There are a number of ways in which we can get data from Microsoft Project to Excel.  Some are easy.  Some are harder.  Some depend upon the version of Microsoft Project you leverage.  This article will list the different ways and the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.  Future articles will provide detailed steps on the respective approaches.

Note:  This list is built with a maturity model concept.  The items that appear first are relatively easy to produce.  Options near the end are more sophisticated.

1.    Copy and Paste
    a.    Develop the view you like in Microsoft Project, copy the data, move to Excel and paste.
    b.    Plus – Easy!
    c.    Minus – Does not retain outline structure or formatting

2.    Leverage Online Tool
    a.    There is a website you can leverage to convert your Microsoft Project data to Excel
    b.    Plus – Easy and maintains outline structure and formatting
    c.    Minus – Limited to preset fields

3.    Save Microsoft Project as an Excel File
    a.    A nice built in wizard walks you through this process
    b.    Plus – You get to decide which fields get exported
    c.    Minus - Does not retain outline structure or formatting

4.    Analyze Timescaled Data in Excel
    a.    There is a built in feature within Microsoft Project 2003 (and maybe 2007) called Analyze Timescaled in Excel
    b.    Plus – Easy to create, great graphs
    c.    Minus – Does not retain outline structure or formatting, selected fields are displayed below each task

5.    Visual Reports
    a.    Can be found from >Reports, >Visual Reports.
    b.    Plus – Many great pre-configured reports
    c.    Plus – Data can easily be manipulated in Excel using Pivot table
    d.    Minus – To be of real value, you must be good with Pivot tables!

6.    Export Data From Microsoft Project to Excel and Maintain the Outline Structure
    a.    This is an “old school” work around of saving the file as .html and then converting that to a .xls file.
    b.    Plus – Maintains outline structure and formatting
    c.    Minus – A little tricky if you want to create your own map

7.    Export Data From PWA to Excel and Maintain the Outline Structure (Project Online and Projet Server)
    a.    Simple built in feature of Microsoft Project Server 2003.  Drill into Project Details of PWA and then Export Grid to Excel.
    b.    Plus – Easy
    c.    Minus – Requires Project Onlne (or Project Server), Lacks Timephased data, Getting the data you desire may require building a new PWA View.

8.    Export Data From Microsoft Project to Excel, Update It, and Import Updates From Excel Back into Microsoft Project
    a.    Yes, it’s possible!  Requires creating a map.
    b.    Plus – Great for importing updates
    c.    Minus – A bit cumbersome

9.    Macro
    a.    Copies the variable of Work at the task level from Project to Excel with the output showing the amount of effort or Work planned or scheduled. You can choose whether to export the Work by Day, Week, or Month.