Microsoft KB Archive/100208

Project: Identifying DDE Link Sources and Destinations

PSS ID Number: Q100208 Article last modified on 03-15-1995

3.00 3.00a | 3.00

WINDOWS | MACINTOSH

= SUMMARY =

This article discusses the two methods available in Microsoft Project to identify the sources and destinations of DDE links between Microsoft Project files.

= MORE INFORMATION =

DDE links between Microsoft Project files, such as those created by a Copy and Paste Link procedure, can be identified by both a source and a destination. The source is the field or fields that are providing data (the field or fields copied), and the destination is the field or fields that are receiving the data (the field or fields pasted into).

Microsoft Project identifies the source field(s) of a DDE link by assigning a name to the field(s). These names take the following form

Name        Source field(s) ---  -

Task fields:     DDE_Link_Tn = T((UqID),(field)) Resource fields: DDE_Link_Rn = R((UqID),(field))

where:

n    = An integer value (counter) determined by Project. UqID = The Unique ID(s) of the source task(s) or resource(s). Field = The name of the field(s) acting as the data source.

Examples
DDE_Link_T2 = T(3,Name) ---

The second task link name created. Refers to the Name field of the task with Unique ID = 3.

DDE_Link_T19 = T((1,2,5),(Scheduled Start, Scheduled Finish)) -

The 19th task link name created. Refers to the Scheduled Start and Scheduled Finish fields of the tasks with Unique IDs = 1,2,5.

DDE_Link_R1 = R(2,Group)

The first resource link name created. Refers to the Group field of the resource with Unique ID = 2. The destination of a DDE link is then created by associating a source name with the destination field(s).

There are two possible methods for identifying the sources of DDE links, as well as their destinations. The first involves the use of the Links command from the File menu, and is useful when there is a need to identify only a small number of links. The second method uses the MPX file format; this format is useful when there is a need to identify many links or to print the link information.

Method 1: Using the Links Command
To identify the destinations of all DDE links in the current file, (that is, all fields in the file that are receiving data via DDE), do the following:

  From the File menu, choose Links.   From the Link Type list, select Project Links. This displays a list of DDE link sources in the form of Filename!Name where: Filename = Name of file containing DDE source. Name    = Name of DDE source in Filename.   Select all sources from the list.   Choose the Change button. This will display a dialog box indicating the source name and the destination field(s) of the first DDE link.   Choose OK to display information about the next DDE link. After the last link has been displayed, choose OK to close the dialog box. 

To identify the source field(s) for a particular DDE link, do the following:


 * 1) Open the file that was named in the selected link from the Project Links list above.
 * 2) From the File menu, choose Links.
 * 3) From the Link Type list, select Names. A list of all names in the project will be displayed.
 * 4) Select the name that was indicated as the link source in the Project Links list by clicking it.
 * 5) Click the Change button. A dialog box will be displayed indicating both the name and the field(s) it refers to. These field(s) are the source of the DDE link.
 * 6) Click OK to close this dialog box.

Method 2: Using the MPX File Format
When a Microsoft Project file is saved in the MPX format, the DDE link information is saved as part of this file. The MPX file format is an ASCII file that can be read with any text editing program, such as Notepad, which is included with Microsoft Windows. To gather DDE link information from an MPX file, do the following:

  With your project open, select the Save As command from the File menu. From the Save File As Type list, select MPX. Choose OK. This will save the file with an “MPX” file extension.   Open the MPX file in a text editing program, such as Notepad. At the end of this file will be a series of lines beginning with numbers 80 or 81. These lines describe the DDE links in the following manner: Lines beginning with 80 relate Names to their source fields. Example: 80,DDE_LINK_T2,“T(58,Duration)” This project contains a Name, DDE_Link_T2, that refers to the Duration field of the task with Unique ID = 58. Lines beginning with 81 relate Names to their destination fields. Example: 81,Project2.mpp!DDE_LINK_T1,“T(62,Duration)” This project contains a link from DDE_Link_T1 in file Project2.mpp, to the Duration field of the task in this project with Unique ID = 62. </li></ol>

All lines from this MPX file beginning with the numbers 80 or 81 may be printed to provide a paper copy of the link information.

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory:

= Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00a =

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.