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Do standard MS Project mpp files have databases that can be queried?

I have a standard MS Project 2010 mpp file. I would like to read the data in it by querying it like a database. I understand that MS Project Servers have databases that can be read, but I'm wondering if just plain vanilla MS Project files also have databases that can also be read.

I tried using ADODB with the following connect string with no success:

Provider=Microsoft.Project.OLEDB.11.0;Project Name=MyMSProjFile.mpp

This string I'm using is one for MS Project 2003 recommended by the ConnectStrings website. I also tried OLEDB.12, 13, 14, and 15 with no success.

Is what I am trying to do impossible? Do I just need to use a different connection string?

A complete discussion of how to connect, or why I can't connect would be much appreciated.

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Anastasia D. Gavanas

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koughdur

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Thanks for the ideas and the link. The export to Access method works, but it's a bit klunky as you have to export three times to get tasks, resources, and assignments. I think I will either go with exporting to Excel just the customer-requested data (because I can create a map and then reuse that over-and-over), or else use Office Automation.

I was hoping to be able to access the data without opening the file, but it seems that Microsoft deprecated the direct database access capabilities of Project, and although I've occasionally been able to access closed files such as Excel spreadsheets via Office Automation it is usually much more difficult and time-consuming to accomplish fewer tasks.