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How to Retrieve a Previous Project Plan Version in Project Web App
Question details
Users need a way to restore previous versions of project plans or project detail pages in Project Web App, but are unable to find a functional version history feature.
- Product
- Project Web App (Project Online and Project Server)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to retrieve or restore an earlier draft of a project plan after making unwanted changes.
- Observed behavior
- Project Web App does not provide a general version history feature for project plans, and the Version option found in Page properties fails to restore earlier versions of the project.
Verify that you have the appropriate administrator or project manager permissions in Project Web App, as setting up automated tracking workarounds will require access to Power Automate and API configurations.
Use Project Check-in and Publishing Procedures
Since an automated version history feature is unavailable, carefully managing when a project is saved versus published is the most reliable native method to control versions.
Project Online separates the working draft of a project from the published version visible to the team. By leveraging this, you can prevent unwanted changes from becoming permanent.
Always ensure you properly check out the project before making extensive edits. This locks the file for editing and creates a working session.
As you work, use the 'Save' function periodically. Do not click 'Publish' until you are absolutely certain the changes are final and ready for the team to view.
If you make an error or need to revert to the live version, simply close the project without saving, or force a check-in discarding your draft. This retains the last published version of the project plan.
Implement Custom Tracking via Power Automate and REST APIs
For organizations requiring strict historical tracking, you can build a custom logging system using Microsoft's automation tools and APIs.
Manage Project Plans with WPS Spreadsheet's Built-in Version History
Frustrated by the lack of automatic version history in standard project web tools? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. By managing your project plans in WPS Spreadsheet, you get native version control, allowing you to seamlessly restore previous drafts anytime.
- 1. Open Your Project Plan: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your project tracking document.
- 2. Access Version History: Click on 'Menu', navigate to 'File', and select 'Version History' to view all past saves.
- 3. Restore a Previous Version: Preview the historical drafts in the side panel and click 'Restore' on the version you wish to recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the Version option in Page properties restore my project plan?
The Version option located in Page properties is a generic SharePoint feature meant for tracking standard site page content. It is not integrated with the underlying project plan data in Project Web App and therefore cannot restore project detail pages or task lists.
Can I manually restore previous page versions in Project Web App?
While automated restoration is not supported, if you have been tracking page properties through the SharePoint REST API, you can manually reconstruct and apply the previous configurations based on your extracted API logs.
Will Microsoft add a version history feature to Project Online?
Currently, Project Online and Project Server do not provide this feature natively. However, users are encouraged to submit this feature request through Microsoft's official feedback platform to influence future updates.
