PRJ4: ConsolidateProjects Method: 255 Character Limit For File Names (149491)

WORKAROUND

To work around this limitation, you can use the following methods for reducing the number of characters in the Filenames argument. The appropriate method will vary, based on the version of Microsoft Project you are using, and whether all project files are located in the same folder.

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Method 1: Setting the Default Directory Prior to Consolidation

If you are using Microsoft Project version 4.1 for Windows 95, you can use this method to work around this problem.

If all the files to be consolidated are in the same folder, you can use the ChDir method to set the default folder. If you use this method, you avoid using the complete path to the files.

NOTE: This method will not work with Microsoft Project version 4.0.

The following procedure is an example of how you can use ChDir to avoid repeating long paths:

   Sub Consolidate_Projs()
      'Change the default folder.
      ChDir "C:\mydata\Pjfiles\myproj1"
      'Consolidate 5 project files in the default folder.
      ConsolidateProjects _
         Filenames:="P1.MPP,P2.MPP,P3.MPP,P4.MPP,P5.MPP"
   End Sub
				

Method 2: Using the Wildcard Characters "*" and "?"

If you're using Microsoft Project version 4.0, you can use this method as a workaround.

You can use wildcard characters to shorten the text string of the Filenames argument. A wildcard is a character you can use to represent other characters when you search fields for text. Wildcards include the asterisk (*), which represents any set of characters in a particular position, and the question mark (?), which represents any single character in a particular position.

NOTE: This method will not work with Microsoft Project version 4.1 for Windows 95.

The following sample macro uses a Wildcard character to consolidate all Microsoft Project files into the C:\mydata\Pjfiles folder.

   Sub Consolidate_Projs()
      'Consolidate all files with an MPP extension that are in the
      'C:\mydata\Pjfiles folder.
      ConsolidateProjects Filenames:="C:\mydata\Pjfiles\*.mpp"
   End Sub
				

Method 3: Performing Multiple ConsolidateProjects Until all Files Are Consolidated

As another possible workaround, you can consolidate files up to the 255 character limit and save the resulting consolidated project file. If there are still more files to consolidate, perform another consolidation including the previously consolidated project AND any remaining files up to the 255 character limit. Repeat this process of consolidation and consolidating consolidated projects until all files have been consolidated or until you reach the 80 file file limit. This will work for versions 4.0 and 4.1 of Microsoft Project.

Method 4: Using Shorter File Names and Shorter Directory Names

Finally, it is possible to use a shorter path to store the files or to use shorter file names. On Microsoft Project for Windows version 4.0, one way you can make your file names shorter is to omit the extension. For example, instead of specifying "Project1.mpp, Project2.mpp" and so forth, you could specify these files as "Project1,Project2". Making your path and file names shorter works for versions 4.0 and 4.1 of Microsoft Project.