It is currently no feature directly supported by the application. Given that one would have to enable the user to select which value in each row stands for which work package attribute, I also think that it will not be implemented soon.
We’re starting to explore OpenProject and I’d like to import the existing Trac-Tickets of a running project into OpenProject.
So I’m at the very same point as John over 2 years ago.
Searching the web did not help.
How’s it today? Is there a way to import work-packages into OpenProject?
Hi
it is sad to see that OpenProject still does not support importing of projects/work packages.
The MS Project Add-in is also not working anymore and the the two feature requests I found in that regard are only on the wish list but not added to a version in the Roadmap.
There are two main reasons to support such feature:
Take-on of project data existing in other apps, such as MS Project. It will help people more easily adopting OpenProject
Initial project planning / brain storming in OpenProject is tedious! I know quite a few project managers that prefer initial planning using, for instance Mind mappng tools (e.g. XMind), and thereafter would like to import the project data.
Hopefully this feature requst is soon moved into a roadmap version.
Regards, Jürgen
I found out why. The feature is blocked because they want to charge a consulting fee to get your data from some other format into OpenProject. Look at the pricing details. They will do the import for free, IF you buy the Enterprise version today. So, hard sell. And disappointing, because my plan was do adopt OpenProject into the organisation, achieve a good reputation, and then introduce methodology and with that, the Enterprise version.
With that experience, I am less inclined to support the project.
we simply do not have an automated import feature yet. It is not blocked in any way or kept hidden from the community to use. Instead, it simply does not exist due to its complexity for allowing for different formats. OpenProject is in its core an open-source application, so feel free to contribute to an import functionality for one product such as MS project and then continue to use the open-source version.
What you likely read about 'import for free' is that we help you move the data between existing OpenProject instances, such as moving from a cloud instance to an on-premise enterprise edition. This has nothing to do with a data import from other systems, and we do not offer these services currently in an automated fashion.
I have been evaluating via the cloud version, and have spent hours creating and evolving products. Not being able to get my data out of the cloud and into an on- premises hosted instance of OpenProject without paying a consulting fee (someone is not sharing a script), makes me feel milked.
What is sad is the inflexibility, forcing me to either pay or to re-input my work packages from scratch, if I am not yet ready for Enterprise. I was ready to make the case that management drop another paid product and buy Enterprise... but that purchase and migration won't happen quickly enough to get my data out of the cloud... the fee is just petty.
We offer an Excel synchronization tool (which is completely free) which you can use to import work packages from your Cloud Edition to an Excel spreadsheet and then from that Excel spreadsheet into your self-hosted OpenProject environment.
You find further information and can download it here: https://www.openproject.org/synchronize-excel-openproject/
This gives you optimal control to pick and choose which work packages you want to use in your on-premise OpenProject version.
As Oliver mentioned, we currently do not have an automatic import / export feature between the Cloud Edition and an on-premise version. Therefore, our developers need to take time away from improving OpenProject to perform the export and we charge a moderate fee for this service. We do not make any profit off of this (the fee is at cost at best).
We offer the OpenProject Community Edition completely for free (even for businesses). But I am sure you understand that we cannot provide free services (which cost us money) in addition to that and take time away from improving OpenProject for everyone else.
If you want to transfer your data from the Cloud Edition to the Enterprise Edition without making any investment feel free to use the free Excel synchronization template to import your work packages.
Replies (10)
It is currently no feature directly supported by the application. Given that one would have to enable the user to select which value in each row stands for which work package attribute, I also think that it will not be implemented soon.
There might be a couple of ways to do it however:
Import to MSProject and then to OpenProject: https://www.openproject.org/topics/621
Writing a script that pushes the data over the API: https://www.openproject.org/projects/openproject/wiki/API_v2
Granted, those are not the most direct of ways.
Are they of any help to you?
Best
Jens
Hi Jens
I’ll take a look at these two approaches and let you know how I get on.
Regards
John
Hi
I got one of my team to write a script that uses the API - although the docs need some updateing for 3.0.
Thanks again
Regards
John
Hey John -
Any chance you can share that script?
Thanks -
Jay
Hi everybody!
We’re starting to explore OpenProject and I’d like to import the existing Trac-Tickets of a running project into OpenProject.
So I’m at the very same point as John over 2 years ago.
Searching the web did not help.
How’s it today? Is there a way to import work-packages into OpenProject?
Thanks
Nicolas
Hi
it is sad to see that OpenProject still does not support importing of projects/work packages.
The MS Project Add-in is also not working anymore and the the two feature requests I found in that regard are only on the wish list but not added to a version in the Roadmap.
There are two main reasons to support such feature:
Hopefully this feature requst is soon moved into a roadmap version.
Regards, Jürgen
I found out why. The feature is blocked because they want to charge a consulting fee to get your data from some other format into OpenProject. Look at the pricing details. They will do the import for free, IF you buy the Enterprise version today. So, hard sell. And disappointing, because my plan was do adopt OpenProject into the organisation, achieve a good reputation, and then introduce methodology and with that, the Enterprise version.
With that experience, I am less inclined to support the project.
Dear Karla,
we simply do not have an automated import feature yet. It is not blocked in any way or kept hidden from the community to use. Instead, it simply does not exist due to its complexity for allowing for different formats. OpenProject is in its core an open-source application, so feel free to contribute to an import functionality for one product such as MS project and then continue to use the open-source version.
What you likely read about 'import for free' is that we help you move the data between existing OpenProject instances, such as moving from a cloud instance to an on-premise enterprise edition. This has nothing to do with a data import from other systems, and we do not offer these services currently in an automated fashion.
Kind regards,
Oliver from OpenProject
I have been evaluating via the cloud version, and have spent hours creating and evolving products. Not being able to get my data out of the cloud and into an on- premises hosted instance of OpenProject without paying a consulting fee (someone is not sharing a script), makes me feel milked.
What is sad is the inflexibility, forcing me to either pay or to re-input my work packages from scratch, if I am not yet ready for Enterprise. I was ready to make the case that management drop another paid product and buy Enterprise... but that purchase and migration won't happen quickly enough to get my data out of the cloud... the fee is just petty.
Hey Karla,
We offer an Excel synchronization tool (which is completely free) which you can use to import work packages from your Cloud Edition to an Excel spreadsheet and then from that Excel spreadsheet into your self-hosted OpenProject environment.
You find further information and can download it here: https://www.openproject.org/synchronize-excel-openproject/
This gives you optimal control to pick and choose which work packages you want to use in your on-premise OpenProject version.
Aside from that you export your work packages in various formats (CSV, XLS, PDF): https://www.openproject.org/help/work-packages/
As Oliver mentioned, we currently do not have an automatic import / export feature between the Cloud Edition and an on-premise version. Therefore, our developers need to take time away from improving OpenProject to perform the export and we charge a moderate fee for this service. We do not make any profit off of this (the fee is at cost at best).
We offer the OpenProject Community Edition completely for free (even for businesses). But I am sure you understand that we cannot provide free services (which cost us money) in addition to that and take time away from improving OpenProject for everyone else.
If you want to transfer your data from the Cloud Edition to the Enterprise Edition without making any investment feel free to use the free Excel synchronization template to import your work packages.
Best,
Robin