Project 2003 vs. Project 2010

[Thales750]

Good Afternoon All,
If I build an Access database that is linked to an .MDB created and updated by Project 2003, will I need to restructure it later for an ODBC connection to Project 2010?
Thanks all.

 

[Banana]

I believe they dropped ODBC support for Project 2007 onwards.

 

[Thales750]

I believe they dropped ODBC support for Project 2007 onwards.

What is a plan for moving foward?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/file-formats-supported-by-project-2010-HA010373155.aspx

This indicates that they have restricted saving from Project to both .MDB and to ODBC.

It looks like .xml is the path looking forward. The question still remains, will the table structure still work.

I think they are restricting it to force people to purchase Project Server.

 

[Banana]

I didn't work on it but was aware about it only because I knew someone else who did work on it and told me about its limitation. I think XML is indeed the solution the person used ultimately.

 

[Thales750]

I didn't work on it but was aware about it only because I knew someone else who did work on it and told me about its limitation. I think XML is indeed the solution the person used ultimately.

And I'm guessing the data structure will still work becase it (2010) can import and export 2003.mpp.

 

[Banana]

Maybe but given how touchy XML can be, I'd verify. But that's a thought - if you can keep Project 2003, can you use it as a "passthrough" -- have it set up to import/export the .mpp and you can still link to 2003?

The problem, however is that if you use anything that's newer to either 2007 and 2010, it may not be able to export correctly back into 2003 .mpp.

 

[Thales750]

Maybe but given how touchy XML can be, I'd verify. But that's a thought - if you can keep Project 2003, can you use it as a "passthrough" -- have it set up to import/export the .mpp and you can still link to 2003?

The problem, however is that if you use anything that's newer to either 2007 and 2010, it may not be able to export correctly back into 2003 .mpp.

If all you are needing is to use Project as a report generator, it's no problem. But it would be nice to have a graphical method for the customer to change the critical path.

There are several low cost packages on the net. I will try some and get back to you.

Thanks for your interest.

 

[Thales750]

Does anyone know any low cost ODBC compatible gantt chart?

 

[Thales750]

As a work araound untill I can delve deeper into it.

You can load an MDB in Project 2010, then save it as a legacy Project (2003) load it in Project 2003 and save it as an MDB.

Later when user are doing this it will need to be automated some how.