conversion issues from 2007 to 2003

[RichardJ]

Is anybody aware of any issues that may arise when saving a 2007 file to a
2003 file?

I've heard people say that dates have changed. I currently use 2003
professional and the supplier uses 2007. I'm asking them to save their files
to a format that I can then open but they are telling me that there are
issues in conversion.

Is there a document that may detail the compatibility issues / errors that
may occur?

 

[Rod Gill]

Firstly if you update to 2003 SP3 you can open 2007 format files directly.
Dates shouldn't change, but you will lose things like 2007's cost resources.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[RichardJ]

I'm aware that SP3 contains a converter for 2007 files and am currently in
the process of trying to get my version updated.

I was hoping that there may have been a more definitive list of items /
features available in 2007 that would not be supported in 2003 SP3. Is there
such a document / listing?

 

[Jim Aksel]

See if thsi helps:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project/FX101759351033.aspx
--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

Check out my new blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com

 

[RichardJ]

Jim,
Thanks for this. This certainly answer part of my query in relation to the
additional features in 2007 but it does not address any known 'bugs' when
saving 2007 files to earlier versions of Microsoft Project.

I need to find definitve problems in the conversion to build a case as to
why we should progress from 2003 to 2007. Unless there are specific known
problems in conversion, then I have no case to justify upgrading to 2007 as
the additional features will not be seen as key to the organisation.

 

[Rod Gill]

There aren't any issues that have cropped up in this group and as you can
see it's fairly active!

As with 2003 the main improvements are with Project Server so an upgrade to
Project 2007 without Project Server is hard to justify, especially if you
are already on 2003. I would save your ammunition for the next release.

--

Rod Gill
Microsoft MVP for Project

Author of the only book on Project VBA, see:
http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[DanRoy]

Not to detract from the good information provided by others, if you have
password protection on any of your files you might want to try some testing
to see if files in 2003 format that are password protected can be read by MS
2007. If so, try converting the 2003 file 2007 format and try opening again.
I am having problems opening a file that perviously was 2003 format but
converted to 2007 format. When I try to re-open the file, the previously
good password no longer works when entered into the Password dialog. See
the thread I started on 06/19/2008. Perhaps the same anomoly occurs when you
attempt to downgrade from 2007 to 2003. I have not upgrqaded my MS 2007
version to SP1.

As password protection is nearly non-recoverable, you may want to try a few
test cases to ensure you can do what you intend to do. Work with copies of
files, not the original files.

Dan

 

[JulieS]

All,

The password error Dan mentions was fixed with SP-1. Please see:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/937154/en-us

for a list of fixes.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[DanRoy]

Thank you Julie. This helps me and probably alleviates any fear with Richard

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Dan. Glad to have helped and thanks for the feedback.
Julie