Free Microsoft Project Clone March 3, 2008
Posted by Doriano "Paisano" Carta in Freeware.Tags: free, Freeware, Microsoft, Microsoft Project, Open Source, OpenProj, opensource, Project
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OpenProj is a free and open source version of the most popular (and expensive) project management application, Microsoft Project. Yes, that’s right, free. Not only can it create project files that can be shared with Microsoft Project users but OpenProj can actually open Microsoft Project files as well! It becomes in essense a Project viewer much like Adobe Reader views PDF files, except for one major distinction: OpenProject doesn’t just view Microsoft Project files, it allows you to make changes to them too!
Here’s a screenshot of OpenProj. Click to view larger image.
Download OpenProj here for free. This isn’t some restricted time-limited lame demo trial version either. This is the full monty! Full version, free without any catches. There is a web version that they sell called Project-on-Demand which is still a fraction of what Microsoft Project Web Access costs (not to mention the expense for SharePoint and SQL server which are required)!
Projity is the company behind OpenProj with offices in California, France and India. There are gaining incredible popularity and credibility all over the world. OpenProj is a fantastic way to save $600 to $1000 per Microsoft Project license.
We use Project-ON-Demand from Projity since our offices are spread out but also trialed OpenProj and it ROCKS !!!! There is no reason to spend the time and money on Microsoft Project. The SaaS solution only costs us $19/month and it does more than Microsoft Project and is in the browser. They both open my original Microsoft Project files so switching was easier than easy!
Thanks so much for the real world testimonial! Much appreciated!
I know it’s always good to hear what actual customers think of a service or product. Thanks for coming by too!
Pai
I need the trail version for testing purpose
I would love to use this package, unfortunately it SCRAMBLES every file that it saves. The more often you save it the more it scrambles it until nothing is recognizable.
Richard, I’m curious to hear more about this issue. Everyone seems to agree it’s a great product, but you seem to be noting a “SCRAMBLE” issue. e-mail me if you can at Red@aclion.com. Thanks!
Otherwise, the product looks great and I’m interested in implementing here at AC Lion.
I look forward to seeing the clone
The one feature which I would like in here is the “resource allocation” process. In MS Project, it is possible to copy/paste resource list from excel into the WBS – in Openworkbench, each task has to be Modified, resource allocated, effort assigned (what would be Columns in MS Project).
Besides that it is a good tool!
The AutoSchedule algorithms are good too!
Hey Richard, did your ‘SCRAMBLE’ issue get resolved? I’m thinking of downloading and giving this a try. Is backwards compatibility OK, i.e. can MS Project read the OpenProj files without issue?
My clients use MS, so this is a critical utilization factor for me.
Biggest problem is that Open Proj cannot do resource levelling (unlike Ms Proj). So resources are overallocated forcing you to fiddle around with links to get what you want.
This product is no competition for profesional use.
Has no proper import facilities like MS project.
Mind you MS project ODBC is unusable.
Latest OpenProj version has a lot of bugs.
Only thing is it can read MS Proj files.
Get it for free but with set backs no money saver at all.
You need many extra manhours to achieve something.
Ciao Paisano,
We will give it a go here at Silicon, and come back to you soon with feedback.
Ciao
Can I open a .mpp file with this version? Thanks
Hey thanks for the great information
Total inability to level resources, and also to correctly handle non-working time makes OpenProj nothing more than a toy. I wouldn’t waste (any more) time with it.