Problem with MS Project using an Excel File (importing).

Question

Once I open a new MS Project using an Excel File (importing), the Excel data comes through without any issues as long as the Finish Date is not NULL. I seems like when the Finish Date is Null, within MS Project, the Finish field shows Null as well; however, for the ones that the Excel file includes non-null date values, MS Project is showing a 5 digit number. Below are some for the examples for clarification,

Excel Information,

Name	Start	Finish	Resource	Status
Analyze Requirements	9/12/2023		Bruce Lee	In Progress
Design	9/12/2023		TBD	In Progress
Build	9/12/2023		Chuck Norris	In Progress
Generate	9/12/2023	9/13/2023	James Borwn	Completed
Deploy	9/5/2023	9/14/2023	John Doe	Completed

MS Project Finish Column behavior showing a 5 digit number starting with 45xxx. Not sure what's going on. I made a small Excel with Blank date from scratch with only 5 rows in Excel and after importing to MS Project, it is not doing the same thing and it shows NA for NULL Finish date. Unfortunately, for the actual file with real data, it is not doing the same and because of the blank values (I think?) is it destroying the Finish dates that are not NULL and conversting them to a 5 digit number starting with 45xxx.

Start	Finish
Tue 9/12/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Thu 8/10/23	45154 (It should be showing the actual dates and not this number)
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/12/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/12/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Mon 8/14/23	45166

Answer 1

AminiHockeyUs,

Once again, what is your import process (i.e. how did you set up the map)?

You can send your "problem" file to me at the address below. While you at it, send me your Excel file also. I will ask some questions.

John

jmacprojataticlouddotdotcom

(remove obvious redundancies)

Answer 2

Dear AminiHockeyUs,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft community. We are delighted to offer our assistance.

May I know what is your Office version? You could also share a test file with us so we could have a test on our side.

Hope you keep safe and healthy always.

Sincerely,

Sean | Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 3

The version is

I don't see an attachment option to attach my sample file.

Answer 4

Amin/HockeyUs,

Here is my version of the Excel file"

When I use an import map into a new Project file (Project Pro 2019 desktop) set to import "tasks", the fields are mapped like this: Note, In Project the Status field is calculated so I dumped the Excel "status" into the Notes field in Project.

And this is the result, after continuing through a few error messages due to missing data in Excel

Now, how did you do the import?

John

Answer 5

John,

Thanks for the reply.

The issue is when the Finish Date is showing as a five digit number in Blue when the Finish Date is NOT NULL.

I don't have a way of uploading my sample file to you so you could check.

Start	Finish
Tue 9/12/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Thu 8/10/23	45154 (It should be showing the actual dates and not this number)
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/12/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/12/23
Tue 9/5/23
Tue 9/5/23
Mon 8/14/23	45166

Thanks,