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Meghanath1675's avatar
Meghanath1675
Copper Contributor
Jul 01, 2022

Export a project as .mpp from Project Online

Hi, I have a project created in Project Online and need to share the .mpp project file with a client. However, although there are options to export as Excel or PDF, I am unable to export to .mpp. Is exporting from Project Online to .mpp even possible?

 

I have been referring to this article - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/projectonline/connect-to-project-online-with-the-project-online-desktop-client which looked promising. I am on a Mac but I have a colleague with a Windows laptop and he has Project Professional desktop client. Has anyone tried this approach? But I am unable to figure out the Project Server URL referred to in the article. I have tried the URL of my Project Online project but this doesn't work.

 

Any help here will be really appreciated.

Online
Project
Project Desktop
  • Henri_3439's avatar
    Henri_3439
    Copper Contributor
    Feb 12, 2025

    I have the same issue and a customer uses the App Projects and needs the MPP file.

    Is this feature still not possible? If not, when it will released?

    • Dale_HowardMVP's avatar
      Dale_HowardMVP
      MVP
      Feb 12, 2025

      Henry_3439 --

      In the original question, the user referred to "Project Online" as the tool she was using.  Based on the question, however, is is obvious she is using Project for the Web (aka Planner Premium).  As this software currently exists, there is no way to export a Project for the Web project to an MPP file that can be opened in the Microsoft Project desktop app.  The only export options are an Excel workbook and a PDF file.  In addition, I am not aware of any plans that Microsoft might have for adding this functionality to Project for the Web.  Sorry, but hope this helps.

      • Henri_3439's avatar
        Henri_3439
        Copper Contributor
        Feb 13, 2025

        Hi Dale, thanks for your quick reply!

        Ok, this is not possible and still not on the table of Microsoft to add this feature.

        Then I suggest another workaround: is it possible to use the new Planner and share that with an external customer and to set it that only he can view and not edit?

  • Paul_Mather's avatar
    Paul_Mather
    MVP
    Jul 01, 2022

    Hello Meghanath1675 ,

    As you have found you will need to use Microsoft Project Desktop on a Windows device to save out a project as an .mpp file. The URL to use will be use PWA homepage URL but remove the /default.aspx from the end.

    Paul 

    • StephanGee's avatar
      StephanGee
      Steel Contributor
      Aug 25, 2022

      Paul_Mather 

      But if there is no PWA Website existing? You can also create Project on the Webs by just get the user a project license.

       

      I have the same problem - 4 year - 850 days project. If i try to export from "the web" as PDF it is just garbage. If i try to export it to excel and import to Project Client - it has a different structure (why!! btw).

       

      How can i easy switch back to Project Client to share "good looking" PDFs with my client?

       

      BR

      Stephan

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