Message states the file is locked or in use when you try to open a project in Project (302937)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project 2000
  • Microsoft Project Server 2002
  • Microsoft Office Project Server 2003
  • Microsoft Office Project Standard 2003
  • Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003
This article was previously published under Q302937

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open a project, you may receive a message similar to the following:
The project is currently locked and cannot be opened.
Either another user is saving or opening the project, or the user has it locked for exclusive use. Try again later.
As a result, you cannot open the project.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you work with a project that is stored in a database. If some fields in the MSP_PROJECTS table contain incorrect values, this can cause the file to be locked.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, you must unlock the file. To do this, edit the values in the MSP_PROJECTS table by following these steps:
  1. To view the tables, open the database that contains the project.
  2. Set the values in the MSP_PROJECTS table to the following:

    PROJ_READ_ONLY = '0'
    PROJ_READ_WRITE = '0'
    PROJ_READ_COUNT = '0'
    PROJ_LOCKED = '0'
    PROJ_MACHINE_ID = null
    PROJ_EXT_EDITED = '1'

  3. Close the database.
If you use Microsoft SQL Server to store the project database, you can modify the following SQL update statement and then use it to unlock the project: 
Update      MSP_PROJECTS
Set         PROJ_READ_ONLY = '0',
            PROJ_READ_WRITE = '0',
            PROJ_READ_COUNT = '0',
            PROJ_LOCKED = '0',
            PROJ_MACHINE_ID = null, 
            PROJ_EXT_EDITED = '1',
Where PROJ_ID = <YourProjID>
Note The placeholder <YourProjID> represents your Project ID.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Project supports the following databases through Open Database Connectivity (ODBC):
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 or later
  • Microsoft Data Engine 1.0 or later
  • Oracle Server, version 8.0 or later
For additional information about how to use Microsoft Project with databases, view the contents of the Projdb.htm file stored on the Microsoft Project 2000 compact disc. To do this, follow these steps.

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Insert the Microsoft Project compact disc into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
  2. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files or Folders.
  3. In the Search Results dialog box, type Projdb.htm in the Search for files or folders named box.
  4. In the Look in list, click Compact Disc, and then click Search Now.
  5. In the Search Results pane, double-click the Projdb.htm file that you want.

    Note The MultiLanguage Pack folder contains the Projdb.htm file in various other languages.
The Microsoft Project 2000 Database Format page opens in your Web browser.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:2/7/2006
Keywords:kbprb KB302937
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.