Microsoft KB Archive/113611

{|
 * width="100%"|

PRJ4: Can't View Preview of Project File in Microsoft Word

 * }

Q113611

-

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Project for Windows, version 4.0
 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 6.0, 6.0a

-

SYMPTOMS
When you use the Find File command (on the File menu) in Microsoft Word for Windows version 6.0 to preview a Microsoft Project file, the Convert File dialog box is displayed.

In addition, although you can use the Find File command in Microsoft Word to locate your Microsoft Project files and to view information about them (such as file size, date last saved, and number of characters), you cannot use the Preview option to display a preview of the file.

CAUSE
In order to preview a file in Microsoft Word, there must be a file converter for that file type on your computer that allows Microsoft Word to open the file. There is no file converter that allows you to open Microsoft Project files in Microsoft Word.

WORKAROUND
To display a preview of your Microsoft Project files without opening the file, use the Find File command in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 (File menu), or from the Microsoft Office 4.2 Office Manager toolbar (Microsoft Office button).

MORE INFORMATION
The Find File feature in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office 4.2 uses object linking and embedding (OLE) information stored in a file to generate a preview of the file. When you save a file in Microsoft Project, it contains this OLE information, and therefore, you can preview it using the Find File feature in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Manager.

Microsoft Word does not depend on the presence of OLE information to display a preview of a file. Therefore, in order to use the preview option in the Find File feature in Microsoft Word for Windows, you must have a file converter for that file on your computer that allows Microsoft Word to open it. Unfortunately, there is no file converter that allows you to open Microsoft Project files in Microsoft Word.

Note that you CAN use the Microsoft Word for Windows Find File feature to preview files saved to the .MPX and .TXT file format.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

 * 1) In a new project, enter a task, T1.
 * 2) From the File menu, choose Save. In the File Name box, type "Preview" (without the quotation marks). From the Directories list, choose the Microsoft Project directory. Choose OK.
 * 3) From the File menu, choose Exit.
 * 4) Start Microsoft Word version 6.0. From the File menu, choose Find File. Choose the Search button. In the File Name box, type "*.MPP" (without the quotation marks). In the Location box, type "C:\WINPROJ" (without the quotation marks) where C:\WINPROJ is the drive and directory that you saved your project to in step 2 above. Choose OK.
 * 5) In the Find File dialog box, choose Preview from the View list.

The Convert File dialog box appears containing a list of file types.

Additional query words: 4.20

Keywords : kbusage

Issue type : kbprb

Technology :