Importing Microsoft Project or Excel Data from SharePoint

If you store your project plans on SharePoint, you can import them into OnePager directly from SharePoint. This article covers how to initially import your information from SharePoint to create a new OnePager report. If you are trying to update an existing OnePager report with data from SharePoint, please read this article instead.

There are three methods of importing project data from SharePoint into OnePager:

1. SharePoint Direct Method (Add-in Only): Logging into SharePoint directly from Microsoft Project or Excel, and then opening the file to be imported into OnePager. This method only works when running OnePager as an add-in to Project or Excel.
2. Network Drive Method (Add-in or Standalone) : Mapping your SharePoint site to a drive and then importing file(s) into OnePager from that mapped drive.
3. URL Method (Standalone Only): Mapping your SharePoint site to a drive and then importing file(s) into OnePager from that mapped drive. This method only work when running OnePager as a standalone app outside of Project or Excel.

Depending on the configuration of your SharePoint site, the type of OnePager you are trying to create, and whether you are using OnePager standalone or add-in, we can make recommendations as to which method(s) will work best.

RECOMMENDATION: In general, SharePoint works best with OnePager standalone, so please take that into consideration as you review the different options below:

SharePoint Direct Method (Add-in Only)

To import a Microsoft Project or Excel file directly from SharePoint when you are running OnePager as an add-in:

1. Go to File > Open. Click on the Sites button, which links Microsoft Project or Excel to your company's SharePoint site:

   

2. Now that you are connected to SharePoint through Project or Excel, navigate to the SharePoint folder where your project plan is stored:

   

3. Open the Microsoft Project or Excel file that you plan to use with OnePager.

4. Go to the Add-Ins tab of Project or Excel and click on the OnePager button:

   

5. Click NEW to begin building a new report. When the import wizard appears, you will see your SharePoint file ready for import:

   

6. Continue to follow the steps to finish creating your new OnePager report from SharePoint.

Network Drive Method (Add-In or Standalone)

When importing multiple files into OnePager for a multi-project report, it works better when you use SharePoint like a shared folder instead of a like website:

1. Go to Windows Explorer. Click on This PC and then on the Map Network Drive button:

   

2. Select a Drive letter. In this example, we've picked "S:" for SharePoint, but you use any available letter. Then, for the Folder, enter your full SharePoint URL:

   

   We recommend keeping the Reconnect at sign-in box checked so that you don't have to perform these steps more than once, but check with your IT department for their policies around network drives.

3. Click Finish. Your SharePoint site is now accessible as a network drive instead of just a URL.

4. Now, launch Microsoft Project or Excel. Go to File > Open and then Browse to your newly-created SharePoint Drive:

   

5. Open the first file that you want to include in your OnePager report. If you need to import multiple files, you'll have an opportunity to do that in a few steps.

6. Go to the Add-Ins tab of Project or Excel and click on the OnePager button:

   

7. Click NEW to begin building a new report. When the import wizard appears, you will see your SharePoint file ready for import:

   

8. If you need to add more files from SharePoint, click on the Add/Remove button shown above. On the Data Source Selection screen below, click Add > Browse Files and import as many additional files from your mapped SharePoint drive as you need:

   

9. Once you have finished adding files, click OK, and you will see a list of multiple SharePoint files ready for import into OnePager:

   

10. Continue to follow the steps to finish creating your new OnePager report from SharePoint.

URL Method (Standalone Only)

This method allows you to browse directly to your SharePoint URL and is designed for use when OnePager is running standalone, not as an add-in to Microsoft Project or Excel. There is some initial configuration to ensure that this method works correctly, but once complete, it is a reliable option.

1. Before attempting to connect OnePager directly to your SharePoint URL, you will need to make sure that your SharePoint environment is listed as a trusted Windows site. To do this, go to Windows > Settings and search for Internet Options in the search box:

   

2. On the Internet Properties screen, go to Security > Trusted Sites > Sites:

   

3. On the Trusted Sites screen, make sure that your company's SharePoint site is listed. If it isn't, type the full URL in the box and then click Add to add it to the list of trusted sites:

   

   You should only need to follow these first steps one time. Once your SharePoint site is trusted, you shouldn't have to add it to the trusted sites list again.

4. Launch OnePager standalone by double-clicking the desktop icon, or by clicking the OnePager icon in your Windows Start menu. Again, this method does NOT work when OnePager is running as an add-in to Project or Excel.

   

5. On the start screen, click NEW to begin building a new chart. When the import wizard appears, click on Select and then BROWSE FILES to begin importing files from SharePoint.

   

6. Instead of typing a file name or file path, type your company's SharePoint URL and click Open. This will enable you to browse directly to your SharePoint folders.

   

7. If you are able to connect to SharePoint successfully and see your files, skip to the next step. If you get an access denied message like this one, then OnePager is unable to log into SharePoint because you are not currently logged in anywhere else. The easiest way to resolve this is to log into SharePoint through a Microsoft browser like Internet Explorer or Edge.

   

8. You should now see all of your SharePoint documents and subfolders. Select your first project plan that you want to import into OnePager just like you normally would, and then click Open to load it.

   

   If you need to import multiple files at once into OnePager, you can repeat this step for each of your additional files.

9. Once you have pointed to your desired file(s) in SharePoint, OnePager will be ready to create your chart:

   

10. One key advantage of this method is that you will be able to use the quick update controls on the Data tab of OnePager to refresh your chart when running standalone:

    

    If you use a different method to update your SharePoint chart, you will usually find that the quick update controls are disabled.

Last Updated: April 9, 2021