Someone emails you a project schedule as an .mpp file, you don't own Microsoft Project, and buying a full license just to look at a Gantt chart makes no sense. Free Microsoft Project Viewer, built on MOOS Project Viewer, is made for that situation: it opens the file so you can read it.
Quick facts
- Price: free
- Platforms: any Java-enabled system, including Windows, Mac OS X and Linux
- File types: mpp, mpt, mpx and xml
- Needs Microsoft Project installed: no
Key features
Open Microsoft Project files without Microsoft Project
The viewer reads mpp, mpt, mpx and xml files from several Microsoft Project versions, and you don't need MS Project on your computer.
Explore the plan instead of reading a static report
You can zoom in and out, collapse and expand, show or hide, and resize parts of the plan. That shows more than a printed or exported report does.
A Gantt timescale from minutes to years
The Gantt chart timescale is wide, and you can show or hide columns, arrange and resize them, and see colors on task bars.
Runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux
It is Java-based, so one tool covers mixed teams. The vendor also offers an online version you can start from a browser.
Who it's for
It suits project stakeholders, clients and colleagues who only need to read a schedule, not edit it.
Pros and cons
- Pro: free, and no Microsoft Project license needed.
- Pro: works across Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
- Pro: an interface the vendor describes as easier than Microsoft Project's.
- Con: it is a viewer. It isn't meant for building or managing plans.
- Con: it needs Java.
- Con: the vendor's own description says it is not the best viewer, only the best in terms of features for the price.
What users say
"It`s a viewer, and it performs that function as advertised." (Free Download Center user comment)
FAQs
Do I need Microsoft Project installed?
No. The viewer opens the files on its own.
Which file types does it open?
It opens mpp, mpt, mpx and xml files.
Does it run on a Mac or Linux?
Yes. It runs on any Java-enabled platform, including Mac OS X and Linux.
Can I use it from a browser?
The vendor offers an online viewer for Microsoft Project files that you can start from its site.
System requirements
- Java Runtime Environment
- Windows, Mac OS X or Linux