send, send it to me at the address below. Note, I need both your Project and Excel files.
John
jmacprojataticlouddotdotcom
(remove obvious redundancies

[#8]

The behaviour is bizarre in the extreme. I have reduced the project to one task and the import to update the Text fields to one line. If the task is AutoScheduled before the Import starts, I get the "Delete Progress" message and whatever I answer, the progress is deleted, the Duration zeroed and the Complete set to 100%. The task is also set to Manually Scheduled!

If the Task is Manually Scheduled before I start, the update takes place successfully with no other alterations. This must be a defect ..... surely?

Charles

[#9]

Charles130123,
No, not a defect.....at least not with Project or Excel.

Indeed the behavior you describe is very strange. You indicate the issue occurs on your "live" file that you have reduced to a single task. How does your import scenario work with a new test file? I'm guessing it will work fine. If a test file work fine, that suggests to me that perhaps your Project file is corrupt. Try this.
1. Save your Project file as XML.
2. Close Project and then re-open.
3. Open the XML file in Project
4. Now try the import
Does it work? I suspect it will work fine which indicates your original Project file was corrupt. If it still does not work, I suspect there is an issue with your Excel file. But again, I can't help with troubleshoot unless I can actually look at your Project and Excel files (desensitized as necessary).

John

[#10]

The behaviour I report is for the importing one line in the Excel Import file to one task in the MS Project file. But ... I didn't start the MS Project file fresh - I cut down my live file. I will try two things:
a) as you suggest export the MS Project one liner to a external format and re-read, and
b) create an MS Project from scratch

and revert

Charles

Charles

[#11]

Charles130123,
Don't just save the "one liner" version of your file as XML, save the whole file unabridged.

Let me know how both tests work.
John

[#12]

OK, so it fails with this behaviour in all cases. I can create a MSP file from scratch and an import file from scratch and the Manually Scheduled task is OK, but the Automatically Scheduled task gives the message and resets the duration and resets the task to Manually Scheduled. I can send you files as they are vanilla

Charles

[#13]

@Charles130123 

[#14]

After import

@Charles130123 

[#15]

For those who may be following this thread,
Charles sent me his files and I got the same strange result. After some analysis I noted that Charles files had the Project option set for new tasks to be manually scheduled. As soon as that option was changed (i.e. new tasks are auto-scheduled), the import worked as expected.

For a merge import users should insure that the option for task type (auto/manual) is consistent between Project options and the tasks in the file itself.

John