Extracting MPP files from Project Server?

[Jeff Edwards]

Here's what I'm trying to accomplish:
I need to build a master project file from several other files that
reside on the server side, and unfortunately once an enterprise project
is published, I haven't been able to find a way to "see" the mpp files.

So my question is:
Once an enterprise schedule (or schedules) are published to project
server (and become part of the SQL database), is there any way to gain
access to the mpp files?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Jeff --

There are no .mpp files in Project Server. The projects are saved as
records in the SQL Server database used by Project Server. To build a
master project from Project Server projects, click Insert - Project and
select the projects in the Insert from Project Server dialog. Hope this
helps.

 

[Harry]

I am following this discussion thread. and have a question. If I have mpp
files in MS Project and SQL Server Database for Project server, how can I
keep the data in synch between both mpp and SQL server. That is if I enter
information in MS Project how does it get from MPP files and SQL Server
(Project Server) or vice versa? What is the interface feed? Is there an
automatic feed to be keep both in synch? Are the any resource documents,
white papers available that will explain this in detail.

Harry

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Harry --

You can't maintain two versions of a project, one as an .mpp file and the
other in the Project Server database. This is definitely NOT how to use
Project Server. If you need to work with Project Server in offline mode,
such as when you are awary from your corporate network, you can save
projects as .mpp files on your hard drive, but you DO NOT save them the way
your normally save .mpp files. Here's how to work with Offline projects:

1. Launch Microsoft Project Professional and log into Project Server
normally
2. Click Tools - Enterprise Options - Microsoft Office Project Server
Accounts
3. Make sure the "Manually control connection state" option is selected and
then click OK
4. Open any project stored in the Project Server database
5. Click File - Save Offline
6. Close the project and then exit Microsoft Project Professional

Steps #1-3 make sure that your user login account is configured for use with
Offline mode. Step #5 saves the project on your hard drive in a
deeply-buried folder. You don't need to know where the folder is, however,
as the next set of steps will show you how to work with the Offline project.
While you are away from the corporate network, do the following:

1. Launch Microsoft Project Professional, select your regular user account,
and click the Work Offline button (DO NOT select the My Computer account!)
2. Click File - Open
3. Select the Offline project and click the Open button
4. Make edits to the project and necessary and save the project
5. Close the project and then exit Microsoft Project Professional

When you return to your corporate network, do the following:

1. Launch Microsoft Project Professional and log into Project Server
normally
2. Click File - Open
3. Select the Offline project and click the Open button
4. Click File - Save Online
5. Click Yes when prompted to synch up the changes

This is the only correct way to work with Offline projects outside of the
Project Server database. Hope this helps.