Applies to: @RISK 6.x/7.x, Professional and Industrial Editions

Ensuring MPP Updates Flow into @RISK Excel Formulas

When you sync an updated MPP file (Project » Sync Now), only values that are directly in cells update automatically.

• If a value is embedded inside a formula, Excel does not know it should refresh unless the formula explicitly references the MPP field.
  • To make all consultant changes flow through to your model, use the ProjectFieldVal property in your @RISK formulas.
    • ProjectFieldVal tells @RISK to read the current value of a specified field from the linked MPP file at run time and use that value inside the formula.
    • This works even if the MPP file was edited on a machine that does not have @RISK installed.
    • When you later open the workbook in @RISK, it pulls in the new values and uses them during simulation.
    • This allows you to structure your model so that all MPP updates propagate correctly, whether the values are used directly or inside distributions and calculations.

Examples:

1. Vary a task field ±10% around the current MPP value (default triangular distribution)
   =RiskVary(ProjectFieldVal,-10,10)

2. Use the MPP value as the most likely value in a triangular distribution, but show the static MPP value when not simulating
   =RiskTriang(ProjectFieldVal0.9, ProjectFieldVal, ProjectFieldVal1.5, RiskStatic(ProjectFieldVal))

3. Add a risk register delay to the task duration stored in the MPP file
   =ProjectFieldVal + 'RiskRegister'!L6

By consistently using ProjectFieldVal, you ensure that any updates consultants make in the MPP file are reflected everywhere in your Excel model, including inside formulas and distributions.