Reassigning activity IDs

May I raise a point.

Many users like do implort/export in form of DBF/XLS, even myself. On the ID issue, we need to place more attention.

The actID must be an unique number to P3. Before you do an import, make sure the number on XLS is unique on both XLS and project existing activity. Otherwise, you are doing activity creation and amendment at the same time.

Hi Philip,



Yes I agree with you. If the need to just renumber the activities then xls is the best way to go.



However if the need is to change the first 6 characters. of the ID xxyyzz0000 to comply with the clients ID format than this can be done with 1 Global change specification.



Hermie

Hi Hermie,



Global change is used, but first you have to renumber activities in a seperate field, prior to doing the glöbal change, and the easiest way to do this is by exporting, and doing it in excel.



Regards



Philip

Hi Philip,



I read Jaco’s solution and believe that it can be done with 1 Global Change command.

Hi Hermie,



I think you are missing the point here. Go back to the original question and you will find out what Heinz wanted to do, nothing to do with mass changes, all he needed was to renumber his schedule to suit his clients needs, and ensure he kept his relationships. I think he had a good answer from Jaco.



Regards



Philip

Hi Heinz,



OK clear. Now what mass change do you want to do?

Hi Heinz,



So in P3 you have a maximum of 10 Characters length of Activity ID. You say the first 2 is reserved for Sub-project ID.



Therefore say your sub-project ID is XX. What is the rest of of the activity ID that you want to change?



Hermie

Heinz,



Just a matter of interest. What is your client’s requirement?

To my experience, a mixture of global change and manual change (with exclusive project open) will be the best solution. Also, try to work with sub-programmes when firstly prepare your programme.

Hi Sukumaran Subaramaniyan,



Batch processing is a tool come with P3.(??batch.exe ,I can’t remember,you can find it in P3 folder)



By writing a script file and run it, you can do every thing

as you can do within P3)



There is a manual in PDF format available in P3 CD.

Hi Guys,



I’m from Open Plan but anything for a fellow planner!



The easiest way to do this that I know off is by using Global change.



In Global change you can Add/Insert/Rename/change activity IDs.



Example specification

Then:

LINE 1 : &AAA EQ LTRIM(ACT)

LINE 2 : ACT EQ "AA" & &AAA



Line 1 removes leading blanks from the existing activity ID. This true for numberic activity IDs example actity "10"



Line 2 Replaces the existing Activity ID with AA10



This process is called concantenation.

All relationships are kept intact.



I would advise you to select trial run first to examine the results.



[Blatent advertising deleted by Moderator.]

I think without much headache you can do these things with Activity.xls sheet(P3’s Ra) and after the adjustment you can upload the things back to your P3 file using setActivities command button which is available in the xls file.

Hi Zhang,



What is batch processing and how you do it?



Regards.

you can also try batch processing

Hi Guys,



Jaco is quite correct, however a tip or two. Use dbf format when exporting. It is easier too create a temporary code than a custom field, use the temporary code field for the new ID’s. When a global change is done P3 will automatically update the relationships. One thing to look out for is to make sure there is no duplicate ID’s in the new ID No’s, so put some thought into this, or you will löse activities. Have a look at the concatenate function in excel, this is a great aide when setting up schedules, and ID no’s.



Hope this is of assistance.



Regards,



Philip

Hi Henk



I know of a way I will use that will not effect the logic. Maybe thier is a Easier Way which I dont know of.



1) Make a COPY of your Schedule. (Current and Target)



2) Remove your Target



2) Crate a Custom Data Item (Data /Custom Data Item)



3) Export this Field (And Any Other to XLS) (Obvious with the Activity ID)



4) Do the Changes (In This Field)



5) Import This Field into p3



6) Do a Global Change (Act ID EQ (What Ever you have called this Field)



And Schedule (No Change should Have Occur.



Then do the same to the Target



Then link theTarget





Cheers

Open the file exclusively,then you can edit ID in P3