Possible Project Bug: All Projects in Database are Deleted upon Save

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

In Access when I run the following Code (with reference to Project 2003
object library selected It runs OK. Without the displayalerts Project
prompts with Append or overwrite message. Thankfully in Project 2003 at
least the default is append.


Sub test()
Dim ProjApp As MSProject.Application
On Error Resume Next
Set ProjApp = GetObject(, "MSProject.Application")
If ProjApp Is Nothing Then
Set ProjApp = CreateObject("MSProject.Application")
ProjApp.Visible = True
End If
With ProjApp
FileNew Template:=""
FileSaveAs Name:="<D:\@ProjectSystems\Temp\Project.mpd>\Project1",
FormatID:="MSProject.MPD"
FileNew Template:=""
.DisplayAlerts = False
FileSaveAs Name:="<D:\@ProjectSystems\Temp\Project.mpd>\Project2",
FormatID:="MSProject.MPD"
.DisplayAlerts = True
End With
Set ProjApp=Nothing
End Sub

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

 

[Ross Herbert]

Hello,

This is a re-post, so I apologise for anyone who cares about such things.
Except, I don't yet have an answer that resolves the problem, and on three
disparate computers with a lot of testing I get exactly the same problem.

First: the problem didn't happen with Project 2000 - it is only happening
with Project 2002 (Professional edition to be specific). Project 2002 is
required in my case as it is the new corporate standard.

Second: The same VBA code (with appropriate modifications for Automation)
which works in MS Project DOES NOT WORK via Access VBA.

Third: It appears to be a rather dangerous fault in MS Project, as for all I
can tell with my testing, anyone who tries to save to a .mpd or .mdb
database will unintentionally DELETE all their stored projects except for
the project being saved. There is no message, no error, just a complete
DELETION of the current database.

The code I am using is the rather innocuous:
filesaveas name:="<mydatabase.mpd>\project1", formatid:="MSProject.mpd"

This code, rather than append the project to the database, will actually
delete the Database and create a new one with only the specified project
saved in it. I understand that there is an option with the DisplayAlerts
codeword to not show messages when saving and therefore append by default if
DisplayAlerts=false. However, DisplayAlerts doesn't appear to have any
affect when used from Access. In Project it correctly will allow APPENDING
of the Project to the Database. Via Access it does nothing of this kind and
Project always OVERWRITES THE ENTIRE DATABASE.

Now, I am not exactly stupid, and I have used a lot of VBA variations,
recorded macros in Project, copied them over to Access with modification so
they will work, created them from scratch, scoured the help file and the
internet, tried different Access versions, Windows OS', etc. The point is,
a fairly simple and normal command (Save) completely destroys data and
having searched the internet for answers I only find blank stares. On the
occasions others have found the same bug the responses have been a shrug of
shoulders. I may get the same response on this occasion too, however, if
anyone knows anything can they please respond with their answer or
workaround.

If no one knows anything perhaps a kind MVP could inform Microsoft.

Thankyou, and Regards, Ross

 

[Rod Gill]

Hi,

I'll see what I can do.

--
For VBA posts, please use the public.project.developer group.
For any version of Project use public.project
For any version of Project Server use public. project.server

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

 

[Ross Herbert]

Hi Rod,

I copied and pasted your code into a new Access DB. I changed the database
directory to D:\ only and ran the code.

Only Project1 is saved into the database. Project2 never gets there. If I
comment out the displayalerts code, I get the following message in Project:

"The file D:\Test.mpd cannot be deleted because it is open or being used by
another program."

Which is true enough if you are overwriting and not appending (Project1 is
still open as it was not asked to be closed by the code). I've been getting
the same message with my code too. Having DisplayAlerts=false just skips
the screen message.

If I were to close Project1 before saving Project2 (to avoid the message
above), then the database is automatically overwritten and Project2 ends up
being the only file in the database.

The culprit in question is Project 2002, not Project 2003. As I said
previously this problem doesn't occur in project 2000, and neither does it
appear to in 2003. It seems to be 2002 specific. 2002 is the corporate
standard where I am working and there is no question of being able to use
any of the other versions. Considering 2002 is not very old Microsoft
should be still supporting it.

I thank you for the code you presented, but as you can see I'm flummoxed
because this code should work (and mine too).

Is it possible for you to contact Microsoft over this, as I'm sure this is a
bug?

Regards, Ross