ODBC

[Tim Peterson]

Can an ODBC datasource be created from the data in one project file on my
hard drive? What ODBC drivers do I use? Are there any instructions
regarding this subject already published on the internet?

Thanks.

 

[Rob Schneider]

Can an ODBC datasource be created from the data in one project file on my
hard drive? What ODBC drivers do I use? Are there any instructions
regarding this subject already published on the internet?

Thanks.

I think you need to fundamentally change how you think about this. ODBC
is "Open DataBase Connector". It has nothing to do, really, with
Project. Project can write/read to/from and ODBC [connector] which in
turn writes/reads to/from what it is connected.

Examples:

Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Microsoft Access
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Oracle
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> MySQL

In XP's Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC) setup
an ODBC connector using the provided control. Then use it in Project.
You use the driver that you want to use, e.g. the "other" database
source you chose to use.

I suppose there is lots of stuff on the internet. Check via Google.

What are you trying to do?

 

[Tim Peterson]

Rob,

I am trying to write data to Project using MS Access. See my earlier post
"Writing to MS Project 2000" for further explanation of what I am trying to
do.

Thanks.

Can an ODBC datasource be created from the data in one project file on my
hard drive? What ODBC drivers do I use? Are there any instructions
regarding this subject already published on the internet?

Thanks.

I think you need to fundamentally change how you think about this. ODBC
is "Open DataBase Connector". It has nothing to do, really, with
Project. Project can write/read to/from and ODBC [connector] which in
turn writes/reads to/from what it is connected.

Examples:

Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Microsoft Access
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Oracle
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> MySQL

In XP's Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC) setup
an ODBC connector using the provided control. Then use it in Project.
You use the driver that you want to use, e.g. the "other" database
source you chose to use.

I suppose there is lots of stuff on the internet. Check via Google.

What are you trying to do?

 

[Rob Schneider]

I don't see that previous entry in my newsgroup reader, and can't go
hunting for it.

In a sentence or two, what are you trying to accomplish?

Have you read (and re-read) projdb.htm which describes the database
schema of Project? This essential reading if you are writing data to
Project.

Rob,

I am trying to write data to Project using MS Access. See my earlier post
"Writing to MS Project 2000" for further explanation of what I am trying to
do.

Thanks.

Can an ODBC datasource be created from the data in one project file on my
hard drive? What ODBC drivers do I use? Are there any instructions
regarding this subject already published on the internet?

Thanks.

I think you need to fundamentally change how you think about this. ODBC
is "Open DataBase Connector". It has nothing to do, really, with
Project. Project can write/read to/from and ODBC [connector] which in
turn writes/reads to/from what it is connected.

Examples:

Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Microsoft Access
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Oracle
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> MySQL

In XP's Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC) setup
an ODBC connector using the provided control. Then use it in Project.
You use the driver that you want to use, e.g. the "other" database
source you chose to use.

I suppose there is lots of stuff on the internet. Check via Google.

What are you trying to do?

 

[Tim Peterson]

Rob,

Thanks for the reference to "projdb.htm". I didn't know about this. I'm
reviewing it now. It may prove very helpful.

The following is my previous post which better describes my problem:

Our customers always require that we provide updated project schedules.
Since the project files contain more data than we wish our customers to see,
we usually hide fields, roll up tasks, remove resources, etc. and create a
pdf file. This is preferable over sending the project file electronically
because then the customer can un-hide fields, un-roll tasks, etc. The
problem is that more customers are requiring the data in Project format so
they can incorporate it into larger projects. In these cases, we manually
generate a separate “summary project†which is a list of only the summary
tasks with durations, start dates, and finish dates (no work, no sub-tasks,
no resources). This is a time consuming process as two files for each
project have to be maintained.

I have saved the project file as an Access Database for custom reporting,
etc., but it seems the database is not linked back to the Project file as
evidenced if changes are made in Access. I would like to use the Access data
as the source for the new project (“summary projectâ€). If it is possible to
write to MS Projects utilizing ODBC or MS Access, then the creation of these
“summary projects†will be much easier.

In short, please advise the easiest way to write to a project file without
using conventional Project methods and controls so the process I’ve described
above can be automated. I am proficient in ODBC and Access and I hope that
either of these can be part of the solution.

I don't see that previous entry in my newsgroup reader, and can't go
hunting for it.

In a sentence or two, what are you trying to accomplish?

Have you read (and re-read) projdb.htm which describes the database
schema of Project? This essential reading if you are writing data to
Project.

Rob,

I am trying to write data to Project using MS Access. See my earlier post
"Writing to MS Project 2000" for further explanation of what I am trying to
do.

Thanks.

ODTim Peterson wrote:
Can an ODBC datasource be created from the data in one project file on my
hard drive? What ODBC drivers do I use? Are there any instructions
regarding this subject already published on the internet?

Thanks.
I think you need to fundamentally change how you think about this. ODBC
is "Open DataBase Connector". It has nothing to do, really, with
Project. Project can write/read to/from and ODBC [connector] which in
turn writes/reads to/from what it is connected.

Examples:

Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Microsoft Access
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Oracle
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> MySQL

In XP's Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC) setup
an ODBC connector using the provided control. Then use it in Project.
You use the driver that you want to use, e.g. the "other" database
source you chose to use.

I suppose there is lots of stuff on the internet. Check via Google.

What are you trying to do?

 

[Rob Schneider]

Well, I think you are making it all too hard. I fully support the idea
of NOT sending Project MPP files to clients. MPP files are like
"source" code. Send progress reports with data/figures developed with
Project, along with commentary. Don't send the source!

I can understand, though, the new discovery of reporting in MPP file so
that the clients can rollup these projects into their own summaries
(they have clients too, I guess!).

I think it should be relatively easy and straight forward to do
something like the following using VBA in Project:
1. Open the project file
2. Filter for Summary tasks
4. For each task, Take the key fields (name, start, duration, etc.),
and load into an array
5. open a new empty project file
6. for each item in the array, insert a new task

This makes it automated. Eliminates need for second file as it's only a
"snapshot" that is created whenever you want. I know you want to avoid
"conventional Project methods and controls". So ... use Project VBA.
Keep it simple.

I think it would be a lot harder doing it in Access and writing a new
project mpp file based on the infor in projdb.htm.

And, all this has nothing to do with ODBC. You don't need ODBC at all
with Project. In fact, you can save as a Project Database (mpd file)
which is acually an Access file that you can open direct. This means you
can use the SAME file. Can do the same with an Access mdb file. Just
open it either in Access or Project. Forget about ODBC and forget about
having multiple files. I don't know a reason to have this complexity.

Rob,

Thanks for the reference to "projdb.htm". I didn't know about this. I'm
reviewing it now. It may prove very helpful.

The following is my previous post which better describes my problem:

Our customers always require that we provide updated project schedules.
Since the project files contain more data than we wish our customers to see,
we usually hide fields, roll up tasks, remove resources, etc. and create a
pdf file. This is preferable over sending the project file electronically
because then the customer can un-hide fields, un-roll tasks, etc. The
problem is that more customers are requiring the data in Project format so
they can incorporate it into larger projects. In these cases, we manually
generate a separate “summary project†which is a list of only the summary
tasks with durations, start dates, and finish dates (no work, no sub-tasks,
no resources). This is a time consuming process as two files for each
project have to be maintained.

I have saved the project file as an Access Database for custom reporting,
etc., but it seems the database is not linked back to the Project file as
evidenced if changes are made in Access. I would like to use the Access data
as the source for the new project (“summary projectâ€). If it is possible to
write to MS Projects utilizing ODBC or MS Access, then the creation of these
“summary projects†will be much easier.

In short, please advise the easiest way to write to a project file without
using conventional Project methods and controls so the process I’ve described
above can be automated. I am proficient in ODBC and Access and I hope that
either of these can be part of the solution.

I don't see that previous entry in my newsgroup reader, and can't go
hunting for it.

In a sentence or two, what are you trying to accomplish?

Have you read (and re-read) projdb.htm which describes the database
schema of Project? This essential reading if you are writing data to
Project.

Rob,

I am trying to write data to Project using MS Access. See my earlier post
"Writing to MS Project 2000" for further explanation of what I am trying to
do.

Thanks.

:

ODTim Peterson wrote:
Can an ODBC datasource be created from the data in one project file on my
hard drive? What ODBC drivers do I use? Are there any instructions
regarding this subject already published on the internet?

Thanks.
I think you need to fundamentally change how you think about this. ODBC
is "Open DataBase Connector". It has nothing to do, really, with
Project. Project can write/read to/from and ODBC [connector] which in
turn writes/reads to/from what it is connected.

Examples:

Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Microsoft Access
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> Oracle
Project <-----> ODBC <-------> MySQL

In XP's Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC) setup
an ODBC connector using the provided control. Then use it in Project.
You use the driver that you want to use, e.g. the "other" database
source you chose to use.

I suppose there is lots of stuff on the internet. Check via Google.

What are you trying to do?