Issues with Mapping From Access Into Project 2010

[mbubernak]

Not sure this is the right forum, but I could really use some help mapping fields from an Access database into Project. I recently had to upgrade from Project 2007 to 2010 and ever since then have had problems using an existing map. The initial problem I ran into was getting “OUT OF CONTEXT:Start_Date” errors when trying to map my database field name [Start] to project field name Start, and [Subtask Name] to Name, along with a few others.

http://oi46.tinypic.com/300z494.jpg

So after a little Googling, I found out that it appeared to be an issue with Project 2010 in that it seems project 2010's default column names are different from 2007, so I went into my Access database and renamed [Start] to [Start_date] and [Subtask Name] to [Subtask_Name]…which appeared to fix my map errors.

http://i45.tinypic.com/280uu0g.jpg

But for some reason, even though you can see in the “Preview” panel, where the first Start date is 14 June 2010…after running the map in Project, nothing gets mapped into the Project Start field, and so all the tasks end up with the exact same 31 Dec 2005 date for some reason.

The command I use in a macro to do the mapping is

OrganizerMoveItem Type:=7, FileName:="DAS_IMCSB Schedule.mpp", ToFileName:="Global.MPT", Name:="AR2009IMCSB"

Any help would be much appreciated as I’m not really much of a vba programmer and at my wits end trying to get this to work. The only other thing I can think of is having Access 2010 installed as well, but I’m just not sure that’s really going to fix it. Thanks!

 

[JulieInMaine]

Are your tasks manually scheduled or automatically scheduled? Ensure the new task mode is set to automatically scheduled. I have Project 2010 SP-1 with the latest cumulative update installed and all appears to work just fine.

I hope this helps.

Julie

 

[mbubernak]

I assume you're talking about the "New tasks created:" option is set to Auto Scheduled, under the Project Options/Schedule section? Which it is...or is there a "new task mode" somehwere else? Thanks!

 

[JulieInMaine]

Yes, sorry for not being more precise. What service pack and CU do you have installed in Project? If you make a very simple Excel file with ID, Name, Start, Duration and try to merge does it work?

Try exporting a simple file to Excel from Project and see what maps Project sets up.

 

[mbubernak]

Julie,
I've got Project 2010 (14.0.6023.1000) SP1 MSO (14.0.6106.5005)

And I created a simple Excel file as you suggested, but for some reason, can't get the Import Wizard to open up when I point to the Excel file like I do with my Access database. I'm doing to same thing, opening up my Project file, going to File-Open, navitage to the filename and click on the filename and select "Open", but no wizard? When I do the exact same steps but select my database and hit "Open", the wizard pops up...so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Thanks, Mike

 

[JulieInMaine]

Hmmm. Something is amiss. What version of Excel (2010? 2007) of excel are you using? Can you log into your machine with another UserID and try it again?

 

[mbubernak]

Actually all the other MS products including Excel are still 2007.

 

[JulieInMaine]

Ah, check your legacy file format settings in Project 2010. File > Options, Trust Center > Trust Center settings (Button) > Legacy Formats. Set to "allow". Does that help?

 

[mbubernak]

Sorry, I was out of the office for a few days, but I finally figured out what the problem was...apparently in Project 2010 "Start" is not really (no longer?) a date field, "Scheduled Start" is the field 2010 uses to start a task, so once I changed my map to point to "Scheduled Start", the correct dates were picked up. Thanks for your help though!

 

[JulieInMaine]

You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

Julie