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
 

 
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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Project for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0a
 - Microsoft Project for Macintosh, version 3.0
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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:
 
1. From the File menu, choose Links.
 
2. 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.
 
3. Select all sources from the list.
 
4. Choose the Change button. This will display a dialog box indicating
   the source name and the destination field(s) of the first DDE link.
 
5. 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:
 
1. 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.
 
2. 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.
 
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
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.
