Using Excel VBA to retrieve data from multiple MS Project Files - excel

Question

I have ran into an automation issue that I cannot seem to figure out.
Currently, I have a worksheet,("Project") that contains data in columns "A"(Project Name) & "B"(Project File Location).
Column "B" contains the string location of each MS Project file.
My VBA macro loops through column "B" and opens each MS Project file and copies a task with the .SelectTaskField method and then copies it back into column "E" of the worksheet.
The first 2 projects loop through without any issues, however, on the 3rd project, I receive the Run-time error '1004': An unexpected error occurred with the method.
I co-worker and I have poured through the code and the MS Project Files to see if there are any differences in the data and we cannot find any differences.
Below is a copy of the code that I have been using.
Just wanted to see if anyone else has had similar issues. I have found that MS Project does not like to be manipulated like Excel or Word.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sub Test()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = Worksheets("Projects")
Dim lrow As Long
lrow = Range("B" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row
'Turns off updates and alerts
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
'Select Daily Field Reports and clear worksheet
ws.Range("E2:E" & lrow).ClearContents
'Opens MS Project
Set objproject = CreateObject("MSProject.Project")
'This keeps MS Project invisible. If you want to see it, change to "True"
objproject.Application.Visible = True
Dim oproject As Range
'This cycles through the range and gathers the data for each project
For Each oproject In Range("B2:B" & lrow)
Set objproject = CreateObject("MSProject.Project")
oproject.Select
objproject.Application.FileOpen Selection
objproject.Application.Visible = True
objproject.Application.SelectTaskField Row:=1, Column:="Percent Complete", RowRelative:=False 'The column name must match. This is the only issue that I have uncovered.
objproject.Application.EditCopy
ws.Select
Dim lastrow As Long
lastrow = ws.Cells(Rows.Count, "E").End(xlUp).Row + 1
Dim Rng As Range
Set Rng = ws.Range("E" & lastrow)
'Rng.PasteSpecial xlPasteFormats
Rng.PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
objproject.Application.Quit
Next oproject
'Turns updates and alerts back on
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
'Closes MS Project
objproject.Application.Quit
End Sub

Answer 1

Using the SelectTaskField method presumes the file was saved in a task view and that the column you want is in the table of the view. Better to get the values you need directly from the Task object.
It appears you are looking for the % Complete value from the first task. In that case use this:
objproject.ActiveProject.Tasks(1).PercentComplete
Here's how it could work in your code. I took the liberty of simplifying it a bit:
Sub Test()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = Worksheets("Projects")
Dim lrow As Long
lrow = Range("B" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
ws.Range("E2:E" & lrow).ClearContents
Dim objproject As MSProject.Application
Set objproject = CreateObject("MSProject.Application")
objproject.Application.Visible = True
Dim oproject As Range
For Each oproject In Range("B2:B" & lrow)
objproject.FileOpen Name:=oproject.Value, ReadOnly:=True
oproject.Offset(, 3) = objproject.ActiveProject.Tasks(1).PercentComplete
objproject.FileCloseEx
Next oproject
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
objproject.Quit
End Sub
Note that it is more straight-forward to get a reference to the application object rather than a child of that object: CreateObject("MSProject.Application") is preferable to CreateObject("MSProject.Project").