Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Project Management

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

By Dr. Andrew Makar October 11, 2010, 3:59 PM PDT

Image
1
of 9

project1011figure1.png
project1011figure1.png
Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Issue log in Microsoft Project 2007

Issue log in Microsoft Project 2007

In my previous TechRepublic tutorial, I showed how to create an issue log in Microsoft Project 2007 using a custom table and view. When project issues are integrated with Microsoft Project, it enables you to associate the specific issue with a task on the project schedule. If the project schedule is developed using a deliverable oriented work breakdown structure, specific issues can be linked to the tasks supporting the project deliverable.

In order to share the issue log with other stakeholders, you may have to put the file in a different format for clients who do not have Microsoft Project installed. There are a variety of tools available to view a Microsoft Project file without having the program installed; for instance, a Microsoft Project viewer such as Steelray or Seavus Project Viewer can be used to read these files. Another option is to distribute the Microsoft Project file as a PDF using a PDF writing tool such as pdf995, which will allow you to print and share the issue log.

These solutions work well, but they still require additional software to be installed. The preferred solution is to export the issue log into a Microsoft Excel format so it can be easily shared.

This TechRepublic gallery is also available as an IT Leadership blog post.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Save As dialog box

Save As dialog box

Export the issue log to Microsoft Excel
Follow these steps to export the issue log to Microsoft Excel:
1. Open the project file.
2. Select File | Save As.
3. Select Microsoft Excel Workbook from the Save As Type menu.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Export Wizard - Map Options dialog box

Export Wizard - Map Options dialog box

4. When the Export Wizard dialog box appears, click Next twice.

5. Select the New Map radio button and click Next.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Export Wizard - Task Mapping dialog box

Export Wizard - Task Mapping dialog box

6. Enter Issue Log for the Worksheet Name.

7. Add the following fields per this figure:
a.tText1
b.tText2
c.tDate1
d.tFlag1
e.tText4
f.tWBS

8. Click the first Text1 row in the To: Excel field and enter the name of the target Excel field per this figure.
g.tText1 : Enter Issue Name
h.tText2: Enter Issue Description
i.tDate1: Enter Target Date
j.tFlag1: Enter Open Issue
k.tText4: Enter Assigned To
l.tWBS: Enter Work Breakdown Structure Id

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Save Map

Save Map

9. With the Export Map complete, click Next.
10. Click the Save Map button and enter Issue Log for the map name.
11. Click Finish.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Use Existing Map radio button

Use Existing Map radio button

You have now created a new export map and saved the issue log to Microsoft Excel. Each time you export the map, you do not need to create an export map again; instead in step 5, you will select the Use Existing Map radio button.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Map selection

Map selection

The next step is to select the Issue Log map and click Finish.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Uncheck (Blanks)

Uncheck (Blanks)

View the Microsoft Excel issue log
Once the file is exported, open it in Microsoft Excel. You can format the Excel file by expanding the cells and filtering the blank rows.

In Microsoft Excel, follow these steps:
1. Change the width of each column as appropriate.
2. Click the Filter icon.
3. Click the Filter icon in the Issue Description field.
4. Uncheck the (Blanks) check box.
5. Click OK.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

Issue log in Microsoft Excel

Issue log in Microsoft Excel

The end result is a filtered issue log that can easily be shared with the project team and with clients using Microsoft Excel. By including the Work Breakdown Structure id in the issue log, you can also cross reference the related issue to the task in your Microsoft Project schedule.

You already know which issue is mapped to a specific task by viewing the Issue Log view in Microsoft Project; the Work Breakdown Structure is used for reference only. Project management artifacts don’t always have to exist as separate documents. Issue management and schedule management can easily be integrated using a custom table, a custom view, and an export map from Microsoft Project. You can create similar views for risk management and change management by following my previous Microsoft Project tutorial’s steps on customization.

Screenshots by Andy Makar for TechRepublic

  • Project Management
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel

    Your email has been sent

Share: Microsoft Project 2007 tutorial: Exporting an issue log to Excel
Image of Dr. Andrew Makar
By Dr. Andrew Makar
Dr. Andrew Makar is an IT program manager and is the author of How To Use Microsoft Project and Project Management Interview Questions Made Easy. For more project management advice visit http://www.tacticalprojectmanagement.com.
  • Account Information

    Contact Dr. Andrew Makar

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Dr. Andrew's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Checklist: Network and systems security

    Cybersecurity demands and the stakes of failing to properly secure systems and networks are high. While every organization’s specific security needs form a unique and complex blend of interconnected requirements, numerous security fundamentals almost always apply to each of these groups. It stands to reason that cybersecurity pros who effectively identify network and systems risks ...

    Published:  June 1, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 2, 2023, 7:48 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    How to host multiple websites on Linux with Apache

    In this guide from TechRepublic Premium we’re going to explore the various things you can do with a Linux server. We won’t leave out any steps, so you won’t have to refer to another tutorial to complete the process. The only step we will leave out is the installation of Linux, as we’ll assume you ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 31, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 1, 2023, 7:45 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    How to deploy an application with Kubernetes

    If you want to deploy applications into a Kubernetes cluster, be warned — it’s not the easiest task. There are a lot of moving pieces that go into these scalable containers. Don’t you wish you had a complete roadmap, from start to finish, to walk you through the process of deploying the Kubernetes cluster, deploying ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 31, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 1, 2023, 7:51 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Cross-training tool kit

    The more flexibility you can create in your technology workforce, the better you’ll be equipped to manage tomorrow, whatever the future brings. Too often, we focus on helping our teams become technical specialists who know volumes about a single technology, but quickly lose sight of how that technology connects with others. This makes their skills ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 30, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 31, 2023, 4:50 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice