Import MSP files to P6

When you have a few dolars to spend and want a really good solution contact this company: 

Wireless Gravity

http://www.wirelessgravity.com/products/pro-meth_software/pm_flint/?page=pmflint

They have the FLINT interface software (developped by Primaplan in the Netherlands long time ago) that does the conversion in the blink of an eye.....

double post.

It used to be possible to import MSP'98 files to P3

After that most options have been cut off by Microsoft and Primavera.

Phil's remarks are correct and the basic demands for an import.

1. Resource Names must not be blank, but have less than 20 characters
2. Activity Names must not be blank but have less than 255 characters; MSP allows blank activities for presentation purposes
3. XML filename must be less than 20 characters including extension
4. MSP activities must have a calendar assigned.

For smaller files with not to many activities you can do the following:

1. You can copy a MSP file to Excel

2. Make an export to excel from the new Primavera (empty) planning (or put in one or two lines as a sample)

3. copy the lines from the msp excel to the Primavera excel

4. edit every cell and make sure there is an   '  before every entry

Then you can import the excel file into Primavera.

Not an easy way but I managed to do it like this.

cheers

excuse me for double posts..

Some problems mentioned are due to data integrity issues in MSP. This is what I have found.

P6 will reject MSP data or import it with errors, even if it is fine in MSP, unless it satisfies P6 criteria.
Issues which have arisen with us include:

1. Resource Names must not be blank, but have less than 20 characters
2. Activity Names must not be blank but have less than 255 characters; MSP allows blank activities for presentation purposes
3. XML filename must be less than 20 characters including extension
4. MSP activities must have a calendar assigned. MSP default is to apply default calendar if no calendar is assigned; the calendar must actually be assigned to allow error free import. View “Task Calendar” in a column in Project to get an overview. Assign by Fill Down to give every activity an assigned calendar.

Hope this helps, Good Luck.   Phil

Just found this blog. I spent a long time working out how to successfully import into P6.7, and here are my groundrules on formats and licence requirements (sorry format won't correct in this blog to how it looks in my documentation)

Licence Requirement for Microsoft Project (MSP) Import

MSP requires a licence to be present on the computer which P6 is running on before it allowed to import an MPP file. Visibility of MSP can be achieved on Citrix by membership of the appropriate AD group, but note that this means you are liable for cost of a licence, as it enables you to run Project over Citrix.

MSP Save versions
MSP2000                    can save to     MPX, MPP
MSP2002/2003           can save to     MPP, XML
MSP2007                    can save to     MPP, XML

P6 will

• import XML without restriction
• import MPP 2003 when MSP 2003 is present
• NOT import MPP 2007 under any circumstances.
  
  Possible P6 Import Versions
  XML 2003/2007           P6 unrestricted, no MSP licence required
  MPP 2007                   NOT supported for P6 Import
  MPP 2003                   P6 must see MSP 2003 licence installed on same machine
• Phil
   

I finally managed to solve the problem with my Import.

It was to do with my MSP plan having Blank gaps for the activities, but I deleted these and all works :)

Thanks for all your help

I finally managed to solve the problem with my Import.

It was to do with my MSP plan having Blank gaps for the activities, but I deleted these and all works :)

Thanks for all your help

Thanks for all your Feedback on this problem.

I did Install Open Project and save it as an XML from that but it still seemed to come up with an error message box saying Process Complete with Errors: See Log file for Details:

Log File shown below:

   File path: C:\Users\rjp\AppData\Local\Temp\NewCalltake73.primavera.xml

Namespace: http://api.primavera.com/2008/p6/6.2/BusinessObjects

WARNING: Referenced business object Calendar with object id 0 cannot be found, ignoring field CalendarObjectId on business object Activity '5' (5)

SEVERE: Unable to invoke setName on business object Activity. Field "Name" in Activity may not be of zero length.
com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.XMLImporterException: Unable to invoke setName on business object Activity. Field "Name" in Activity may not be of zero length.
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.a(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.if(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.a(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.if(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.XMLImporter.createNewProject(XMLImporter.java)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.a(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.doImport(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.execute(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportMain.main(Unknown Source)
Original Exception:
com.primavera.integration.client.bo.BusinessObjectException: Unable to invoke setName on business object Activity. Field "Name" in Activity may not be of zero length.
at com.primavera.integration.client.bo.BOHelperImpl.setValue(BOHelperImpl.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.a.b.m.a(DefaultConverter.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.a(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.if(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.a(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.if(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.XMLImporter.createNewProject(XMLImporter.java)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.a(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.doImport(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.execute(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportMain.main(Unknown Source)
Original Exception:
java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.client.bo.BOHelperImpl.setValue(BOHelperImpl.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.a.b.m.a(DefaultConverter.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.a(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.if(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.j.e.a(DefaultProcessor.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.a(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.a.if(ImportWorker.java)
at com.primavera.integration.client.xml.xmlimporter.XMLImporter.createNewProject(XMLImporter.java)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.a(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.doImport(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportAction.execute(Unknown Source)
at com.primavera.integration.app.importexport.ImportExportMain.main(Unknown Source)
Caused by: com.primavera.integration.client.bo.InvalidValueException: Field "Name" in Activity may not be of zero length.
at com.primavera.integration.client.bo.object.Activity.setName(Activity.java)
... 18 more

I have Project 2007 but when I save the file I select Microsoft Project 2000-2003(mpp)

It just doesnt seem to work with XML or even mpx files.

Help !

Seems like actual start/finish dates are not imported using .xml as generated from Openproject and other methodology might work such as saving the file using MSP as a Microsoft Project Database or MPD, then importing the Microsoft database might transfer the missing data.

I tried with Spider Project and using .xml as generated from Openproject did not transferred the actual start/finish dates. I was not aware of this as I transfer non updated schedules into our baseline projects before any update is performed.

I do not have MSP but I am still interested on how the export/import using Microsoft database works. There is a possibility save as MPD is available on Project 2003 but not on Project 2010.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/file-formats-supported-by-project-HP045304550.aspx

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/file-formats-supported-by-project-2010-HA010373155.aspx?CTT=1

Thanks for making me aware of this issue.

Regards,

Rafael

KEEP YOUR COPY OF MSP 2003

There is a free MSP equivalent called OpenProject, maybe you can read your original MSP files and then save as MSP 2003 XML.

If P6 is compatible with MSP 2003 XML then this might be a viable conversion utility.

Same as MSP and SureTrak summary bars can be linked to other activities, something many software cannot do, this might cause some issues when importing a MSP job with such links.

Always some data is lost, do not know about actual dates but the summary bar was converted to duration type by Spider which is not equivalent, this happens in different ways with all conversions. You got to develop your own procedures like using UDF to identify summary bars.

I am just starting to explore this free software, if you find something worth mentioning about how it convert files please let us know.

Hi

Even me facing the same problem. Tried the following options

I had project 2007 that I uninstalled and installed 2003 and tried to import it into P6.0, not successful

Tried the mpptompx converter, worked but while viewing itin P6.0, I could only see the activitity names, the durations, start and end dates where all missing. this was only possible for a non resource non cost loaded schedule.

Tried to import the resource and cost loaded 2007 version once again by converting it by mpptompx. While converting the file itself there was an error saying that the Rs 50.00 is an invalid field, this Rs 50 is the std rate that was assigned to aresource in the schedule.

Then after searching in google for quite a few days every where I read that P6.0 is incapable to import the project file due to some reason, which I do not remember now.

That is my experience. So now I am redoing all my schedules in P6.0 once again.

If anyone of you have found or will in the near future please post here so it is useful to all the planners.

Rohit

Primavera version 6 will support to import Micosoft project 2003 files (MPX) only. If u r having the latest verion of MSp u can save as the file in msp 2003 format ie MPX or save it in XML format. Otherwise lot of conversion utilities are available to convert MPP to mpx,after the conversion you can import that MPX file into P6 and enjoy...

Hello Rafael

I have a problem when trying to Import a MSP file to Primavera P6 version 2.

I folllow all neccasary steps so File > Import XML or MPX as I have already done the Convert to these from mpp.

Once I click finish so the process starts to import it comes up with this message when doing the convertion to XML

   Process Completed with Errors. See Log for details.

once I then click on Ok it is not showing the Project in my EPS that I used to link to.

__________________________________________________________________________________

I then tried importing the mpx file to Primavera so i used the exe program that was on this forum to do the convertion.

I then followed the Import steps on Primavera and this time it came up with an error message saying:

 An application event has been intercepted. Please note the event code for reference
Event Code: PRMDB-1047-2

The Error is:

EprmDBSQLExecutionFailure

PRM DBAccess Error: Database Server Error: Cannot insert the value NULL into column 'start_date', table 'PMDB.dbo.RSRCRATE'; column does not allow nulls. INSERT fails.
 

Please help

Thanks

Maybe some obscure and hidden settings such as the following:

Hi Friends,

 have a query in P6.

I have exported MsProject Schedule as XML file and I have imported the same in P6. If i try to change the duration in any activity in P6, the finish date is not changing. Anyone came across this problem? Please let me know the solution.

MsProject Version is MsProject 2010 and Primavera is P6V7

Regards,

R Gopalakrishnan, PMP

For those who are interested in the issues with importing MSP files into P6 there is an article on my websites under Technical Parers outlining the calculation differences.

Paul E Harris

Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia

Planning and Scheduling Training Manual & Book Publishers, Consulting and Training

www.eh.com.au

www.eastwoodharris.com

www.primavera.com.au- a Primavera scheduling software resources site

Hello, I am also importing MSP 2007 to P6v7 and I do not encounter any problem.  It is easier to do the schedule in MSP since the WBS is already set-up. The Time Periods use in MSP 2007 and P6v7 Admin Preferences should be the same. The schedule done in MSP 2007 should be save as XML Format. Then, import the XML file to Primavera. Finally, double check the dates because sometimes there is 1 day difference between the schedule done in MSP 2007 and the one imported to P6v7. Thanks!

Shima,

Wish you good luck with P6, is unpredictable.

Abdullah,

I believe you tried the many suggested methods and you are still having issues, that P6 says MPP and MPX in the dialog but it is not functional is no surprise. I import MS Project into Spider Project with no problem at all with the exception of WBS Type activities as Spider Project has no equivalent for these, with import/export there will always be issues.

Try using .xml as sugested in the following link.

http://www.cpmsolutions.ca/can%20i%20import%20my%20project%20ms%20proje…

Take a look to the following link, yes it does but it does not, I do not understand it.

http://primavera.zxlm.cn/kb/prim73833

http://projectcontrolsonline.com/Forum/tabid/65/forumid/13/postid/261/s…

If you continue searching on Google the list of issues keeps growing !!!

Finally try removing MSP 2007 and install MSP2003, or even try MSP 2010

http://www.planningplanet.com/forums/microsoft-project/416704/convertin…

http://www.eh.com.au/

A ton of good luck, with P6 you will need it, is unpredictable for everything not just for the most basic CPM computations. Look at it as a good excuse when something goes wrong, blame it on the wrong math of P6, is as bad as MS Project math ! ! !

Best regards,

Rafael

P.S. Same as many of you I am at times required to use such lousy softwares.

Hey Alex,

But then the import dialogue box clearly states that MPP files can be imported. But i have  lot of friend who face this issue of importing from MSP to P6. is there a way of getting an export to excel and then importing from excell to P6. I have trying endliessly to somehow get a MS Project 2007 file to P6.Plese advise. I tries Rafael's alternative too but the error still pops!

Seems like your P6 version only reads MPX files an old MS Project format. This was a well known issue in the days of P3. If this is the case and your file format is MPP then you can convert MPP to MPX using a conversion utility although some functionality will be lost.

www.projectstatus.com/pub/PubFiles/MppToMpx.exe

Try and let us know.

Although I do not use nor like P6 If you are to continue using P6 in such case I recommend upgrading to the latest version that should be able to import directly MPP files and therefoer the conversion losses might be reduced.

If in the import dialog you do not see MPP under the Microsoft Project files then it might be the issue. The following is a print screen for a P6.1 reference manual. I suspect you are using an old version of P6.

Shima,

which version of MSP are you using? it is not possible to import MSP 2007 or 2010 files to PM6

Alexandre