Has anyone Connected a Crystal Report directly to a Microsoft Project file (MPP)?

Question

Post Author: Brian Morris
CA Forum: Data Connectivity and SQL
Iu2019m aware I can save Microsoft Project Files (MPP) to an Access Database, Excel document etc. and there are ways to connect to a Microsoft Project Server.
I wanted to know if anyone has managed to connect directly to one though. Currently we use MPPs to report project status and other deliverables, and itu2019s been an annoyance to have to save the project file then export the data over into a new excel document when ever we have changes (since not all users have project or need all the data in the file).
Preferably, a user should be able to save that project file and anyone that has the Crystal report should be able to run the report against the MPP file. In addition to this, it would be extremely helpful in getting a formalized and nicely formatted report when running reports against rational and MMP files, thus giving an alternative from SODA reports in Microsoft word, which doesnu2019t always work well.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Post Author: Brian Morris
CA Forum: Data Connectivity and SQL
Ok, I answered my own question on the connection issue, but I'm having issues with the predefined fields that enter into the report. The Database Expert shows the correct table names, but when I select them and look at the fields, they are all showing fields that are part of the "Project" table. when I use "Add Command" and use SQL to do a "Select * From TableName" ,where TableName is the name of the respective table, I get the data I'm looking for. Has anyone else run into this error? Is the error on Crystal Reports side or the Data provider's OLE DB driver? Has anyone with a fully patched system encountered the same errors?
Current SetupCrystal Version: 11.0.0.1282CR Professional; Product Type:FullOLE DB Driver: Microsoft Project 10.0 OLE DB Provider
I have pasted my findings below, hopefully other people won't have the same issues I did trying to find this information. if anyone else wants to test and see if they get the same issues I did it would be greatly appreciated.
Connecting a Crystal Report XI to a Microsoft Project File (MPP)
Prerequisites (as I know them)
-          Have an installation of Crystal Reports on the machine (a given)
-          Have Microsoft Project 2000/2003 installed OR  the Microsoft Project OLE DB provider which is installed with Microsoft Project (NOTE: Microsoft 2007 supposedly no longer supports OLE DB and requires an OLAP cube be made or a SOAP connection be used, which I donu2019t deal with personally)
Creating the connection
Start Crystal Reports
Click u201CBlank Reportu201D on the start page
in the u201CDatabase Expertu201D window, under u201CAvailable Data Sourcesu201D, Select u201C+u201D next to u201CCreate New Connectionu201D
Select the u201C+u201D beside u201COLE DB(ADO)u201D
If a u201COLE DB (ADO)u201D  window does not come up, double click u201CMake New Connectionu201D 
In the u201Cprovider:u201D box Select the u201CMicrosoft Project 10.0 OLE DB Provideru201D
The name may be different depending on the version of project you install and the patch you have on the machine
Select u201CNext >u201D
Under u201CDatabase:u201D copy/paste in the path and project file name
I donu2019t believe the other fields u201CData Source:u201D, u201CUser ID:u201D, or u201CPasswordu201D need to be filled out, and in fact, I got an error when entering in data into them
Example: u201CC:\Projects\Project Name\Current Schedule.mppu201D
Select u201CNext >u201D
In the Advaned information window, verify the project Name is the path of the project.
I have not found the use of u201CEnterprise Modeu201D (default: 0), u201CAlways Loadu201D (default: 0), u201COLE DB Servicesu201D(default: -5), or u201CEnterprise RUID Listu201D (default: blank), removing them or changing them did cause errors though.
Click u201CFinishu201D
Adding in Tables and extracting data
You now have a connection to the project File you listed. There is an issue Iu2019ve found though that all the tables you see listed are filling their fields in from the u201CProjectu201D Table, rather then their respective tables (Example: u201CAssignmentsu201D is pointing at u201CProjectu201D rather then the obvious connection u201CAssignmentsu201D). You can, however, use the u201CAdd Commandu201D and select the table you want with just a little SQL code:
Select *
From Assignments
After creating the command, highlight it and hit u201CF2u201D. You should be able to edit the name and change it from u201CCommandu201D to something more meaningful. At the current time Iu2019m unsure if the issue with the default tables all pointing toward the project table is an error on the provider side or Crystal Reports end, and if one of the new patches will fix it. I will update this document accordingly when I have more information and do more testing. I will note however, there is no way to change which table these preset fields point to.
Thank you for your time.