Can you save the project file to a "pdf" file?

[N Fergy]

I am creating project files in the Microsoft Project version 2003. A great
deal of the people that I have to send the file, via email, do not have
Project loaded on their computers, so they cannot read the attached file. Is
there anyway that the Project file can be save to a PDF file?

 

[crpmst]

You need to purchase a copy of Adobe Writer or there are also free pdf
writers availabe on the Internet that you can download. This will allow you
to set it up as a printer that you select from your Print window. This
creates the .pdf file you can send to the users. Another option is to
provide the users with a means to directly open a Project file so they can
view the Project data directly. Steelray has a nice inexpensive ($35) viewer
that allows the user to view the Project data in a read only format but it
looks very much like Project views. The user can even add, remove or move
columns around just like in Project. The data is read only so they can't
change anything. Hope this helps.

 

[Rob Schneider]

I am creating project files in the Microsoft Project version 2003. A great
deal of the people that I have to send the file, via email, do not have
Project loaded on their computers, so they cannot read the attached file. Is
there anyway that the Project file can be save to a PDF file?

"crpmst" gave good advice. In addition, it is always a bad idea to give
people the Project MPP file. Especially when they don't know how to use
Project. The first thing that will happen when they open your file is
that Project will recompute the schedule and it won't be the same
schedule that you sent. Never send the MPP file unless there is a
reason to do so.

Instead: send them:

: PDF of a few special views: Gantt Chart, Milestons, Summary Progress,
Resource profiles.

: Use the little "camera" icon to take a snapshot of the Gantt chart
view into a GIF file that you can paste into email

: Write a report. Embedd with figures and tables *and* tell you story.
Control the message.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi N Fergy,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

Please see FAQ Item: 16. Project Viewer.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,
Just for the sake of completeness, the (free) versions 8 and 9 of Adobe
Reader also contain a pdf writer.

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[crpmst]

One other note we found at our company. Not sure if it is related to our
..pdf writer or not but we had to turn off 3-D bars in Project 2007 or the
people trying to view the .pdf file could not open the .pdf file. Go to
Tools, Options, View tab and uncheck the option "Bars and shapes in Gantt
views in 3-D".

 

[Biljana]

Why don't you try a MS Project Viewer like Seavus Project Viewer? Your
friends and colleagues can take a download trial and see the plans you
sent them, if they like it they can buy it later on. I understand there
will be extensive collaboration in the Seavus Project Viewer with the
next release, There is even a link to register as a beta tester at their
site http://seavusprojectviewer.com/evolution.aspx.
I hope this helps
Biljana

 

[Dytham]

No cost option:

Print as you would normally but choose "Microsoft Office Document Image
Writer" as the printer. This will produce a .mdi file which is similar to a
..pdf and can be read by anyone with MS Office.

 

[laurab]

Another good idea for viewing mpp files is the Steelray Project Viewer.
visit http://www.steelray.com/ for more information.

 

[Bob C.]

If the project is simple enough, you can "copy a picture". On the standard
toolbar you can use the "copy a picture" button.

If the project is more complex, I believe you can copy an image of the
project. On your Analysis Toolbar (which is usually hidden until you use the
PERT analysis toolbar View->Toolbar->PERT Analysis), there is a button to
copy the project to an image.

-BC