Importing excel workbook data into MS Project isn't working

Tereza Murphy 1

Hi
When I try to import excel data into MS Project, I have to select the tab name (which I haven't had to do before if there is only one active tab), but when I try and select the data - nothing is showing.
I have cleared all formatting from the excel file, used 'Task Name', 'Start' and 'Finish' as the data headers and there are no spaces in the file name.
Any ideas, why the data fields are not displaying?

Apologies but could not work out what tags to use, so have selected something so I could post the question!
Thanks

Ceasar Chen_MSFT 4,481 Reputation points

2022-08-18T06:28:31.51+00:00

Hi,
You can refer to this article:Import Excel file into MS Project. Task mapping wizard not picking up all fields
Tereza Murphy 1 Reputation point

2022-08-22T11:30:33.757+00:00

Hi Ceasar
Thanks for this article, but unfortunately, I am still unable to import the data correctly from Excel.
maurizio trezza 0 Reputation points

2023-04-15T16:16:37.4233333+00:00

Hi, Try to make your Excel structure similar to Project, watching the column order. I don't know if the column names are important, but if you put the same ones of Project the mapping is automatic: Name, Duration, Start date, End Date, etc. (translate if your Project version is not English). That way it worked to me.

Cheers
Wes Coleman 5 Reputation points

2024-08-22T14:51:06.09+00:00

I found that a file name length of 15 characters resulting in the tab name of same length also triggers this bug. Renaming the tab name to 11 characters in length (and no spaces), fixed the issue for me.

7 answers

Anonymous

2023-07-04T15:22:55.9+00:00

Hi, thank you guys for the suggested solutions. I had the same issue of not picking up the excel fields. It is strange that when I created a new tab and copy and paste the content from the first tab to the new tab, then choose the new tab name in project, it can pick the excel fields.

However, after I add them all and click next or finish, it just bounces back to ask for the worksheet name again, simply not proceeding to import the data.

Did any of you encounter this and have any ideas?
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Joan j 0 Reputation points

2024-01-12T11:22:36.1666667+00:00

I got the same problem. seems like a new bug. either from office 365 excel or ms project. saying this, because I was able to do it in the old version of ms project and excel
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Wes Coleman 5 Reputation points

2024-08-22T14:52:49.4233333+00:00

Tab names longer than 11 characters (15 definitely is too long) will also trigger this bug.
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Tereza Murphy 1 Reputation point

2024-08-23T09:19:42.2033333+00:00

Hi

Thanks. That could well be the issue, which it never occurred to me that it might be that. I will check.
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Importing excel workbook data into MS Project isn't working

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