PRB: OLE Automation with MS Project Depletes User Resources

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, 5.0
• Microsoft Project for Windows 95, version 4.1a

SYMPTOMS

Executing an OLE automation task or tasks from Visual FoxPro using Microsoft Project as the server may result in a depletion of the User resource heap under Windows 95. The extent of depletion depends on the duration of the automation task. During the course of the automation calls, the User heap gradually falls by 1 to 2 percent at a time.

If the task completes before the User resources are completely depleted, the resources are restored. However, if the duration of the task is sufficiently long, the User heap may be completely depleted. At this point, a Windows 95 dialog box appears, saying, "Ninety percent or more of your system resources are in use. To free up system resources, quit any programs that you are not using. If you do not, your computer may stop responding." If you do not end the MS Project task, Project, Visual FoxPro, or Windows 95 may stop responding.

RESOLUTION

Depending upon available memory, the OLE automation call from Visual FoxPro to MS Project may work successfully under Windows NT. Under the NT operation system, resources are dynamically allocated, and if sufficient memory is available, the automation call may proceed to completion.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this bug and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create or use a Microsoft Project 4.1a project file. Make sure it contains at least 5000 tasks.

2. Start Resource Meter in Windows 95. If it is installed, click the Start menu, Programs, Accessories, and System Tools. If it is not installed, you can install it by clicking Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. Click the Windows Setup tab and select the Resource Meter check box.

3. Run the following code from a program (.prg) file within Visual FoxPro 3.0 or 5.0:

         *Beginning of program code
         abc = CREATEOBJECT('msproject.Application.4_1')
         abc.fileopen("<MS Project project file name>")
         abc.displayalerts = .F.
         abc.displaywizarderrors = .F.
         abc.displayschedulemessages = .F.
         abc.calculation = .T.
         abc.calculateall()
         abc.LevelingOptions(.F., .F., .T., 0)
   

         WAIT WINDOW 'Leveling ...' NOWAIT
   

         abc.levelnow
         * End of program code
   

4. Click on Resource Meter in the Windows 95 taskbar to make Resource Meter visible. The User and System resource graphs will gradually dwindle. (System resource shows the same value as the lesser of User and GDI, and as User falls below GDI, System will follow User.)

• If the levelnow automation call completes before the User resource falls below about 10 percent, it completes without a problem.
• If the User resource does fall below 10 percent or so, the error described in SYMPTOMS appears. Using CTRL+ALT+DEL to bring up the Windows 95 task list shows MS Project as "Not responding." If the task is ended, and the error generated upon returning to Visual FoxPro is canceled or ignored, the User and System resources are freed. At this point, the percent free is at or near the level before the automation call was made.
• If the automation call is made from Excel through the following Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code called from a macro, the resource depletion does not occur:

        'Begin Excel Macro code
        Dim abc As Object
        Set abc = CreateObject("msproject.Application.4_1")
        abc.fileopen "<MS Project project file name>"
        abc.DisplayAlerts = False
        abc.displaywizarderrors = False
        abc.displayschedulemessages = False
        abc.Calculation = False
        abc.calculateall
        abc.LevelingOptions False, False, True, 0
  

        abc.levelnow
  

        'End Excel Macro code