Some Nuances in Backup CMP File Structures
As I make discoveries about Deltek Cobra 5’s behavior, however trivial it may be, I like to share them on this blog. By doing this, I hope that I can potentially save a readers panic button from getting needlessly pressed. In this case, I thought there was a problem with one of my Project backup CMP files when I attempted to restore it. The usual list of ancillary files was truncated to just the calendar.
After a few minutes of head scratching and checking around, I realized that this project had recently been made part of a master project. Therefore it could have been backed up as part of a multi-project master. Hmmm, I pondered; perhaps this didn’t get backed up with a full complement of ancillary files because they have been handled by its master project. After a simple test, whereby I backed up the project as an individual project, and then backed up its master, my theory was proven correct.
Let’s say you backed up a master project that had three sub-projects, A, B and C. You’ll get four CMP files in the target directory; i.e. A.cmp, B,cmp, C.cmp plus Master.cmp. This is achieved by selecting ‘Master Projects’ in the ‘Files of Type: [Projects]’ field in the Backup dialog.
The sub-project CMP files will not contain any ancillary files other than the calendar. Only the Master Project will have these files available for restore.
So next time you get the short list in a restore file, you’ve probably just run into this same item. It’s not a fault; it’s actually a logical feature. Seeing as Deltek Cobra is smart enough to load all its sub-project’s automatically while restoring a master project; it only makes sense that it not duplicate the ancillary file data in each of the sub-project’s CMP files.
If you think you might need to restore one of the individual sub-projects on another system, then perform a normal backup using the ‘File of Type: [Project]’ field set to Project. This way the sub-project could load all its own ancillary files into say, a sandbox or test environment, without having to load the master project first.
One last point; this is well documented behavior in the Deltek Cobra Online Help system. Search for Backup Dialog Box and click on the Backup Dialog Box topic. In the article, select the Master Project link for well-worded details. Therefore, shouldn’t I have known about this already? Maybe. However, in my defense, I generally look for things in the help system after I become aware of their existence.