dspTrack

Export a Project File

Export a project to make updates to the project in MS Project, then import the plan to dspTrack™ to update the project data.

Refer to Import Project Files into dspTrack™ for more information.

A project can be exported from dspTrack™ in the form of an Excel file (with an .xlsx extension) or an MS Project 2012 project (with an .mpp extension).

NOTE: A plan must have a Project File Type set to use export functionality. If a plan was created in dspTrack™ and not based on a project import, set the plan’s Project File Type to Excel 2007 or MS Project prior to export.

NOTE: Once a Project File Type has been set if a project file is imported, the Project File Type cannot be changed for the plan. For example, a user creates a plan with a Project File Type of Excel 2007 and then imports an Excel file. The user then changes the Project File Type to MSProject 2012 on the Plan page’s Vertical View on the General tab. The user attempts to export the project file from dspTrack™. An error message displays and the export does not proceed.

NOTE: When a project with a Project File Type of MS Project  is created in dspTrack™ and then exported, the project’s calendar, work days and work hours are also exported. 

NOTE: If a project was created in dspTrack and is to be exported, it must be exported before the critical path has been calculated (i.e., before the Calculate icon is clicked on the Plan tab of the Plan page's Vertical View).

To export a file:

  1. Click Project in Navigation pane.
  2. Click Plans for a project.
  3. Click Vertical View for a plan.
  4. Click Plantab.
  5. Click Export; a confirmation message displays.

  6. Click Ok.

    NOTE: If there are no tasks in the plan, the Export button is disabled.

  7. Click Plan tab.
  8. Click Download a file next to Upload.
  9. Save the file.

The file exports in the selected Project File Format.

The following fields are exported.

Field

Description

ID

Displays a unique identifier used for the task in underlying tables.

Active

Displays "Yes." dspTrack™ only imports tasks that are Active in Microsoft Project. When exported, those tasks are still marked as active.

Task_Mode

Displays “Auto Scheduled,” the only valid value.

Name

Displays the task name.

Duration

Displays the number of days between planned start and planned finish dates.

Start_Date

Displays the start date for work on the task according to the project schedule.

Finish_Date

Displays the finish date for work on the task according to the project schedule.

Predecessors

Displays the ID of task(s) that is a predecessor to the current task, along with the dependency type (Finish to Start, Start to Finish, Finish to Finish, Start to Start)

Notes

Displays a description of the task, which displays on the PlanTask page’s Vertical View on the General tab in the Description field.

Critical

Indicates whether the task is on the critical path, thus controlling the calculated start and finish dates for a project.

NOTE: This value cannot be updated in dspTrack™.

Milestone

Indicates whether the task is attached to a milestone in the project.

NOTE: This value cannot be updated in dspTrack™.

Actual_Start

Displays the actual start date originally imported into the plan or the date that a user clicked Next Action on the Work List to begin work on the task. This date may not be the same as the planned start date.

 

NOTE: If work on a task has not started (i.e., Actual Start Date is blank for a task), the exported value in the Actual Start column is 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM.

Actual_Finish

Displays the actual finish date originally imported into the plan or the date that a user clicked Next Action on the Work List to complete work on the task. This date may not be the same as the planned finish date.

 

NOTE: If work on a task has not finished (i.e., Actual Finish Date is blank for a task) the exported value in the Actual Finish column is 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM.

Calendar

If created in dspTrack™, the default calendar for the project is also exported, along with working days and hours.