Project can not open the file error

[SunKing]

Help! Over the last two days I have been adding task to a my project plan,
saving, closing, opening all without issue. That is up until yesterday I went
to open my file and Project gives me the error "Project can not open the
file". I'm using the standalone (non server) MS Project Professional 2003. I
am able to open other project files that I created as well. Nothing special
about the file I can not open, no links, imports, or anything else, just 400
plus task, that will be difficult but no impossible to redo. I am wondering
if anyone else has come across this error and maybe found a trick or two I
can try to recover my Project file. The MS Project version is our corporate
and they do not provide any service packs and I see that there maybe 3
service packs availble.. not sure if those will help since the other files
open fine. All suggestions welcome....

Many thanks in advance...

 

[JulieS]

Hi SunKing,

I don't have any guaranteed ways but here's a suggestion or two:

Try opening the file through the operating system. Navigate to the
file in the directory structure.

Try creating a new file and then inserting the problem file into the
new one. See if deselecting the "link to file" option helps.

If the file has been saved on a file server, see if the IT folk have a
backup that you could use.

I do also strongly suggest working with your IT staff and getting
those service releases (at least through SP-2) installed.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi SunKing,

Further to Julie's helpful comments, if you do manage to get it up and
running, you might well have a corrupt file. If you suspect a corrupt file,
you could try the suggestions in FAQ Item: 43. Handling project file
corruption and/or bloat.

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

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

Mike Glen
Project MVP