Gantt Chart circular reference

Question

Hello,

I was working on my Gantt chart with 4 project each having multiple subtasks. I had given it link to different tasks throughout. A day later when I opened my file, I had a circular reference which I don't know about and clicked ok. As it opened my file, my timeline was messed up (the subtasks got mixed with each other) I really needed those dates. how do I recover that file? I asked my IT department to recover the file but it still gives me the same error and I am unable to sort the timeline, please help.

Answer 1

NehaKamble1,

Sorry, I don't quite understand your statement, "... I didn't have the options of link". Are you saying the Advanced tab of the Inserted Project Information window didn't display the "Link to Project" option? If that's the case, then perhaps I mistakenly assumed you had a dynamic master when in fact you may have a static master.

If you look at the task IDs at master level, are all the numbers consecutive with no repeats (assuming the file is totally expanded and not sorted or filtered)? If so, then indeed you have a static master (i.e. a snapshot in time of each of the inserted subprojects).

What exactly are the steps you use to create your master?

For your reference, you should never link to summary lines. If you did, then indeed that is most likely the source of your circular references, as I mentioned in my first response. You might want to take a look at the following Wiki article: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/29569.ms-project-linking-andor-assigning-resources-to-summary-tasks.aspx

So, do you still have an issue? Do you still have a question?

John

Answer 2

NehaKamble1,

Is Project 2016 fully updated? It should be version Winproj.exe 16.0.4732.1000. If it is not, run Windows Update. Note, if you are using a subscription form of Project like Project 365 or Project Online, those are automatically updated.

When you say, the tasks got "mixed up", what exactly does that mean? A screen shot could be helpful. It sounds like in addition to a dynamic master you also have some cross-project links. Do you? Do you see ghost tasks in the master?

John

Answer 3

Also it is a 2016 software

Answer 4

Hi John,

Thank You for replying. Yes, it is a master project with inserted sub-projects. Each sub-project has different tasks and have links within a project 

For example,

Project 1

   Task A

• Task 1a
• Task 2a

   Task B

• Task 1b
• Task 2b

Project 2

  Task A

• Task 1a
• Task 2a

   Task B

• Task 1b
• Task 2b

Project 3

Project 4

........

So, when I opened the project with circular reference; the problem/error which occurred was that the task 1a of Project A got mixed up with task 2a of project 2. Also project 3 was completely missing. I lost data in the file itself and couldn't recover it.

Answer 5

NehaKamble1,

It's unclear by your description exactly what type of file structure you have. Do you have a dynamic master with inserted subprojects? And please clarify what you mean by, "...link to different tasks throughout". Do you have cross-project links (i.e. external links between tasks in different projects)?

One of the prime causes of circular references is out-denting a subtask with links to a summary level but the issue can also occur in other scenarios. We need to better understand your file structure in order to give a more definitive answer.

By the way, what version of Project are you using and is it fully updated?

John