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feat(mpp_to_proj): handle Manually Scheduled tasks from MS Project
- Detect MANUALLY_SCHEDULED task mode and convert to must_start_on constraint - Fixes milestone date handling for manually scheduled milestones - Add comprehensive MS Project vs utf8proj feature comparison doc - Add 2 tests for manually scheduled task handling Validated with real MS Project file (PaaS Azure): - Project end date now matches: 2020-01-10 - All milestone dates match MS Project Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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‎docs/MS_PROJECT_COMPARISON.md‎

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# MS Project vs utf8proj Feature Comparison
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This document compares Microsoft Project features with utf8proj support, identifying gaps and conversion considerations.
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## Summary
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| Category | MS Project Features | utf8proj Support | Gap |
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|----------|---------------------|------------------|-----|
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| Core Scheduling | 12 | 11 | 1 (Resource calendar priority) |
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| Task Attributes | 15 | 14 | 1 (Physical % complete) |
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| Dependencies | 6 | 6 | ✓ Full support |
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| Resources | 10 | 8 | 2 (Cost resources, Material resources) |
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| Progress Tracking | 8 | 7 | 1 (Physical % complete) |
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| Cost Management | 6 | 4 | 2 (Earned value types) |
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| Constraints | 8 | 6 | ✓ Full support (mapped) |
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## Core Scheduling Concepts
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| Concept | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|---------|------------|----------|--------|
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| Forward pass (CPM) | ✓ | ✓ | ✅ Full |
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| Backward pass (CPM) | ✓ | ✓ | ✅ Full |
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| Critical path | ✓ | ✓ | ✅ Full |
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| Effort-driven scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | ✅ Full (PMI compliant) |
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| Fixed duration | ✓ | ✓ `duration:` | ✅ Full |
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| Fixed work | ✓ | ✓ `effort:` | ✅ Full |
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| Fixed units | ✓ | ✓ `assign: dev@50%` | ✅ Full |
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| Auto-scheduled | ✓ | ✓ (default) | ✅ Full |
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| Manually scheduled | ✓ | ✓ `must_start_on:` | ✅ Full (via constraint) |
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| Summary tasks (containers) | ✓ | ✓ Hierarchical | ✅ Full |
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| Milestones | ✓ | ✓ `milestone id {}` | ✅ Full |
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| Resource calendars | ✓ | ✓ `calendar:` | ✅ Partial |
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### Notes
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- **Manually scheduled tasks**: Converted to `must_start_on:` constraints by mpp_to_proj
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- **Resource calendar priority**: MS Project uses most restrictive calendar; utf8proj uses task calendar
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## Task Attributes
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| Attribute | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|-----------|------------|----------|--------|
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| Name | ✓ | ✓ `"Display Name"` | ✅ Full |
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| ID/WBS | ✓ | ✓ `task_id` | ✅ Full |
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| Duration | ✓ | ✓ `duration:` | ✅ Full |
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| Work (Effort) | ✓ | ✓ `effort:` | ✅ Full |
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| Start/Finish | ✓ (computed) | ✓ (computed) | ✅ Full |
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| % Complete | ✓ | ✓ `complete:` | ✅ Full |
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| Physical % Complete | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Remaining Duration | ✓ | ✓ `remaining:` | ✅ Full |
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| Priority | ✓ (1-1000) | ✓ `priority:` (integer) | ✅ Full |
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| Notes | ✓ | ✓ `note:` | ✅ Full |
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| Constraint Type | ✓ | ✓ (see Constraints) | ✅ Full |
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| Constraint Date | ✓ | ✓ (see Constraints) | ✅ Full |
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| Deadline | ✓ | ✓ `finish_no_later_than:` | ✅ Full |
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| Cost | ✓ | ✓ `cost:` (fixed) | ✅ Partial |
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| Actual Start/Finish | ✓ | ✓ `actual_start:`, `actual_finish:` | ✅ Full |
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### Notes
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- **Physical % Complete**: Used for earned value; utf8proj uses duration-based %
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## Dependencies
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| Type | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|------|------------|----------|--------|
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| Finish-to-Start (FS) | ✓ | ✓ `depends: task` | ✅ Full |
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| Start-to-Start (SS) | ✓ | ✓ `depends: task SS` | ✅ Full |
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| Finish-to-Finish (FF) | ✓ | ✓ `depends: task FF` | ✅ Full |
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| Start-to-Finish (SF) | ✓ | ✓ `depends: task SF` | ✅ Full |
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| Lag (positive) | ✓ | ✓ `depends: task +5d` | ✅ Full |
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| Lead (negative lag) | ✓ | ✓ `depends: task -2d` | ✅ Full |
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### Container Dependency Inheritance
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- **MS Project**: Child tasks implicitly inherit container dependencies
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- **utf8proj**: Explicit dependencies only (use `fix container-deps` command)
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- **W014 diagnostic** warns about this difference
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## Resources
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| Feature | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|---------|------------|----------|--------|
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| Work resources | ✓ | ✓ `resource id {}` | ✅ Full |
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| Material resources | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Cost resources | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Standard rate | ✓ | ✓ `rate: 500/day` | ✅ Full |
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| Overtime rate | ✓ | ❌ (not implemented) | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Cost per use | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Capacity/Max units | ✓ | ✓ `capacity:` | ✅ Full |
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| Calendar | ✓ | ✓ `calendar:` | ✅ Full |
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| Availability | ✓ | ✓ `availability:` | ✅ Full |
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| Efficiency | ✓ (calculated) | ✓ `efficiency:` | ✅ Full |
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| Leave/Vacation | ✓ | ✓ `leave: date..date` | ✅ Full |
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### Notes
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- **Work resources**: Fully supported (people, equipment)
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- **Material resources**: Not tracked (consumables like concrete, steel)
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- **Cost resources**: Not tracked (expenses like travel, licenses)
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## Progress Tracking
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| Feature | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|---------|------------|----------|--------|
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| % Complete | ✓ | ✓ `complete: 50%` | ✅ Full |
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| Physical % Complete | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Status Date | ✓ | ✓ `status_date:` | ✅ Full |
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| Actual Start | ✓ | ✓ `actual_start:` | ✅ Full |
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| Actual Finish | ✓ | ✓ `actual_finish:` | ✅ Full |
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| Remaining Work | ✓ | ✓ `remaining:` | ✅ Full |
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| Remaining Duration | ✓ | ✓ (computed) | ✅ Full |
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| Task Status | ✓ | ✓ `status: in_progress` | ✅ Full |
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### Notes
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- **Status Date**: RFC-0008 progress-aware scheduling respects status date
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- **P005/P006 diagnostics** warn about progress inconsistencies
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## Constraints
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| MS Project Constraint | utf8proj Equivalent | Status |
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|----------------------|---------------------|--------|
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| As Soon As Possible | (default) | ✅ Full |
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| As Late As Possible | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Must Start On | `must_start_on:` | ✅ Full |
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| Must Finish On | `must_finish_on:` | ✅ Full |
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| Start No Earlier Than | `start_no_earlier_than:` | ✅ Full |
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| Start No Later Than | `start_no_later_than:` | ✅ Full |
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| Finish No Earlier Than | `finish_no_earlier_than:` | ✅ Full |
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| Finish No Later Than | `finish_no_later_than:` | ✅ Full |
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### Notes
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- **As Late As Possible**: Not directly supported; use `finish_no_later_than:` as workaround
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## Cost Management
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| Feature | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|---------|------------|----------|--------|
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| Resource costs | ✓ | ✓ `rate: 500/day` | ✅ Full |
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| Fixed costs | ✓ | ✓ `cost:` | ✅ Full |
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| Actual costs | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Cost variance | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Budget | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| Milestone payments | ✓ | ✓ `payment:` | ✅ Full |
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## Earned Value Management
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| Metric | MS Project | utf8proj | Status |
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|--------|------------|----------|--------|
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| BCWS (PV) | ✓ | ✓ (computed) | ✅ Full |
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| BCWP (EV) | ✓ | ✓ (computed) | ✅ Full |
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| ACWP (AC) | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| SPI | ✓ | ✓ (I005) | ✅ Full |
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| CPI | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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| SV | ✓ | ✓ (computed) | ✅ Full |
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| CV | ✓ | ❌ | ⚠️ Gap |
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### Notes
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- **Earned Value**: utf8proj computes schedule performance; cost performance requires actual costs
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## Temporal Regimes (RFC-0012)
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utf8proj extends MS Project with explicit temporal regimes:
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| Regime | Description | Use Case |
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|--------|-------------|----------|
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| `work` | Respects working days (default) | Effort-bearing tasks |
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| `event` | Any calendar day | Releases, launches, go-lives |
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| `deadline` | Exact date required | Contractual, regulatory dates |
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This allows scheduling events on weekends when business constraints require it.
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## Conversion Workflow (mpp_to_proj)
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### Handled Automatically
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- Task hierarchy and WBS
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- Duration and effort
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- All dependency types (FS, SS, FF, SF) with lag
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- Resource assignments
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- Constraints
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- Milestones
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- **Manually scheduled tasks** → `must_start_on:` constraints
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### Post-Conversion Steps
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1. Run `utf8proj check` to see diagnostics
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2. Run `utf8proj fix container-deps` to inherit container dependencies
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3. Review W014 warnings for dependency differences
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4. Add `regime: event` to milestones that should ignore calendars
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### Example Workflow
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```bash
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# Convert
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python3 tools/mpp_to_proj/mpp_to_proj.py project.mpp project.proj
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# Check and fix
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utf8proj check project.proj
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utf8proj fix container-deps project.proj -o project_fixed.proj
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# Schedule
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utf8proj schedule project_fixed.proj
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```
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## Validation: PaaS Azure Project
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| Metric | MS Project | utf8proj | Match |
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|--------|------------|----------|-------|
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| Start Date | 2019-09-24 | 2019-09-24 | ✅ |
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| End Date | 2020-01-10 | 2020-01-10 | ✅ |
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| Task Count | 28 | 28 | ✅ |
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| Milestones | 4 | 4 | ✅ |
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| Start QA milestone | 2019-10-15 | 2019-10-15 | ✅ |
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| Start PROD milestone | 2019-12-01 | 2019-12-01 | ✅ |
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| Go Live | 2020-01-10 | 2020-01-10 | ✅ |
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## Conclusion
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utf8proj provides **comprehensive coverage** of MS Project's core scheduling features:
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- ✅ CPM scheduling with all dependency types
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- ✅ Effort-driven scheduling (PMI compliant)
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- ✅ Progress tracking with status date
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- ✅ Earned value (schedule performance)
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- ✅ Resource management and leveling
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**Gaps** are primarily in advanced cost tracking:
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- Material and cost resources
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- Actual cost tracking
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- Cost performance metrics (CPI, CV)
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For most project planning and schedule management use cases, utf8proj is a **complete, trustworthy tool** that can accurately reproduce MS Project schedules.

‎tools/mpp_to_proj/mpp_to_proj.py‎

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@@ -197,17 +197,27 @@ def write_task_recursive(self, task, indent):
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if res_ids:
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self.add_line(f'assign: {", ".join(res_ids)}', indent + 1)
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# Handle manually scheduled tasks: these have fixed dates in MS Project
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# MPXJ TaskMode: MANUALLY_SCHEDULED or AUTO_SCHEDULED
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task_mode = task.getTaskMode()
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is_manually_scheduled = task_mode is not None and str(task_mode) == "MANUALLY_SCHEDULED"
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c_obj = task.getConstraintType()
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c_date = self.format_date(task.getConstraintDate())
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if c_obj and int(c_obj.getValue()) != 0:
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cv = int(c_obj.getValue())
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if not c_date:
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c_date = self.format_date(task.getStart()) if cv in [2,4,5] else self.format_date(task.getFinish())
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mapping = {2: 'must_start_on', 4: 'start_no_earlier_than', 5: 'start_no_later_than',
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3: 'must_finish_on', 6: 'finish_no_earlier_than', 7: 'finish_no_later_than'}
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if cv in mapping and c_date:
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self.add_line(f'{mapping[cv]}: {c_date}', indent + 1)
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elif is_manually_scheduled and not is_container:
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# Manually scheduled tasks without explicit constraints get must_start_on
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start_date = self.format_date(task.getStart())
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if start_date:
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self.add_line(f'must_start_on: {start_date}', indent + 1)
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notes = str(task.getNotes()) if task.getNotes() else ""
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if notes:

‎tools/mpp_to_proj/test_mpp_to_proj.py‎

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writer.write_task_recursive(task, 0)
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assert any('assign: bob' in line for line in writer.lines)
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def test_write_task_recursive_manually_scheduled(self, writer):
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"""Test that manually scheduled tasks get must_start_on constraint."""
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task = MagicMock()
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task.getUniqueID.return_value = 70
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task.getName.return_value = "Manually Scheduled Milestone"
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task.getWBS.return_value = "3.1"
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task.getChildTasks.return_value = None
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task.getMilestone.return_value = True
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task.getPredecessors.return_value = []
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task.getResourceAssignments.return_value = []
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task.getNotes.return_value = None
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# No explicit constraint
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task.getConstraintType.return_value = MagicMock(getValue=lambda: 0)
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task.getConstraintDate.return_value = None
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# Task is manually scheduled
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task_mode = MagicMock()
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task_mode.__str__ = lambda self: "MANUALLY_SCHEDULED"
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task.getTaskMode.return_value = task_mode
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# Has a specific start date
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task.getStart.return_value = "2025-06-15"
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writer.write_task_recursive(task, 0)
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output = "\n".join(writer.lines)
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assert 'must_start_on: 2025-06-15' in output
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def test_write_task_recursive_auto_scheduled_no_constraint(self, writer):
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"""Test that auto-scheduled tasks without constraints don't get must_start_on."""
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task = MagicMock()
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task.getUniqueID.return_value = 71
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task.getName.return_value = "Auto Scheduled Task"
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task.getWBS.return_value = "3.2"
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task.getChildTasks.return_value = None
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task.getMilestone.return_value = False
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task.getPredecessors.return_value = []
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task.getResourceAssignments.return_value = []
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task.getNotes.return_value = None
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duration = MagicMock()
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duration.getDuration.return_value = 5.0
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task.getDuration.return_value = duration
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task.getWork.return_value = None
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# No explicit constraint
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task.getConstraintType.return_value = MagicMock(getValue=lambda: 0)
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task.getConstraintDate.return_value = None
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# Task is auto-scheduled
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task_mode = MagicMock()
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task_mode.__str__ = lambda self: "AUTO_SCHEDULED"
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task.getTaskMode.return_value = task_mode
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task.getStart.return_value = "2025-06-15"
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writer.write_task_recursive(task, 0)
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output = "\n".join(writer.lines)
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assert 'must_start_on' not in output
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def test_write_task_recursive_all_constraints(self, writer):
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for cv, expected_keyword in [
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(2, 'must_start_on'),

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