How can I open and read a MPP file without MS Project on the desktop.

[stuart.trahan]

I know this can be done because there is a myriad of 3rd Party MSP
Viewers out there that read MPP files without MS Project being
installed. We tried using Primery Interop Assembly (PIA) and it
worked if a MS Office component was installed on the machine even
though MSP was not ... but as soon as we did the same on a FRESH
machine without Office of MSP installed we got an error when trying to
access the MPP file that said "Please install the Microsoft Office
component" ... So, what I am asking is for any info someone can
provide that will give me insight on how to read an MPP file without
Microsoft Office or MS Project installed? Thanks for anything that
can be provided.

Stuart

 

[Rod Gill]

From a license perspective you have to have Project installed, even if you
use oledb to read the .mdb file.

However, if projects are stored in a database (Access SQL Server etc) then
you do not need Project to read the database. You can also save your project
as an xml file and read that.

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP

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

NEW!! Web based VBA training course delivered by me. For details visit:
http://projectservertraining.com/learning/index.aspx

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Stuart,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

Companion Products on our Project MVP website list 3rd party viewers, and
you might like also to see FAQ Item: 16. Project Viewer. Programs like the
Housatonic viewer allow you to see your project in HTML as if on a web page
and doesn't need Office.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address:http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[Adrian]

If you are using Project Server 2007 there are two things to be aware of :-

1) You will HAVE to go through the PSI to communicate with Project Server
in any capacity.

2) Any user using this method MUST be appropriately licenced (that is
they will need a Project Server CAL) to access the data. (Same applies in
2003, although you can access the PS DB without usuing PDS in 2003, although
it is not recommended).

Regards

Adrian.

 

[Rod Gill]

I don't think the oledb driver is free, you still need a copy of Project
installed as a license for it.
--

Rod Gill
Project MVP

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

NEW!! Web based VBA training course delivered by me. For details visit:
http://projectservertraining.com/learning/index.aspx

 

[John Withers]

Agreed. You would have to purchase a copy of Project, however the only files you need on the server are those that get installed in..

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Microsoft Office Project 11\

(PJOLEDB.DLL etc)

And the registry settings to go with them. (5 or 6 small sections)

John

EggHeadCafe.com - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com

 

[stuart.trahan]

Agreed. You would have to purchase a copy ofProject, however the onlyfilesyou need on the server are those that get installed in..

C:\ProgramFiles\CommonFiles\Microsoft Shared\Microsoft OfficeProject11\

(PJOLEDB.DLL etc)

And the registry settings to go with them. (5 or 6 small sections)

John

EggHeadCafe.com - .NET Developer Portal of Choicehttp://www.eggheadcafe.com

Thank you John ... first let me applogize for not responding to your
reply quickly as I've been out of the country for the last three weeks
and am just getting back to this issue. Let me say your insight
makes a lot of sense. I have a couple of subsequent questions around
this if you could kindly expand on them a little ...

1. are you saying that we need all the files in that directory and an
accompanying registry settings for each or, can I be selective and
just use the PJOLEDB.DLL if all I am doing is trying to READ the MSP
data?

2. How would you find the registry settings? Is it as simple as
seaching the registry for the DLLs found in the C:\ProgramFiles
\CommonFiles\Microsoft Shared\Microsoft OfficeProject11\ directory ...
or is there a special place in the registry you could point me to?

3. Do you know id OleDB is supported in 2007?

Thanks