How to Use OLE Automation with Microsoft Project 4.1

Last reviewed: January 31, 1996
Article ID: Q143297

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0 and 3.0b

SUMMARY

This article shows by example how to create a new project in Microsoft Project 4.1 by using Visual FoxPro and OLE Automation.

MORE INFORMATION

The following code sets up a Microsoft Project called Saltbox. This project consists of tasks necessary to build a house.

Step-by-Step Example

Create a table in Visual FoxPro called k2project that has the following structure. This structure follows the task structure of Microsoft Project.

   Field#  Name       Type
   1. field1     - Character(10)
   2. task_name  - Character(25)
   3. duration   - Character(5)
   4. start      - date
   5. finish     - date
   6. pred       - Character(10)
   7. resource_n - Character(20)

Populate the table with data. Each record consists of a task to build a house. for example:

   field1    = " "
   task_name = "Build House"
   duration  = "60d"
   start     = 03/01/96
   finish    = " "
   pred      = " "
   resource_n = "Ace Builders"

   NOTE: Assign a start date to the first task only. Assign all tasks a
   duration. For example, 30d = thirty days. Microsoft Project will
   calculate the finish dates based upon the duration of each task.

Enter the following code in a program file, and then run it to create a project, link the tasks, and calculate the length of the project. This program will print a Gantt Chart and Pert Chart.
CLEAR SET SAFETY OFF ON ERROR DO OLERROR SET DEFAULT TO "C:\VFP Files" PUBLIC x
IF FILE('Saltbox.mpp')
```
     ERASE Saltbox.mpp
     ERASE Saltbox.mpx
```
ENDIF
IF USED('k2project')
```
     USE IN k2Project
```
ENDIF
USE k2project IN 0 * Microsoft Project will only accept FOX2 TYPE FILES COPY TO xproj TYPE FOX2 USE IN k2project Myfile = "xproj.dbf"
x=CreateObject("MSProject.Project.4_1") x.application.Visible=.t. x.application.FileNew x.application.FileSaveAs("SaltBox") * Append Entry table from Myfile x.application.FileOpen(Myfile,0,1,1,'Entry') x.application.SelectAll * Link the tasks together x.application.LinkTasks x.application.AppMinimize
Myans =MessageBox("Print Gantt Chart?",4+32,"Print Report") IF Myans = 6
```
     x.application.FilePrint(1,4)
```
ENDIF
x.application.AppRestore x.application.ViewApply("Pert Chart") x.application.AppMinimize
Myans =MessageBox("Print Pert Chart?",4+32,"Print Report") IF Myans = 6
```
     x.application.FilePrint(1,2)
```
ENDIF
x.application.ViewApply("Gantt Chart") x.application.FileSave x.application.FileQuit
RELEASE x RETURN
PROCEDURE OLERROR ON ERROR WAIT WINDOW "An error occurred!" =AERROR(myerror) CLEAR ? 'The error provided the following information' && Display message FOR n = 1 TO 7 && Display all elements of the array
```
    ? myerror(n)
```
ENDFOR
IF TYPE("X") = "O"
```
     x.application.Quit
     RELEASE X
     CANCEL
```
ENDIF RETURN

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00b VFoxWin
KBCategory: kbole kbinterop kbhowto kbcode
KBSubcategory: FxinteropOle

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Last reviewed: January 31, 1996
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