How to convert an .mpp file to Excel or Numbers
Need the task list from a Microsoft Project file in a spreadsheet? Here are two ways to do it on a Mac or iPad, without Microsoft Project.
Updated 17 October 2026
Quick answer
Open the .mpp in MPP Studio and choose File › Export › CSV (Excel, Numbers)…, or select rows and copy them straight into a spreadsheet. The export uses the columns shown in the outline.
Option 1: export a CSV
- Open the .mpp in MPP Studio.
- Choose the columns you want in the outline; the export uses the columns on screen.
- Choose File › Export › CSV (Excel, Numbers)… and save the file.
- Open the CSV in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
Every task becomes a row with its ID and outline level, so you can rebuild the hierarchy with indents or filters. The file is UTF-8 with a byte-order mark, so Excel shows names with accents and symbols correctly.
What the CSV looks like
| ID | OUTLINE LEVEL | TASK NAME | DURATION | START | FINISH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Pre-construction | 13 d | 24/8/2026 | 9/9/2026 |
| 2 | 2 | Site survey | 3 d | 24/8/2026 | 26/8/2026 |
| 3 | 2 | Permits and approvals | 8 d | 27/8/2026 | 7/9/2026 |
| 4 | 2 | Design freeze | 0 d | 7/9/2026 | 7/9/2026 |
The first rows of the Riverside Clinic demo programme. Dates follow your Mac’s or iPad’s region settings.
Option 2: copy and paste
Select the rows you want in the outline, press ⌘C, and paste into a spreadsheet with ⌘V. The rows arrive as columns, exactly as the outline shows them. That’s the quickest way to get part of a schedule into a report.
What a spreadsheet can’t hold
Links, calendars and resource assignments don’t survive a trip through Excel. If you need to send a schedule back to a Microsoft Project user, keep it as an .mpp, or use Microsoft Project XML for other planning tools.
Questions people ask
Can I open an .mpp file in Excel?
Not directly. Export a CSV from MPP Studio and open that in Excel.
Can I turn the spreadsheet back into an .mpp?
Not with the links and calendars intact. Keep the .mpp as the master and export from it.
Get your schedule into a spreadsheet
Open .mpp files on Mac and iPad and export what you need.
Related
Microsoft and Microsoft Project are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. MPP Studio is not affiliated with Microsoft. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. Competitor details are taken from their own websites and App Store listings in October 2026; check with the vendor for current prices.