Frequently Asked Questions

Q:

What format does data have to be in to import into TaskMaster?

A:

Taskmaster currently looks for a very specific format for import data. This format is described in the printed documentation for Taskmaster. The data must include id numbers. I recommend that you start with an Exported file, and take a look at the format of the generated data, to get the idea about how to format for importing.

Currently, to import data cell titles are required. This is why this option is disabled. The first line must contain the field titles of the data being imported.

Normally, each line in an imported text file is a record of one task or resource, with values arranged in fields separated by commas or tab characters. The first record is an exception to this. It serves as a key to the others, telling TaskMaster how many fields to expect in each record, and what values the fields should contain.

For example, here is a simple text file:

The first line tells TaskMaster that each record holds three fields, filled with a task's id, name, and work time. The remaining lines describe four tasks, steps one through four of building a barn.

The key words in the first line of an imported file are called its headers. See the discussion below under Import Format Tips for a complete list of them. They are the same words that appear in the header areas above the spreadsheets and outlines of project windows, with the addition of "ID."

When you choose the Import Table command, an Open-style panel is opened. It features some extra controls:

Find the text file you want to import with the panel's file browser. Use the Import pop-up list to choose between importing tasks or resources.

The Field and Record Delimiter controls let you tell TaskMaster what characters will appear between fields and records. To set either character, click the appropriate radio button to choose Return or Tab, or type any other character in the text field by the third button.

Import format tips

If you are importing tasks, the available headers are as follows. Headers that are italicized can be read by the Import command, but values in the fields they identify are ignored. These headers are provided for your convenience when importing files that were created with TaskMaster's Export Table command.

% Complete

Free Start

Constraint

ID

Constraint Date

Notes

Cost

Predecessors

Delay

Priority

Duration

Start

Expenses

Subtitle

Float Duration

Successors

Float End

Task

Float Start

Work End

Free Duration

Work Start

Free End

Work Time

If you are importing resources, the available headers are as follows. Again, values read from italicized headers are ignored.

#

ID

$/day

Resource

$/use

Total Cost

Other notes on importing

• If you have trouble creating a proper header line, try copying one from a file created with TaskMaster's Export Table command.

• You can import whatever set of values you choose, but must include an ID field. ID's must be in the Full numbering style (e.g., 1, 1.1, 2.3.4).
• The headers "Task" and "Resource" mark the position of the item's name.
• If you are importing a hierarchy, a group item must be read before its children. That is, task 1 must be listed in the file before task 1.1.

• Usually, each line of an imported text file holds a record, as in the "Building a Barn" example above. If this is the case, use the return character as the record delimiter.
• TaskMaster ignores delimiters between pairs of double quotes. So, if you are using the space character to separate fields, but you need to include a task name that includes spaces, you can put the name in double quotes, like "Build a Barn". To include a quote character in a field, precede it with a backslash, like "Build a \"Barn\"".
• The Import Table command can read plain text files only. In particular, it cannot read documents whose names end in ".rtf". If you try to import such a document, TaskMaster will raise a panel saying something like: No header named "{\rtf0\nextcset {\fonttbl{\f16\froman Palatino-Roman;}{\f3\fswiss ".

Valid for 1.5

Valid for 1.6

Valid for 1.7

Product literature and demonstration software are available. For more information about this or any other Lighthouse Design product, send e-mail to info@lighthouse.com.