how to check via VBA if a custom column exists in tasks view?

[FrenchCAD]

Hi all,

I wrote a VBA macro in MSP to insert a column (TaskColumn Flag20) to display specific indicator. It works well except that it creates the column each time I open the project file. Hence I am looking for a way to check if the column exists and is visible when opening file to disable macro. I couldn't find any information on such possibility.

Other solution I have in mind would be to delete column at file closure but for some reason the BeforeClose() method doesn't seem to work.

My piece of code if needed or curious:

Attribute VB_Name = "FlagTasksToUpdate"

Public Sub Auto_Open()
    TasksToUpdate
End Sub

Private Sub Project_BeforeClose(ByVal pj As Project)

    SelectTaskColumn Column:="Flag20"
    ColumnDelete
    
    'FileCloseEx pjSave

End Sub

Public Sub TasksToUpdate()
 
'Activate Gantt Chart view
    ActiveProject.Application.ViewApply "Tracking Gantt"
    ZoomTimescale Entire:=True
    PaneClose

    SelectTaskColumn Column:="Name"
    OutlineShowAllTasks


'Insert new column Flag20 in second position and rename it Need Update
    TableEditEx Name:="Entry", TaskTable:=True, Create:=False, NewName:="", NewFieldName:="Flag20", Width:=8, ShowInMenu:=True, _
    LockFirstColumn:=True, OverwriteExisting:=False, Title:="Need Update", ColumnPosition:=1
    TableApply "Entry"
    

'Add formula to chake if task needs update
'i.e. if (current date is higher than task start date AND % complete is null) [Late Start] OR (current date is higher than task finish date AND % complete is not 100%) [Late Finish]
    CustomFieldSetFormula FieldID:=pjCustomTaskFlag20, Formula:="IIf((Date()>[Start] And [% Complete]=0) Or (Date()>[Finish] And [% Complete]<>100),True,False)"
    
    CustomFieldIndicators FieldID:=pjCustomTaskFlag20, SummaryInheritsNonsummary:=True, ProjectInheritsSummary:=True, ShowToolTips:=True

'If task needs update then display red square on line
    CustomFieldIndicatorAdd FieldID:=pjCustomTaskFlag20, Test:=pjCompareEquals, Value:="Yes", IndicatorID:=pjIndicatorSquareRed
'If not, display green square
    CustomFieldIndicatorAdd FieldID:=pjCustomTaskFlag20, Test:=pjCompareEquals, Value:="No", IndicatorID:=pjIndicatorSquareLime
    
    CustomFieldPropertiesEx FieldID:=pjCustomTaskFlag20, Attribute:=pjFieldAttributeFormula, SummaryCalc:=pjCalcNone, GraphicalIndicators:=True


End Sub

Cyril Guichard
Space Program Manager
Belgium