1. Import Project Schedule to Microsoft Project with Focus HQ Mapping


Focus HQ Project Schedule can be exported in a format that can be easily integrated with Microsoft Project.  There needs to be settings to be defined at the local PC user level.


PRE-REQUISITES:

To configure the fields for the first time, please check this link.


Or you can create an Import Map like below that you can save and reuse each time you upload Focus HQ Schedule to Microsoft Project.


To create a new Import Map, please check this link.


Please see table below for the mapping of the Microsoft Project columns to the Focus HQ Schedule columns, along with its Data Format.

Asterisks (*) indicate required fields.


Column MappingData Format/ Accepted Values
Microsoft Project Columns

Focus HQ Schedule Columns

Task ID

ID*

Numeric value

Must be unique

WBS

WBS*

Numeric value (Ex. 1)
Numeric List value (if Child Task) (Ex. 1.1)

Must be unique

Name

Title*

500 characters max

% Complete

Actual to Date*                         

Percentage value

Start

Start Date*

Data Format: dd/mm/yyyy

Date should be within Project Start Date and Project End Date.

Finish

End Date* 

Data Format: dd/mm/yyyy

Date should be within Project Start Date and Project End Date.

Predecessor

Predecessors

x:n (line ID : dependency code)

Must be an ID within the file

Assigned Resource

Participants

Username added in the Project.

Milestone

Mark as Project Milestone

Yes or No

Custom Field

Mark as Portfolio Milestone

Yes or No

Custom Field

Mark as Activity

Yes or No

Custom Field

Mark as Deliverable

Yes or No

Custom Field

Project Phase

Project Phases outlined within Project Settings (only if marked as deliverable)

Custom Field

Effort

Integer value

Custom Field

Effort Unit

d (for days)
h (for hours)
w (for weeks)

Custom Field 

Actual Effort

Integer value

Task Mode

Manually Scheduled

Yes or No



Provided the CSV file already has the formatted columns, the schedule could easily be imported into Microsoft Project by following these steps:


1. Open the Microsoft Project application. Start with a blank Project Schedule.


2.  Go to File > Open. You can click the Browse folder to look for the Focus HQ Schedule file you wish to open.

Once the popup is displayed, change the File Type combo box to (*.csv) or (*.xls).  

Then, select the Focus HQ schedule file you wish to click. Then, click Open.


3. Once the Project Import Wizard popup dialog is displayed, click Next.

 


4. Select Use existing map, then click Next.


5. Select the mapping recently created, then click Next.


6. Select "Append the data to the active project", then click Next.


7. Keep the settings as is. Click Next.


8. You can make verifications or edits on how the data in the CSV will be mapped to Microsoft Project.
Once through, click Next.


9. To complete the Import, click Finish.


If verifications or edits were made on the mapping, you can choose to save these Settings.

To save the Settings, click Save Map. Select the existing map from the list, then click Save button.

Once popup is displayed to confirm the replacement of the existing map, click OK. 



10. If popup dialog is displayed to confirm opening the file, click Yes.



11. The Focus HQ Schedule file is now opened in Microsoft Project, properly formatted with the Focus HQ Mapping.