copying

Is there any way to copy work items or projects? For example, I have several sub-projects each of which as an identical set of tasks. I am talking about 20 sub-projects with 15 tasks each. In MS Project, I can create one task rollup with all its sub-tasks and then just copy and paste it 20 times.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Chuck

There isn’t a great solution for that right now, but we’re thinking about it. I’m envisioning either “copy and paste” or “templates” as a solution for this in the future.

Unfortunately most of us live in the present, so until that day comes, here’s what I would do.

Create a text file (or make it in excel and export to csv) that looks like:

name,order,owner
Pie Template,1,Adam
Buy ingredients,1.1,Adam
Mix it all up,1.2,Bruce
Bake it,1.3,Bruce
Eat,1.4,Adam

Import it with the default settings. You should see something like:

-Imported Data <timestamp>
  -Pie Template
    -Buy Ingredients
    -Mix it all up
    -Bake it
    -Eat

Then whenever you need that, just import the file again.

• The order column lets you set up a hierarchy, 1 will be the top level, 1.1 will be a child of 1, 1.2 will be the second child, etc.
• Including an owner column will let you set up some default assignments for tasks.

Does that seem like a feasible solution for the moment?

I have tried this but the import always happens as a root node at the end of the space. I have a structure like the following:

Initially:
-Test Project -P1 -P2 -P3

Decide to add pie template to P1:
-Test Project -P1 – Selected node -P2 -P3

Upload pie template csv file:
-Test Project -P1 – I want the data here -P2 -P3

Result of import:
-Test Project -P1 – I want the data here -P2 -P3
-Import <date> – It shows up here

I would like to import the “pie template” into P1, P2 & P3. There doesn’t seem to be a context relevant import. So no matter where I am positioned for the import the new data shows up as a peer to “Test Project”. I have played with the global priorities values such as 1.0/27.0/1.0/1.0/1.0/2.0 and have figured out how this works (mostly), This allows a massive copy paste effort to take place, but that means prior to each edit you have to adjust the appropriate branch level (and get it correct!).

I would really like to be able to have the same tasks repeated in P1, P2 & P3. I have tried to export the whole file and edited by hand, but upon upload any category bindings are lost from previous data. They all end up saying “import <date>

Update: I was just about to hit send when I found that you can drag and drop the “imported” data into the correct place. But this means you have to repeat the import over and over again. So if I have P1-P50, and want the same set of tasks assigned (repeated) for each”Px” I need to perform 50 imports, and drag and drop each task where I want it each time. Is this correct?

Mike

@ mcleaves:

While I think I know what you’re asking for, I’d like to clarify your request before I reply here. Send me a note to melinda@liquidplanner.com and I’ll get back to you.

I need this feature too.

How about “Copy a Project” that simply copies the project and the tasks underneath and labels them “copy of”

@mcleaves: You’re right, import is not context sensitive, and does insert the items into a container. That’s so you don’t accidently import 500 items into the root of your project.

@mcleaves and @solutiongrove (cool name by the way): I’d like to get some more feedback on what people would like to see in a feature like this. When you want to copy items, would you expect attached comments, documents, links, etc. to be copied as well?

In the same vein, I would like to have the ability to create a template of work items (or even projects) that could be re-used from project to project. As an example, if I’m in the business of designing widgets, the project to design Widget X may look very similar to the project to design Widget Y, perhaps utilizing similar steps but different resources. If I could have a template of those steps to bring into the new project and change a few details, this would be very helpful.

The new Duplicate Selection feature is working and will be released shortly. This makes it pretty easy to set up a library of frequently used projects (tempates). You’ll also find a super handy bulk-add feature on the add menu with the next update. ETA on that is < 3 weeks.