Export Project from Microsoft Project to IFS

Explanation

A project in IFS Project can be integrated with a Microsoft Project file by using the IFS Integration to Microsoft Project. To use this integration, IFS Add-in for Microsoft Project needs to be installed. When this Add-in is installed, you will be able to access IFS Project by using the IFS Cloud menu shown on the menu bar in Microsoft Project. In this menu, select the Connect to IFS option to establish a connection to the desired IFS environment.

When connected to an IFS environment, you can export a project from the active Microsoft Project file to IFS Project through the Export function. All information necessary for project planning purposes is handled in the integration, such as project information, the work breakdown structure and activities with their relevant information. In addition, for each export, it can be configured whether certain data types should be transferred, such as dependencies, constraints, resources and resource assignments.

An export can either update an existing project or create an entirely new project plan in an empty project that has no sub projects in IFS Project. The export will update the entire work breakdown structure by adding new activities and sub projects, as well as modifying existing activities and sub projects. As a result of the export, activities and sub projects that exist only in IFS Project will not be deleted. These sub projects and activities must be deleted manually in IFS Project.

Prerequisites

• Microsoft Project must be installed.
• The IFS Project Add-in for Microsoft Project must be installed.
• The project ID must exist in IFS Project.
• You must have access to the entire project to perform the export.
• Identifiers in the Activity ID column (Task Text2) must be unique within a sub project.
• Identifiers in the Sub Project ID column (Task Text1), where Activity ID is blank, must be unique within the project. Note that Tasks with Outline Level = 1 are sub projects.
• Tasks where the Activity ID column (Task Text2) are not blank cannot also be summary tasks (sub projects).
• Tasks must have a description.

 

System Effects

• The active Microsoft Project file is used to update the project in IFS Project.
• The project in IFS Project will be updated with information from Microsoft Project. Data in the Microsoft Project will be exported to IFS Project as specified in detail in About Integration to Microsoft Project.
  • Tasks in Microsoft Project will update the sub projects and activities in the project in IFS Project. Summary tasks will update sub projects.
  • Activities and sub projects that exist only in IFS Project will not be deleted. These sub projects and activities must be deleted manually in IFS Project.
  • If the Resource Assignments check box in the Export Project to IFS dialog box is selected, resource allocations to project activities are exported, but only if these resources exist in IFS Project. By selecting the Resources check box, all resources including those not existing in IFS Project and those not allocated, will be exported. New resources are created in IFS Project without cost and capacity information. Resource allocations will be updated or created.
  • If the Constraints check box in the Export Project to IFS dialog box is selected, information about constraints on activities will be exported. Constraints will be updated or created in IFS Project, only if the constraint from the Microsoft Project file has a corresponding constraint type in IFS Project.
  • If the Dependencies check box in the Export Project to IFS dialog box is selected, information about the activity dependencies including dependency type and lag in days, will be exported. Dependencies in IFS Project will be created, updated or deleted. Dependencies between sub projects are not supported in IFS Project and any such dependencies in the Microsoft Project file will be not be exported.