Eliminate use of MS Project

[jeo]

I’m wondering if there is a way to incorporate Microsoft Project and Microsoft Access together. I have a database for projects and I also have a project plan created in MS Project. Rather than having to type in Start/End date for each and every task into my database (which will be a lot of fields) is there a way to eliminate the use of MS Project or somehow combine the two?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[WayneRyan]

jeo,

Hope this link helps:

http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51847&highlight=project+wayne

Wayne

 

[jeo]

I still need some help on this...

What I want to do is eliminate MS Project all together...
I looked at the thread that WayneRyan posted and after playing with that I realized that I don't want to deal with MS Project at all (no combining the two together).
Now, I have a dilema however. I have all these fields with Start and End dates. I created a table with the following fields:
TaskID - PK
TaskStartDT
TaskEndDT
ClientID - FK
ProjectID - FK
This way the table will "grow in rows", not in columns.
However I realized a problem with this, I need this for each and every Project and I'm thinking I need to change my table to have these fields:
TaksID - PK
Task1Name
Task1StartDT
Task1EndDt
Task2Name
Task2StartDT
Task2EndDT etc
This way the table will "grow in columns", which i know isn't good.
So I have a dilema on my hands...any help or suggestions on how to go about doing this? Thanks!

 

[Jacob Mathai]

One thing I cana think of:

MS project provides Network Logic schedule. You can easily see the effect of schedule compresiion, critical path etc. You will not have these features in MS ACCESS.

 

[WayneRyan]

jeo,

One thing you can do is open one of your Microsoft Project apps, then save
it as an Access database. That will give you some idea of how they structure
their tables.

Wayne

 

[jeo]

Thanks, I will try that.

 

[jeo]

One more question

I'm still working on this issue...and it is very frustrating.
I have found a copy of a database where you can import MicrosoftProject into a list in Access (database attached).
What I'm wondering if there is a way to make modifications to those dates in the list (see attached prinscreen) and then upload them back into MS Project?
Thank you very, very much for all your help!

 

[WayneRyan]

jeo,

Yes, you can do that. Basically, you can alter the dates with an Access form.

The Command button, will use the Project Object Model (as in your example),
but the Project entities will be on the left hand side of the "=".

Loop through your recordset ...

tsk.Start = rsTask!TaskStart

At the end, close the Project Object Model, but save your work.

It really shouldn't be that much different from your original code.

btw, If you started putting Actuals (cost hours worked) back into MS
Project, it will seriously distort your perception of the plan. In our
usage, Project was just a planning tool. Access tracked all of the
Actual Costs and scheduling. Managers seemed to get upset when
the harsh reality of the Actual data "corrupted" their plans.

Wayne

 

[jeo]

Thank you for your post! I appreciate all your input!