Hey there,

First of all: I’m glad you like the Add-In :)

Generally speaking, it is possible to synchronize tasks/work packages between MS Project and OpenProject in both directions.*

*Terms and conditions may apply. E.g. Relations and Parent-Child relationships are not fully supported as of now.

In order to fill a fresh OP project with data from an MS project go through the following steps:

1. Open up the MS project file with the tasks you wish to synchronize
2. Click the Task Connector ribbon tab
3. Click Source and choose a mode and account
4. Select the Tasks you wish to upload
5. If you are in Link mode open the dropdown menu located in the lower part of the Link Work Packages button and click Create online. Otherwise skip this step

In theory you would now be able to synchronize these tasks, but if you open up the corresponding dialog and hover the checkboxes in front of the items, you will learn that each task needs to have at least a project and type assigned in order to be uploaded. To assign those continue with these steps:

1. Make sure the desired tasks are still selected
2. From the Work Packages Group of the ribbon select Edit
3. Tick the checkbox in front of Project and select a project from the combobox
4. Tick the checkbox in front of Type and select a type from the combobox. If there are no types available try refreshing the list with the button right next to it.
5. Click OK to apply your selection and close the dialog

You should now be able to upload your tasks to OP.

Please note that you might want to repeat the second set of steps on a per task basis in order to assign project and type individually.

Best regards,
Alex

Hi Alex,

at the moment I am testing your Addins (MS PowerPoint and MS Project).

I really like the PowerPoint-Addin, as well as the handling of the Project-Addin. But there are also some functional issues with the Project-Addin.

So far, I tried some simple examples of a hierachical and linked time schedule, both ways (“link” and “abo”).

On the first look, “abo”-mode seems more suitable to my problem, because of the possibility of regarding hierarchy and dependencies. But, maybe because of an inappropriate utilization of MS Project, I ran always in trouble when trying extend a task out of the range of a higher-ranking, comprising element (e.g. phase). MS Project automatically extends the phase properly, but just the phase itself, dont the black bracket, however its called in MS Project. And so there is always a problem with the synchronisation to OpenProject. Furthermore I dont understand if or how MS Project knows about the dependencies between the tasks or is it just considered by the synchronisation with OpenProject?

So “link”-mode was my second try for getting the things done. I understand that this mode doesnt consider hierachy and dependencies, am I right? So that becomes a methodical issue this way. No problem for me, so far. But the approach just works fine for me, when synchronizing nearly everytime updating a task. In case I update a few more tasks, wich are dependet in OpenProject I receive an error most time.

No its time for my questions ;)

1) What about your experience using the Addin?
2) Based on my remarks, am I handling MS Project possibly not the right way?
3) I definitely need a possiblity to schedule my tasks (hundreds) in OpenProject in a comfortable way.
3.1) Is there any further development of the Addins in progress?
3.2) Is there any improivement of the time schedule in OpenProject expected?
4) Any other suggestions?

Edit: Found out, that “abo”-mode seems to work properly, when higher-ranking elements set as “autmatically planned” in MS Project. No errors so far.

Thanks in advance and Best regards

Bernd

Hello Bernd,

I know this post is a bit old but it seems the current version of the MS Project Task Connector is currently broken, or there was an update in OpenProject that broke it. I was wonder which version of each you were using when they worked.

Best regards,
Ron

Hi Ron,

thank your for the hint. We are using the latest version of the addin. (2.11)

I am joyfully looking foward to the fix.

Best regards

Bernd

Hello Bernd,

For the Project connector the latest version is 2.16, which is the version that seems to be broken. I do not see a way of downloading an older version. Do you know where I might find 2.11?

The PowerPoint connector is at version 2.11.

Best regards,
Ron

Hi Ron,

sorry, I was partly wrong. We are using the latest version. The latest version isn’t 2.11, but 2.16.

And to make it clear. We have the same problems like everybody else.

Sorry for the missunderstanding.

Best regards

Bernd

Hi Ron, hi Bernd,

unfortunately, the error also occurs in older version of the MS Project Task Connector.
The error is caused due to some incompatibility with OpenProject 5.0.

Since we probably won’t be able to fix this error in the short term, we deactivated the download section for the MS project add-in.
(The TaskConnector for MS PowerPoint is unaffected by this.)

Best regards,
Robin

Hi Robin,

First off let me say that in all the project management systems Open Project is definitely a top one in the open source area that I have reviewed in the past couple weeks.

In trying to identify the cause, I found that it appears to be an authentication issue and added that to the tracker. Syncing from OpenProject to MS Project does work, is it just syncing from project to OpenProject that is broken.

As the ability to continue to use MS project for building schedules quickly and sharing with client project managers, I am very interested in getting this fixed. I would rather migrate to Open Project then my second choice in the Open Source market or to a proprietary application that supports project. Is there anything the community or myself can do to help get this resolved soon?

Is there any other way to import a project schedule into OpenProject (xls, xlm, CSV, etc.)?

Best regards,
Ron

Hi Robin, Hi Ron,

this is a question I also have… Is there any other way to import a schedule?

Thanks,
San

Hi San,

OpenProject Version 5.0.16 has the fix to Synch with MS Project now. I am including below the steps that I found to work for importing a new project from MS Project to OpenProject. First, some notes about what does not import:

• Duration
• Predecessors

Steps

1. Setup Project in Open Project
a. Create a new project as a sub-project of the client
b. Modify any settings for the project that are needed
2. Prepare MS project schedule for import
a. Open the project schedule
b. Delete any empty rows
c. Click on the Task Connector
d. Click Source
e. Select Subscription Mode
f. Click OK
g. Select all tasks
h. Select Edit in the Work Packages menu
i. Set Project name to the project created in step 1
j. Set Type to “Task”
k. Click OK
l. Select Synchronize in the Synchronization menu
m. Select all and press the spacebar to select the check box on all
n. Click Sync
o. Edit the type for all roll-up tasks to be “Phase”
p. Synchronize again (steps L, M, N)
q. Save the Project for later use.
3. Edit predecessors in OpenProject
a. Select Project
b. Select Work packages
c. Change the view to Details view
d. Click the arrow next to the task name
e. In Details view select Relations
f. Select Follows
g. Enter the task that the current task follows
h. Repeat steps d-g for each task that has a predecessor

I can’t get step “m” to work. No way to select anything. Spacebar does nothing. Can’t click any of the boxes. Double clicking doesn’t work either.

I’ve running v2.16 on 32bit 2010 Project on W7. Any ideas? Does the plugin need to updated?

Hi, 1 question, how can i install this plugin? i’m interested because i want to upload a .mpp file from ms project, thanks for answers