working with Access

[David]

Hello all,
I've learned from Jack on a previous post that you can save a mpp file as an
access database and that access can read a mpp file.

I am looking at having a user in Access 2002, export data and create a mpp
file (Project 2002) based on a table/query in Access.

What is the best approach?

Setup a mpp file that links to the mdb file and will pull the info from
access when it is opened?

OR

Have Access create the mpp file with VBA code in Access?

Any assistance is very much appreciated.

Thank you,
David

 

[Rob Schneider]

Hello all,
I've learned from Jack on a previous post that you can save a mpp file as an
access database and that access can read a mpp file.

I am looking at having a user in Access 2002, export data and create a mpp
file (Project 2002) based on a table/query in Access.

What is the best approach?

Setup a mpp file that links to the mdb file and will pull the info from
access when it is opened?

OR

Have Access create the mpp file with VBA code in Access?

Any assistance is very much appreciated.

Thank you,
David

I think it will be virtually impossible for you to create the mpp
equivalent in mdb format for Project. It's a complex data scheme (did
you read the projdb.htm file?).

Instead of commenting on "how" you do it, "what" are you trying to do?

 

[Rod Gill]

If you have a lot of tasks, resources and assignments, and no other complex
data (apart from links etc. then adding data to a .mdb file is feasible
(I've done it myself several times). However, it is simpler to create files
using Office Automation but that process is slower. So, as Rob said, what do
you want to do? how many Tasks, Resources, Assignments, links etc. are there
and what else do you need to do?

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP

NEW!! Project VBA Book, for details visit: http://www.projectvbabook.com

 

[Steve House]

It's possible - I did something similar many years ago in Project 98. But
developing it was a time-consuming nightmare! I'd definitely recommend you
look for a plan B - the time and cost of developing the 'solution' will be
far greater than any benefit it will give you over just emailing task
progress information to the project manager and having them use Project's
regular tracking tools to post it into the project file. For that matter,
you're reinventing the wheel as allowing resources to directly display and
enter this sort of information is part of the reason Project Server and
Project Web Access were created. If you really need to have them do this,
save yourself some grief and go with the off-the-shelf solution.

Just one opinion

 

[Rob Schneider]

It's possible - I did something similar many years ago in Project 98.
But developing it was a time-consuming nightmare! I'd definitely
recommend you look for a plan B - the time and cost of developing the
'solution' will be far greater than any benefit it will give you over
just emailing task progress information to the project manager and
having them use Project's regular tracking tools to post it into the
project file. For that matter, you're reinventing the wheel as allowing
resources to directly display and enter this sort of information is part
of the reason Project Server and Project Web Access were created. If
you really need to have them do this, save yourself some grief and go
with the off-the-shelf solution.

Just one opinion

I'll second that opinion. Microsoft Project is one big front-end on top
of a database. So is Access. But Project is built to be the front-end
for the Project database. Use Project to front-end to the Project
database. Get the Access folks a copy of Project.