Automating Project Features

[Zac Maclean]

I am interfacing with another program that creates a Project file and saves
it to a database. The Projects it saves are able to be opened into MS
Project 2003, and edited if necessary.

My program updates Actual dates and % Complete directly to the database as
well.

What I need to do is automate the process of creating the BaseLine and
updating the Tasks list (scheduled dates)

This would be run on a weekly basis called from an "NT" (now "Windows")
Service. Currently, I have to iterate 200+ projects this way, this will
triple or more in the next 18 months, so I need to make this as automated as
possible. We don't want to hire someone who sole job is to update these
items if I can automate it.

I have the MS Project SDK, and after looking at it, was thinking that
writing my own COM add-in that can perform these functions would be the best
bet. I also realize that I could write a macro, or VBA project to do this.

I wanted to get some input on what would be the best path to take.

Zac

 

[Ed Morrison]

I would definitely look at MS Project Server 2003. If the only feature you
need is to save the project plan into a database, this is a very simple
installation. By default, project plans are saved into a SQL Server
database.

 

[Zac Maclean]

Already did.. Project Server doesn't have the scheduling logic in it. In
order to update a schedule, I need to open the project file in Project. I
can still save a project file to SQL via ODBC and access everything that
way.

 

[larrydalooza]

Anything you can do manually (in Windows), you can automate with
AutoIt...

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/

Larry

 

[Rod Gill]

I would write a prototype version in VBA to get the process nailed. This is
the quickest way. To re-calculate you have to open the schedule in Project
then save. As VBA code runs in the same process as Project it's very fast.
You may even find that a VBA solution is all you need.

If you still feel you need to develop a COM addin, the VBA code can be
copied and used almost as-is.

It's easy to read the Titles of all Projects and then open them one after
another, so a simple loop will suffice. I recommend you save all errors to a
text file as a log, including successful open and saves. New log every run.