Updates to Project File saved as Access DB

[glenn]

Hi folks,

I am attempting to update a MS Project file that has been previously saved
with an MS Access file format via ASP.NET and ADO.NET.

I have found the schema that lists all of the tables with their respective
fields in the MS Access database file. What I need is a written description
of what each field in each table is for.

Open MS Project. Put in a task named "first task". Save the file with an
Access file format. Open the same file in MS Access. There may be as many
as 100 fields in the MSP_TASKS table.

Is there a written description of this anywhere? How would I go about
updating the Access file to adjust a tasks' duration, % Completion, etc. In
MSP_TASKS there are 3 fields that deal with a tasks' duration. They are
TASK_DUR, TASK_DUR_REM and TASK_DUR_VAR. I have changed the values in some
and then all fields with the duration being updated when I open the Access
file in Project but it seems like a guessing game.

As you may have guessed, I am not using Project Server but instead just a
Project Viewer that is loaded on the clients PC and opens MDB files from
their browser.

Thanks,
- Glenn

 

[Rod Gill]

Search for and thoroughly digest the file pjdb.htm in one of Project's
program folders. It has all your answers. Be careful how you update as
corruption of the project is possible.

 

[Stephan Haidinger]

I know pjdb.htm and playing around a while, but changing the duration fields
make problems.
does anyone knows which duration fields i have to change?
i only want to change start date, end date and duration in days.

I set this fields (delphi code, just a sample)
p1('TASK_START_DATE' , r.DatFrom, true);
p1('TASK_FINISH_DATE' , r.DatTo , false);
p1('TASK_LATE_START' , r.DatFrom, true);
p1('TASK_EARLY_START' , r.DatFrom, true);
p1('TASK_EARLY_FINISH', r.DatTo , false);
p1('TASK_LATE_FINISH' , r.DatTo , false);
p1('TASK_CONSTRAINT_DATE' , r.DatFrom, true);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_CONSTRAINT_TYPE', 4);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_DUR' , 8*60*10*iDays);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_DUR_VAR', 8*60*10*iDays);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_REM_DUR', 8*60*10*iDays);

a problem for instance is "[Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager]Invalid cursor
state" or "record is deleted"when saving twice in ms project.
OR
after some changes the duration field shows zero in ms project

 

[Rod Gill]

That is probably your problem (changing start, finish and duration). Read
the pjdb.htm file and get the sequence Project calculates values. You
probably need to only provide two of the three values, not all three. Why
update early start finish etc as Project calculates those? Try only updating
the absolute minimum number of values to start with and let Project
calculate the rest, then add more only if necessary.

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP
Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more

I know pjdb.htm and playing around a while, but changing the duration
fields make problems.
does anyone knows which duration fields i have to change?
i only want to change start date, end date and duration in days.

I set this fields (delphi code, just a sample)
p1('TASK_START_DATE' , r.DatFrom, true);
p1('TASK_FINISH_DATE' , r.DatTo , false);
p1('TASK_LATE_START' , r.DatFrom, true);
p1('TASK_EARLY_START' , r.DatFrom, true);
p1('TASK_EARLY_FINISH', r.DatTo , false);
p1('TASK_LATE_FINISH' , r.DatTo , false);
p1('TASK_CONSTRAINT_DATE' , r.DatFrom, true);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_CONSTRAINT_TYPE', 4);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_DUR' , 8*60*10*iDays);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_DUR_VAR', 8*60*10*iDays);
rTask.SetInt('TASK_REM_DUR', 8*60*10*iDays);

a problem for instance is "[Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager]Invalid cursor
state" or "record is deleted"when saving twice in ms project.
OR
after some changes the duration field shows zero in ms project

Search for and thoroughly digest the file pjdb.htm in one of Project's
program folders. It has all your answers. Be careful how you update as
corruption of the project is possible.

--

Rod Gill
Project MVP
Visit www.msproject-systems.com for Project Companion Tools and more