Problems inserting/reordering tasks in Project 2010

Question

I'm trying to insert tasks into an existing plan in Project 2010. I can add several tasks with no problem but as soon as I attempt to make one a summary task, chaos ensues. By that I mean Project re-orders the task, assigning it the next available WBS number for the level where I inserted it, but keeping the original row number, and moving it down in the plan where that newly assigned WBS number would be expected to appear. So now neither the row numbers nor the WBS numbers are sequential which makes it difficult to trace dependent tasks. When I attempt to drag and drop the group of tasks back to where I want it, Project inserts them as sub tasks of the nearest preceding summary task. When I then click the outdent button Project moves the groups of tasks back down to where it initially placed them. When I first experienced the problem I may have made it worse by manually editing the WBS number. I deselected the option to Autolink inserted or moved tasks and still have the problem.  I tried copying and pasting the data into a new file and whether I copied the cell contents only, or copied after selecting the upper left corner cell as with Excel, the different copy methods produced different results when pasting, but neither operation pasted all my data correctly. It appears to have solved the row numbering issue, but the WBS is still out of order. Additionally: 1) the finish date for some summary tasks in the new file don't reflect the actual finish date for the last task in its group; 2) when I edit the date of a task, the summary task date doesn't update; 3) the % complete for some tasks didn't copy over correctly; 4) I use task notes extensively and the notes didn't copy to the new file.  I thought there was a way to post a screen shot or attachment but if there is I don't see it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Yahoo_User,

Several months ago a user had an issue with his file. He tried the XML process and the file would not open. He sent me the file and I found that one of his notes was causing the corruption. Once that note was removed, the file worked fine. You may have a similar issue.

John

Answer 2

Thanks John. When I got to method 2 and saved it as an xml file, the xml file wouldn't reopen, so that's a pretty good indicator it is a corrupt file. All my notes copied over so that's great! Thanks again.

Answer 3

Yahoo_User,

Sounds like you may have a corrupt file. Take a look at the following article:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/32054.ms-project-clearing-file-corruption-andor-bloat.aspx

You may want to try method 1, then 3 and then 2 as outlined in the article.

As far as posting a screenshot, you can only do that after your account has been "verified". What exactly that means I don't know, but it is part of the process for new posters. The icon for attaching images is the next to last icon on the message menu bar. Note, you cannot attach a file, just an image.

John