PRJ98: Not a Valid File Name Error When Opening from Database (192381)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project 98 for Windows

This article was previously published under Q192381

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Project 98, when attempting to open a project from a database, you may receive the following error message:
This is not a valid file name for a project. Project names must be less than 255 characters and cannot contain any of the following characters:
/ " \ : ? < > |
This error message appears even though your project name does not contain any of the listed characters.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if all of the following conditions are true:

  • The project you are opening was saved to database in Microsoft Project 95.
  • The database also contains at least one project saved to it from Microsoft Project 98.
  • The project you are attempting to open has an apostrophe in the name.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Change the Project Name in the Database

  1. Open the database inside a database editing program such as Microsoft Access.
  2. In the Project table, edit the Name field so there is no apostrophe.
  3. Save changes and close the database.

Transfer to Microsoft Project 98 and Save to Database

  1. Open your project in Microsoft Project 95.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As. In the Save as Type list, click Project. Click Save.
  3. On the File menu, click Exit.
  4. In Microsoft Project 98, open the project you saved in step 2.
  5. On the File menu, click Save As. Click ODBC and save the project to the appropriate database.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/17/2002
Keywords:kbbug kbconversion kberrmsg KB192381