PRJ98: Error Opening a Project in a Database (185839)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project 98 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q185839

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Project 98, when you open a project saved in either the Microsoft Project database (*.mpd) or Microsoft Access database (*.mdb) format, you may receive the following error message:
Microsoft Project has detected that a problem occurred while previously using "<project name>".

Microsoft Project will reestablish read/write access for you. When you are finished, you must close this project before other users will be able to open it and to make changes.
The project will then open correctly.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you do the following:

  1. You save a project in either the Microsoft Project database (*.mpd) or Microsoft Access database (*.mdb) format.
  2. In Microsoft Access 97, you edit and save changes to the Project_Information table in the database saved in step 1.
  3. You open a project database more than once in Microsoft Project 98. (That is, you open it, close it, and then open it again.)

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, follow these steps:

  1. In Microsoft Access 97, open the database that contains your project data.
  2. Click the Project_Information table.
  3. Click Design.
  4. Click the UserMachineID field.
  5. In the Field Properties window, change Allow Zero Length from No to Yes.
  6. On the File menu, click Save.
  7. On the File menu, click Close.
  8. In Microsoft Project 98, click Open on the File menu.
  9. Select the database that contains your project and click Open.
  10. In the Import Format dialog box, select your project and click Open. You will receive the error described in the "Symptoms" section.
  11. On the File menu, click Close.
  12. Repeat steps 8-10.
The error will no longer occur.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Project listed above.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/17/2002
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg KB185839
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.