Automated Archiving of Projects

[Marla Singer]

Hi Yall,

I think I got a little too clever for my self and now I
have a strange problem.

We have a need to archive all project at year end so that
we have a snap shot for viewing purposes only.

Wrote a VB program that performs the following:

1) Checks out all of the projects using PDS.

2) Creates a new archived version.

3) Duplicates every project VIA SQL.

4) Checks them all back in.

I can view all of my new archived programs via Project Pro
but not via the WEB Access, this is good.

Problem is:

If I delete an archived project via the WEB Access then
the original published version is removed from WEB Access
until I re-publish it.

Second problem is:

When I open the project via Project Pro, I don't see the
tasks until I select a different view and then select one
of the outline views and then select show all tasks. Then
they all appear correctly.

Third Problem Is:

I can save the archived version, which may not be bad
because I don't want the users to change them, but, I
wonder why I can't change them.

I compounded the problem by updating the archived projects
binary data with the default "new project" binary data.
This caused me to not be able to open any projects in
Project Pro.

I think I'm on to something regarding the binary data.
Does anyone know what the binary data should be for an
archived version?

Thanks

Marla

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

Don't touch the binary data. Read projdb.htm (it's in one of Project's
program folders). You need to copy the basic fields, and set relevant
Ext_edited flags to '1'. Project then knows the project file was created by
you and will automatically save the correct binary data when the project is
next opened in Project and saved.

If all you are doing is copying the MSP data, you don't need to check out
the projects.

If you want to save the Web Access data as well, I suggest you create a new
version 'Archive 2003' then use automation to open the project and save as
version Archive 2003.

--
Rod Gill
Project MVP
For Microsoft Project companion projects, best practices and Project VBA
development services
visit www.projectlearning.com/