1. Video Walkthrough of Exporting CSV from MS Project and Importing into FHQ Schedule
You can check these videos for a walkthrough of how to export CSV from MS Project and importing into Focus HQ.
2. Export CSV from Microsoft Project
1. From within Microsoft Project open a projects schedule. Next, click on ‘File’ to enter Backstage View and then select ‘Options > Trust Center’
2. Within the main area, click the ‘Trust Center Settings’ button and then select ‘Legacy Formats.’
Select the option ‘Prompt when loading files with legacy or non-default File Format’ option. Save your choice by clicking OK.
3. In order to complete the Export ensure you are in the ‘Backstage View’, then click ‘File’:
- Click Save As.
- Select the ‘Save As Type’ the drop down option
- Select ‘CSV (Comma Delimited) (*.csv)’
- Leave the File Name at its default value.
- Click Save.
4. If the option is left to ‘Prompt’ for download, below warning will appear. Click Yes to continue.
5. When the first screen of the Export Wizard will load, click Next.
6. To only export selected data in the Schedule, MS Project will need a map of the data and how it will be exported. It is possible to use an existing map or to create a new one. To create a new mapping select the ‘New Map’ and click Next.
7. Within the ‘New Map’ area choose to export task data, resource data or assignment data. Most important is to choose the specific fields to export and how they will be named within the exported file. Select ‘Tasks’, as it is the schedule as well as ‘Export includes headers’ and click Next.
8. To Export Specific Project Information, type or select the field/s that are required to Map the data in the “From” columns. Once complete, press ENTER and finalize the settings by clicking “Next” once all fields are done.
9. After the selection of “from” and “to” fields for the New Map, save the created Map by clicking “Save Map”. As the last page of the Export Wizard, click
3. Import CSV into Focus HQ Schedule
1. Open the Microsoft Project application. In Microsoft Project, set the columns to be similar to the fields in Focus HQ.
Please see table below for the Focus HQ Schedule columns to be included, along with its Data Format.
Asterisks (*) indicate required fields.
Focus HQ Schedule Columns | Data Format/ Accepted Values |
ID* | Numeric value Must be unique |
WBS* | Numeric value (Ex. 1) Must be unique |
Title* | 500 characters max |
Actual to Date* | Percentage value |
Start Date* | Data Format: dd/mm/yyyy Date should be within Project Start Date and Project End Date. |
End Date* | Data Format: dd/mm/yyyy Date should be within Project Start Date and Project End Date. |
Predecessors | x:n (line ID : dependency code) Must be an ID within the file |
Participants | Username added in the Project. |
Mark as Project Milestone | Yes or No |
Mark as Portfolio Milestone | Yes or No |
Mark as Activity | Yes or No |
Mark as Deliverable | Yes or No |
Project Phase | Project Phases outlined within Project Settings (only if marked as deliverable) |
Effort | Integer value |
Effort Unit | d (for days) |
Actual Effort | Integer value |
Manually Scheduled | Yes or No |
2. Once done with creating the Project Schedule, you can save the file as MPP.
Go to File > Save As, and select the location of where you want to save the MPP file. Then, name the MPP file.
Or you can click CTRL + S, and a popup is displayed where you can name the MPP file and where you want to save it.
3. Export the updated Project Schedule from MPP as a CSV file.
To export the updated Project Schedule, click File > Save As.
In the location to save the file, click the select the Type to save as ‘CSV (Comma Delimited) (*.csv)’
Leave the file name as its default value, then click the Save button.
For versions of Microsoft Project that need Legacy Formats to be configured, please check this link.
4. After successfully exporting the updated CSV file, upload it to the Focus HQ tool.
To import the updated Schedule, please check this link.
