External Dependencies Baseline data is not Displayed when opening a project in MSP

Products

• Clarity PPM SaaS
• Clarity PPM On Premise

Issue/Introduction

When exporting a project to Microsoft Project (MSP), external dependency Baseline Start/Finish dates are displayed as NA instead of the baseline dates for the task.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create two new projects (Project1 and Project2) in PPM with one task each
2. Baseline both projects in PPM
3. Make the task in Project2 an external dependency of the task in Project1:

• Go to the Tasks tab of Project1
• Click on the task created in Step 1
• Select 'Dependencies' from the task's Properties drop down
• Click 'New'
• Browse for Project2 in the Project field, then click Filter
• Select the task created in Step1 and click 'Next'
• Click 'Save and Return'

    4. Export Project1 to MSP

    5. Add Baseline Start and Baseline Finish columns to the MSP View

Expected Results: The Baseline Start and Baseline Finish dates are displayed for the external dependency task from Project2

Actual Results: The Baseline Start and Baseline Finish dates for the external dependency task from Project2 are displayed as 'NA'

Environment

Applies to all supported PAS environments for specified releases.

Cause

This is due to current Microsoft Project design. 

Resolution

This issue was reviewed as DE34428 and it has been determined to be working as currently designed by Microsoft Project.

This can also be reproduced in Microsoft Project Standalone using the below steps:

1. Create two new projects in MSP with one task each
2. Baseline the projects in MSP by going to the Project tab, selecting 'Set Baseline' -> 'Set Baseline' then click OK 
3. Save the 2 new projects as Project1.mpp and Project2.mpp locally to the workstation 
4. In Project1, double click on the task created and go to the 'Predecessors' tab. 
5. Create an external task to the task in Project2 by typing "Project2\1" in the ID field and then clicking OK. This will add the external task (External Dependency) to Project1 
6. Add the Baseline Start and Baseline Finish dates to the view in Project1 

Results: Baseline Start and Baseline Finish dates are NA for the external dependency task. 

Note: This limitation applies to team/assignments as well. They will not export with the project, but ETC (Remaining Work) in MSP will.