Gantt Chart Wizard (Critical Path) and Bar Name Corruption

Has anyone noticed problems with the Gantt Chart Wizard corrupting bar
names (found in Format->Bar Styles) in MS Project 2007? I had an
earlier post about bar name corruption, but did not know the cause.
This morning I noticed the corruption returned and traced it to
running the Gantt Chart wizard. It appears repeatable.

(Julie - If you happen to read this, looks like this is what caused
the corruption in the names I saw. The question now is why SP1 and
the Infrastucture patch did not fix the problem as I am sure the SP is
installed and it appears the Infrastructure patch is also.)


Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Don

Hi Don,

Thanks for the update. It appears that this is going to keep
recurring on Project files created in earlier version of Project.
I've not seen any problems with Project files created in Project
2007 and then using the Gantt Chart Wizard but if I take a Project
2003 file, open it in Project 2007 and run the Gantt chart wizard --
I see the same problem. If I recall from your previous post, this
was a file initially created in Project 2000.

A suggestion. Create multiple views fixing the Bar Style corruption
problem in each view and then do not re-run the Gantt chart wizard.
When you want to show different information (critical, baseline
etc.) just switch views.

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

"Don" wrote in message
news:56a6b669-a730-44c9-8dd8-c69e725217a6@40g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
> Has anyone noticed problems with the Gantt Chart Wizard corrupting
> bar
> names (found in Format->Bar Styles) in MS Project 2007? I had an
> earlier post about bar name corruption, but did not know the
> cause.
> This morning I noticed the corruption returned and traced it to
> running the Gantt Chart wizard. It appears repeatable.
>
> (Julie - If you happen to read this, looks like this is what
> caused
> the corruption in the names I saw. The question now is why SP1
> and
> the Infrastucture patch did not fix the problem as I am sure the
> SP is
> installed and it appears the Infrastructure patch is also.)
>
>
> Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Don
>

[miles_hot]

I used to experience this issue when people initially created a project using a version of project before 2003 and then attempted to work with them on 2003 machines - initially no issues and then invariably corruption.

The only way around it was to
1) create a blank file in the "new" version of project
2) open the old version in 2003
3) ensure the views are the same (if using a template etc use the organiser to copy the tables, filters, fields etc across)
4) copy and paste the whole of one view (select top left box, copy and then paste into the new blank file).,
5) save in 2003

I don't have 2007 so can't confirm this works for 2007 however it was the best way I found for 2003 and avoided all ongoing corruptions.

Miles

Julie,

Actually, the only view I need is one showing the critical path. It's
a pretty simplistic schedule, but there are other issues that have
prompted me to run the Gantt Chart wizard for the critical path
repeatedly (see my post on the critical path not showing if you want).

More curiosity questions than anything:

1) Do you know if MS is aware of this issue with converting from old
schedules? If so, are they planning on addressing it?

2) What export type (eg XML, xls, etc) is most complete. Since the
issue appears to be the initial file type, what are the chances of
successfully exporting to (say) XML, creating a new 2007 Project, and
then importing the XML? Not a terribly elegant solution, but might be
a way to "save" projects from earlier versions of Project from
corruption problems. I will probably give this a shot, but as a
novice Project user I doubt I would notice some of the more subtle
issues that might come up in that process.

Thanks for the help!

Don






On Mar 17, 10:30*am, "JulieS" <Jul...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> Hi Don,
>
> Thanks for the update. *It appears that this is going to keep
> recurring on Project files created in earlier version of Project.
> I've not seen any problems with Project files created in Project
> 2007 and then using the Gantt Chart Wizard but if I take a Project
> 2003 file, open it in Project 2007 and run the Gantt chart wizard -- *
> I see the same problem. *If I recall from your previous post, this
> was a file initially created in Project 2000.
>
> A suggestion. *Create multiple views fixing the Bar Style corruption
> problem in each view and then do not re-run the Gantt chart wizard.
> When you want to show different information (critical, baseline
> etc.) just switch views.
>
> I hope this helps. *Let us know how you get along.
>
> Julie
> Project MVP
>
> Visithttp://project.mvps.org/for the FAQs and additional
> information about Microsoft Project
>
> "Don" *wrote in message
>
> news:56a6b669-a730-44c9-8dd8-c69e725217a6@40g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Has anyone noticed problems with the Gantt Chart Wizard corrupting
> > bar
> > names (found in Format->Bar Styles) in MS Project 2007? *I had an
> > earlier post about bar name corruption, but did not know the
> > cause.
> > This morning I noticed the corruption returned and traced it to
> > running the Gantt Chart wizard. *It appears repeatable.
>
> > (Julie - If you happen to read this, looks like this is what
> > caused
> > the corruption in the names I saw. *The question now is why SP1
> > and
> > the Infrastucture patch did not fix the problem as I am sure the
> > SP is
> > installed and it appears the Infrastructure patch is also.)
>
> > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
>
> > Thanks!
>
> > Don- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hi Don,

My comments are inline.

"Don" wrote in message
news:c8fb45b4-93c6-4f87-bf07-8dd0f776da55@z9g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...

Julie,

Actually, the only view I need is one showing the critical path.
It's
a pretty simplistic schedule, but there are other issues that have
prompted me to run the Gantt Chart wizard for the critical path
repeatedly (see my post on the critical path not showing if you
want).

[Julie] You don't need to keep re-running the wizard to show changes
in critical path. Once you switch the format of the Gantt chart to
show critical path, if a task becomes critical it will automatically
change color.

More curiosity questions than anything:

1) Do you know if MS is aware of this issue with converting from
old
schedules? If so, are they planning on addressing it?

[Julie] I don't know if they plan on fixing it, but I think they
are aware of it.

2) What export type (eg XML, xls, etc) is most complete. Since the
issue appears to be the initial file type, what are the chances of
successfully exporting to (say) XML, creating a new 2007 Project,
and
then importing the XML? Not a terribly elegant solution, but might
be
a way to "save" projects from earlier versions of Project from
corruption problems. I will probably give this a shot, but as a
novice Project user I doubt I would notice some of the more subtle
issues that might come up in that process.

[Julie] If the idea is to try to avoid the issue, I'd try a couple
of less complicated methods first. Try inserting the existing file
into a new project file through Insert > Project. Uncheck the
option "link to project". Before doing so, make sure the new
project you are going to insert into has the same calendar
definition (you can copy the calendar through the organizer), set
the start date equal to the old project start date. Once you've
inserted the project select all tasks except for the first one and
outdent. That will restore the original outline settings. In very
quick testing with a project 2003 file that was exhibiting the same
problems you noted, this seemed to allow me to run the wizard in
2007 without the name corruption problem.

Thanks for the help!

Don

[Julie] You're welcome Don.

On Mar 17, 10:30 am, "JulieS" <Jul...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> Hi Don,
>
> Thanks for the update. It appears that this is going to keep
> recurring on Project files created in earlier version of Project.
> I've not seen any problems with Project files created in Project
> 2007 and then using the Gantt Chart Wizard but if I take a Project
> 2003 file, open it in Project 2007 and run the Gantt chart
> wizard --
> I see the same problem. If I recall from your previous post, this
> was a file initially created in Project 2000.
>
> A suggestion. Create multiple views fixing the Bar Style
> corruption
> problem in each view and then do not re-run the Gantt chart
> wizard.
> When you want to show different information (critical, baseline
> etc.) just switch views.
>
> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
>
> Julie
> Project MVP
>
> Visithttp://project.mvps.org/for the FAQs and additional
> information about Microsoft Project
>
> "Don" wrote in message
>
> news:56a6b669-a730-44c9-8dd8-c69e725217a6@40g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Has anyone noticed problems with the Gantt Chart Wizard
> > corrupting
> > bar
> > names (found in Format->Bar Styles) in MS Project 2007? I had an
> > earlier post about bar name corruption, but did not know the
> > cause.
> > This morning I noticed the corruption returned and traced it to
> > running the Gantt Chart wizard. It appears repeatable.
>
> > (Julie - If you happen to read this, looks like this is what
> > caused
> > the corruption in the names I saw. The question now is why SP1
> > and
> > the Infrastucture patch did not fix the problem as I am sure the
> > SP is
> > installed and it appears the Infrastructure patch is also.)
>
> > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
>
> > Thanks!
>
> > Don- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hi Don,

I'd rather say let's not use the gantt Chart izard in Project 2007.
If you want to show the critical path without using the wizard, here's how
Format, Bar Styles
Change the Show For... Line from Normal into Normal,Not Critical
Insert a row in third position
Name Critical
Show for: Normal, Critical
Color the middle bar red.

(This used to be like a "standing instruction" in 98 when the wizard wasn't
there yet)

HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf
"Don" <emq_33@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c8fb45b4-93c6-4f87-bf07-8dd0f776da55@z9g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...

Julie,

Actually, the only view I need is one showing the critical path. It's
a pretty simplistic schedule, but there are other issues that have
prompted me to run the Gantt Chart wizard for the critical path
repeatedly (see my post on the critical path not showing if you want).

More curiosity questions than anything:

1) Do you know if MS is aware of this issue with converting from old
schedules? If so, are they planning on addressing it?

2) What export type (eg XML, xls, etc) is most complete. Since the
issue appears to be the initial file type, what are the chances of
successfully exporting to (say) XML, creating a new 2007 Project, and
then importing the XML? Not a terribly elegant solution, but might be
a way to "save" projects from earlier versions of Project from
corruption problems. I will probably give this a shot, but as a
novice Project user I doubt I would notice some of the more subtle
issues that might come up in that process.

Thanks for the help!

Don






On Mar 17, 10:30 am, "JulieS" <Jul...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> Hi Don,
>
> Thanks for the update. It appears that this is going to keep
> recurring on Project files created in earlier version of Project.
> I've not seen any problems with Project files created in Project
> 2007 and then using the Gantt Chart Wizard but if I take a Project
> 2003 file, open it in Project 2007 and run the Gantt chart wizard --
> I see the same problem. If I recall from your previous post, this
> was a file initially created in Project 2000.
>
> A suggestion. Create multiple views fixing the Bar Style corruption
> problem in each view and then do not re-run the Gantt chart wizard.
> When you want to show different information (critical, baseline
> etc.) just switch views.
>
> I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
>
> Julie
> Project MVP
>
> Visithttp://project.mvps.org/for the FAQs and additional
> information about Microsoft Project
>
> "Don" wrote in message
>
> news:56a6b669-a730-44c9-8dd8-c69e725217a6@40g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Has anyone noticed problems with the Gantt Chart Wizard corrupting
> > bar
> > names (found in Format->Bar Styles) in MS Project 2007? I had an
> > earlier post about bar name corruption, but did not know the
> > cause.
> > This morning I noticed the corruption returned and traced it to
> > running the Gantt Chart wizard. It appears repeatable.
>
> > (Julie - If you happen to read this, looks like this is what
> > caused
> > the corruption in the names I saw. The question now is why SP1
> > and
> > the Infrastucture patch did not fix the problem as I am sure the
> > SP is
> > installed and it appears the Infrastructure patch is also.)
>
> > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
>
> > Thanks!
>
> > Don- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -