PRJ98: Large File Size of Project Because of Predecessor/Successor (239489)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project 98 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q239489

SYMPTOMS

The size of your Microsoft Project file (*.mpp) may be unexpectedly large based on the number of tasks in the project.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when there is an extraneous task at the end of your task list. This can happen if you enter multiple predecessors or successors on a task without using a list separator (usually the comma) to separate the predecessors or successors. For example, in the Predecessor or Successor field, you type 1234 rather than 1,2,3,4. In this example, Microsoft Project assumes that you want to link to task 1234. If the task doesn't already exist, Microsoft Project creates a new task with the ID number 1234.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior:
  1. Verify whether you have extra tasks caused by an incorrect predecessor or successor. In the Gantt Chart view, press CTRL+END to move to the last task in your project.

    The name of the extraneous task is blank if it was created as discussed in the "Cause" section.
  2. With that task selected, point to Customize on the Tools menu, and then click Forms.
  3. Click Task Relationships, and then click Apply.
  4. Make note of the predecessor(s) and successor(s) for that task, so that you can correctly enter the predecessors or successors using the list separator. Click OK.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Delete Task to delete the unwanted task.
  6. Go to the task that you noted in step 4, which would likely be the predecessor, and type the correct predecessors using the list separator. In the example given earlier, you would type 1,2,3,4 rather than 1234.
To reduce the size of your project file after correcting this problem, follow these steps:
  1. On the File menu, click Save.
  2. On the File menu, click Close.
  3. On the File menu, click Open. Open the same project again.
  4. On the File menu, click Save.
  5. On the File menu, click Close.
The project file size is now smaller.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/17/2002
Keywords:kbbug KB239489
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.