Exporting to Microsoft Project

You can export a capability pattern or delivery process as an XML file that can be opened in Microsoft Project. This XML file contains links to specific pages in the original method library.

About this task

All non-suppressed activities (at any level in the hierarchy) and tasks are exported as Microsoft Project tasks. If the element has children in the work breakdown structure (WBS), it is exported as summary tasks in Microsoft Project.

Dependencies in the work breakdown structure are carried over to Microsoft Project. If there are circular dependencies in work breakdown structure, Microsoft Project issues a warning but accepts the circular dependencies.

Roles are exported as Microsoft Project resources. They are connected to tasks or summary tasks as follows:

  • If a task is not suppressed, the primary and additional performer roles are associated with it.
  • If an activity has all of its children suppressed, the primary and additional performers of all of its suppressed children are assigned to it. This activity exports as a Microsoft Project task because it has no children.

The following elements are exported:

  • Work Products
  • Activities
  • Tasks
  • Milestones
  • Roles
The following table lists the mapping relationship between Engineering Method Composer and Microsoft Project elements:
Table 1. Engineering Method Composer and Microsoft Project element mapping
MEC element MSP element
Activity Task
Milestone Task
Task Task
Role Resource
Work Product Text field

Microsoft Project sets the start and end dates for the project. You need to adjust them after the export has completed by using Microsoft Project. For additional Microsoft Project settings, see Setting up Microsoft Project for Engineering Method Composer processes.

To export to Microsoft Project:

Procedure

  1. Click File and click export icon Export.
  2. Click MS project icon Microsoft Project and click Next.
  3. Select a capability pattern or delivery process to export. Click Next.
  4. Select the method configuration and export options that you want to use to export the selected process.
    • Selected process
    • Method configuration
    • Publish the process Web site
      • Publish the entire method configuration
      • Publish content that is only relevant to the selected process
    • Export only breakdown elements that are planned
    • Export effort estimates for the work breakdown elements
  5. Select the options to publish the Web site for the exported process. Click Next.
  6. Enter a Name and Directory for the exported file. Use Browse to navigate to the exported folder.
  7. Click Finish to begin the export process.