Understanding the Microsoft Project Database

The Microsoft Project database can be viewed in Access or Excel 2003 if you open a project file saved in the proper format. When viewed in either Access or Excel, the Microsoft Project database has more tables than you would see in a project file that has been accessed using the Project OLE DB Provider. Nevertheless, whether you view project data through the Microsoft Project database or the Project OLE DB Provider, you're seeing almost exactly the same set of data.

If you open a project database in Access, you see a large collection of tables. The Microsoft Project database includes the following tables:

MSP_ASSIGNMENTS .       This table stores all assignment- related details. A separate table is used for summary assignments (called MSP_ASSN_ENTERPRISE). This is the same type of information stored in the Assignments table in the OLE DB.

MSP_AVAILABILITY.      This table stores the amount of time, the start time, and the end time for each time period that a resource is available to work. This is the same type of information stored in the Availability table in the OLE DB.

MSP_CALENDARS and MSP_CALENDAR_DATA.      These tables store all calendar-related information, including the time periods for the calendars, whether a calendar is a working calendar or a base calendar, and exceptions (see Figure 32-7).

Figure 32-7: The MSP_CALENDARS table is used to store all calendar-related data.

MSP_n_FIELDS.      These tables store custom field information related to dates, durations, flag, number, text, code, and more. Substitute CODE, DATE, DURATION, FLAG, NUMBER, or TEXT for the n in the table name . Some of this information is available only for enterprise projects.

MSP_n_BASELINES.      These tables store baseline data related to assignments, resources, and tasks . Substitute ASSIGNMENT, RESOURCE, or TASK for n in the table name.

MSP_LINKS.      This table stores predecessor and successor task information, including links to other enterprise projects. This is the same type of information that is stored in the Predecessor and Successor tables in the Project OLE DB Provider.

MSP_OUTLINE_CODES.      This table stores custom information related to outline codes. This is the same type of information that is available when you click Tools, Customize, Fields and then click the Custom Outline Codes tab in the Customize Fields dialog box.

MSP_PROJECTS.      This table stores data related to the project as a whole, including information set in the Properties and Options dialog boxes.

MSP_RESOURCES. ƒThis table stores all information about each resource in the project.

MSP_RESOURCE_RATES.      This table stores the costs associated with each resource or assignment.

MSP_TASKS.      This table stores all information about each task in the project.

MSP_TIMEPHASED_DATA.      If you choose to expand timephased data in Microsoft Project (click Tools, Options; choose the Save tab in the Options dialog box; and select the Expand Timephased Data In The Database check box), the expanded timephased data is saved to this table.

To view the contents of any of the tables, just double-click the table.