Easily Sync Microsoft Project XML with WPF Gantt Control

TL;DR: Learn how to seamlessly sync Microsoft Project files with your WPF desktop apps using Syncfusion’s Gantt Control. This blog walks you through importing and exporting XML project data, enabling real-time project tracking and collaboration, all with just a few lines of code.

Did you know that over 70% of enterprise teams rely on Microsoft Project for planning, but often hit a wall when trying to integrate it with custom desktop applications?

Managing complex projects isn’t just about creating schedules, it’s about keeping every tool and team in sync. Microsoft Project is a powerhouse for task scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking. But when it comes to visualizing and interacting with that data inside custom WPF desktop applications, many teams face frustrating limitations.

That’s where XML-based integration becomes a game-changer. Microsoft Project supports exporting and importing project data in XML format, enabling structured, cross-platform data exchange.

With the Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt Control, developers can bridge this gap effortlessly. This powerful control lets you import and export Microsoft Project XML files directly into your WPF apps, bringing project timelines, tasks, and dependencies to life with just a few lines of code. Whether you’re building enterprise dashboards or collaborative planning tools, this integration empowers real-time tracking and seamless collaboration.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to:

• Import Microsoft Project XML files into Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt Chart
• Export Gantt Chart data back to XML for use in Microsoft Project

Let’s get started!

Why use XML for project syncing?

Microsoft project supports XML as a standard format for saving and sharing project data. This includes:

• Task details
• Resource assignments
• Dependencies
• Timelines

Using XML ensures cross-platform compatibility, allowing seamless data exchange between Microsoft Project and third-party tools like Syncfusion^® Gantt.

Real-world use cases

Here are some practical scenarios where this integration shines:

• Enterprise dashboards: Import project plans from Microsoft Project into a custom WPF dashboard.
• Project review tools: Export Gantt data for stakeholder review in Microsoft Project.
• Backup and restore: Save project states as XML for versioning or disaster recovery.
• Cross-team collaboration: Share project timelines between teams using different tools.

Setting up Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt Control for XML import and export

Before diving into XML import/export functionality, ensure that the Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt Control also known as Gantt Chart, Gantt Grid, or Gantt Schedule is properly configured in your WPF application. You can follow the documentation for setup instructions.

The Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt Control provides built-in support for importing and exporting project data using XML files, making it easy to synchronize with tools like Microsoft Project. This is achieved using two key methods:

• ExportToXML(): Exports the current Gantt Chart data to an XML file.
• ImportFromXML(): Imports project data from an XML file into the Gantt Chart.

UI implementation: Import and export buttons

Let’s create buttons for export and import functionalities and bind their click events to trigger these methods.

<Grid>
    <Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <RowDefinition Height="0.9*" />
        <RowDefinition Height="0.1*" />
    </Grid.RowDefinitions>

    <StackPanel Grid.Row="1"
                Orientation="Horizontal"
                HorizontalAlignment="Center">
        <Button Height="25"
                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                VerticalAlignment="Center"
                Width="150"
                Click="OnExportButtonClick"
                Content="Export To XML" />
        <Button Height="25"
                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                Margin="8,0,0,0"
                VerticalAlignment="Center"
                Width="150"
                Click="OnImportButtonClick"
                Content="Import From XML" />
    </StackPanel>

    <syncfusion:GanttControl x:Name="ganttControl" />
</Grid>

Implementing import and export functionality

Let’s implement the logic behind the buttons using the Gantt Control’s built-in methods.

In the export button click event, we call the ExportToXML method, which allows users to save the current state of the Gantt Chart to an XML file. This is useful for backup, sharing, or integration with other project management tools such as Microsoft Project.

private void OnExportButtonClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    if (this.ganttControl.ExportToXML())
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Tasks exported successfully.", "XML Import/Export",
            MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Information);
    }
}

For the import button click event, the ImportFromXML method is used to load project data from an XML file into the Gantt Chart. This is especially helpful when working with saved projects or files exported from Microsoft Project.

private void OnImportButtonClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    if (this.ganttControl.ImportFromXML())
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Tasks imported successfully.", "XML Import/Export", 
            MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Information);
    }
}

Note: For detailed implementation guidance, refer to the documentation..

Once implemented, you can run the application and visualize the imported or exported data directly within the WPF Gantt Control.

Refer to the following output images, where the data is exported from the Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt control and imported into Microsoft Project.

Export data from the Syncfusion WPF Gantt Control to XML and import it into Microsoft Project

Like this, you can also import Microsoft Project XML files in the WPF Gantt Chart Control with ease.

GitHub reference

For more details, refer to the GitHub demo.

Conclusion

Integrating Microsoft Project with Syncfusion^® WPF Gantt Control using XML is a powerful way to enhance your project management workflows. Whether you’re building enterprise dashboards or collaborative planning tools, this feature ensures your data stays consistent and accessible.

To learn more about the import and export feature in Gantt Control, refer to thissample browser and documentation.

For existing Syncfusion^® customers, the newest version of Essential Studio^® is available on the license and downloads. If you are not a customer, try our 30-day free trial to check out these new features.

Related Blogs

• Everything You Need to Know About WPF Gantt Control
• What’s New in WPF Gantt Chart: 2024 Volume 2
• Benefits of Using a Gantt Chart in Project Management
• Seamlessly Switch Between Project and Resource Views in the Blazor Gantt Chart

This article was originally published at Syncfusion.com.