![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
|
|
![]() ![]() |
|
What needs to be done? | Deliverables![]() ![]() |
When must it happen>? | Constraints![]() ![]() |
How long will it take? | Estimates![]() ![]() ![]() |
Who is going to do it? | Resources![]() ![]() |
When will it happen? | Start and Finish Dates![]() |
How much will it cost![]() | Rate * Assignment Effort![]() |
When looking at the full scope of Project Management as defined by the PMBOK, MSP does not handle Communications, Procurement, and Risk Management.
|
3rd-Party Products making use of Project include:
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Exam : Microsoft Certification | MS class | IIL class |
---|---|---|
70-632 : Microsoft Office Projects 2007, Managing Projects | 5927A | Orange Belt |
70-639 : Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Configuration (for MS Certified Partners) focuses on technical installation of Project Server using SQL Server. | - | - |
70-633 : Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 | 5928A | Blue Belt |
70-634 : Pro: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Managing Projects and Programs | 5929A | Black Belt |
These are in place of the previous two levels of certification: (core and comprehensive) in 2000 and (basic and expert) in 2002.
Each of these 3 hour exams costs $125 USD. These are also available in French, German, Japanese, Castilian Spanish, and Chinese (Simplified).
|
Don't have MS Project installed?
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
|
![]() ![]() |
Every view is updated with this (using a VBA Macro):
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Fields | Task Views | Resource Views |
---|---|---|
Duration (elapsed time)
Schedule (Start & Finish date) |
Calendar Detailed Gantt | Resource Graph |
Work (time spent) Work Contours | Task Usage | Resource Usage Leveling Gantt |
(Monetary) Costs |
Gantt
Tracking Gantt | Resource Sheet Resource Form |
Outline_Code1...10 | WBS | - |
Task Types
Predecessors and Successors (Dependencies) |
Network Diagram (PERT) Relationship Diagram | - |
|
Screen | View Name | Table | Filter | Report/Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Combination Resource Usage Leveling Gantt |
![]() |
|||
Combination Gantt Chart Task Form |
![]() | |||
Calendar | Calendar | -- | ||
Gantt Chart | Bar Rollup | Rollup Table | Rollup Table | |
Gantt Chart | Detail Gantt | Delay | ||
Gantt Chart | Gantt Chart | Entry | Task Entry | |
Gantt Chart | Leveling Gantt | Entry | ||
Gantt Chart | Milestone Date Rollup | Entry | ||
Gantt Chart | Milestone Rollup | Rollup Table | ||
Gantt Chart | PA_Optimistic Gantt | PA_Optimistic_Case | ||
Gantt Chart | PA_Expected Gantt | PA_Expected_Case | ||
Gantt Chart | PA_Pessimistic Gantt | PA_Pessimistic_Case | ||
Gantt Chart | Tracking Gantt | Entry | ||
Network Diagram | Descriptive Network Diagram | -- | ||
Network Diagram | Network Diagram | -- | ||
Relationship Diagram | Relationship Diagram | -- | ||
Resource Form | Resource Form | -- | ||
Resource Graph | Resource Graph | -- | ||
Resource Name Form | Resource Name Form | -- | ||
Resource Sheet | Resource Sheet | Entry | Same as Custom Resource report | |
Resource Usage | Resource Usage | Usage | Resource Allocation | |
Task Details Form | Task Details Form | -- | ||
Task Form | Task Form | -- | ||
Task Name Form | Task Name Form | -- | ||
Task Sheet | Task Sheet | Entry | ||
Task Sheet | PA_PERT Entry Sheet | PA_PERT Entry | ||
Task Usage | Task Usage | Usage |
|
![]() ![]() |
| Shelly Cashman Spiral-bound books
Microsoft's Project 2007 Solution Center Download the Microsoft Office Project 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
| . |
![]() ![]() |
|
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Field | Usage (Notes) |
---|---|
Flag8 | "Yes" if the task should appear on the Summary Gantt. |
Indicators | (New to Project 2000) |
ResourceInitials | Used instead of Resource Names to limit width of text in charts and reports |
Text18 | Feedback:
|
Duration1, Duration2, Duration3 | Opt ... in PA_PERT Entry Table |
Duration1, Start1, Finish1 | Opt ... in PA_Optimistic_Case Table |
Duration2, Start2, Finish2 | Exp ... in PA_Expected_Case Table |
Duration3, Start3, Finish3 | Pes ... in PA_Pessimistic_Case Table |
Flag10 | "Text Above" in Rollup Table |
Text1 | Comment |
Start1 and Finish1 | A date which external organization, but not relevant
for scheduling. Note that both start and finish dates are needed for a milestone to appear. |
Notes | To hold user text on miscellanous topics. Good to have just in case it's needed. |
| ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Views on the menu assigned by Microsoft/by default (after installation) are in shown in bold.
|
Screen | View Name | Table | Filter | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
-- | Task ... | Baseline | ||
-- | Task ... | Constraint Dates | ||
-- | -- | Cost | ||
-- | -- | Earned Value | ||
-- | Task ... | Export | ||
-- | Resource ... | Export | ||
-- | Task/Resc | Hyperlink | ||
-- | Task ... | Schedule | ||
-- | Task ... | Summary | ||
-- | Resource ... | Summary | ||
-- | Task ... | Tracking | ||
-- | Task ... | Variance | ||
-- | Resource ... | Variance | ||
-- | -- | Work | ||
-- | Resources... | Entry - Material Resources | ||
-- | Resources... | Entry - Work Resources |
|
Planning a project,
Linked Fields Created After... Task Range... Working a project,
Incomplete Tasks Managing project schedule,
Summary Tasks Milestones Critical Slipping Tasks Tasks with Deadlines Date Range... Should Start By... Should Start/Finish By... Shipped/Late Progress Unstarted Tasks Evaluating project cost,
Cost Overbudget Work Overbudget Closing a project,
Confirmed Unconfirmed Update Needed |
![]() ![]() |
Microsoft Project inserts new tasks under the task that is highlighted.
When a schedule has a filter applied,
new tasks are added under a subtask that is not visible.
So they could end up anywhere.
Dan Kegel notes that "I've seen subtasks end up attached to the end of my cat's nose (and the cat did not appreciate it)."
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Instead of many links to the "Go-live" milestone, a vertical line is added so that it moves as the project is rescheduled. It is inserted using the Insert, Drawing function, Line option, and drawn on the screen. Then double-click on the vertical line to open the Format Drawing form, select the Size & Position tab, select the Task ID to attach the line, and the relative position to the bar. |
![]() ![]() |
| ![]()
|
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
|
![]() ![]() |
|
|
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Resource Name | Type | Material Label | Initials | Group | Max Units | Standard Rate | Overtime Rate | Cost Per Use | Accrue At | Base Calendar | Code |
A black triangle in the bottom right-hand corner marks each cell which
obtains its value from an Excel spreadsheet used to calculate the value.
|
Task/ Resource Name | Hyperlink | Hyperlink Address | Hyperlink SubAddress |
|
Resource Name | Type | Material Label | Initials | Group | Standard Rate | Cost Per Use | Accrue At | Code |
View > Table (Resource) "Entry - Work Resources" does not include "Material Label".
A Resource Bar graph shows resource allocation, cost, or work over time for a single resource or group of resources.
View > Table (Resource) Summary
Resource Name | Group | Max Units | Peak | Standard Rate | Overtime Rate | Cost | Work |
View > Table (Resource) Usage
Resource Name | WorkDuration | Work |
|
Resources and Assignments | Start | Finish | Work |
Unassigned | Jan 10 | Feb 16 | 0 hrs |
View > Table (Resource) Work Table
Resource Name | % Work Complete | Work | Overtime | Baseline Work | Work Variance | Actual Work | Remaining Work |
View > Table (Task) Work Table
Task Name | Work | Baseline Work | Work Variance | Actual Work | Remaining Work | % Work Complete |
Notice that the %" Work Complete" column on the Resource Table is in a different position than the Task Table.
|
ID | Task Name | Fixed Cost | Fixed Cost Accural | Total Cost | Baseline Cost | Cost Variance | Actual Cost | Remaining Cost |
This is exported using the "Cost data by task" data map (internally titled the "Task Cost Table")
Note: Resource tables exclude fields "Fixed Cost", Cost ("Total Cost"), and "Fixed Cost Accural" (e.g., "Prorated" method, etc.).
View > Table (Task) Delay Table
Task Name | Leveling Delay | Duration | Start | Finish | Successors | Predecessors | Resource Names |
View > Table (Task) Entry Table used by Views
Task Name | Duration | Start | Finish | Predecessors | Resource Names |
View > Table (Task) Entry Table used by Reports contain two more fields
Task ID | Task Name | Duration | Actual Finish | Constraint Type | Start | Finish | Predecessors | Resource Names |
View > Table (Task) Rollup Table
Task Name | Duration | Text Above | Start | Predecessors | Resource Names |
View > Table (Task) Schedule Table
Task Name | Finish | Late Start | Late Finish | Free Slack | Total Slack |
View > Table (Task) Summary Table used by Views
Task Name | Start | Finish | % Complete | Cost | Work |
View > Table (Task) Summary Table used by Crosstab Reports Cash Flow (by Task across time periods) and Task Usage(hours) also contains the Duration field
Task ID | Task Name | Duration | Start | Finish | % Comp. | Cost | Work |
Task Name | Actual Finish | % Complete | Actual Duration | Remaining Duration | Actual Cost | Actual Work |
View > Table (Task) Usage Table
Task Name | Work | Duration | Start | Finish |
![]() ![]() |
|
Duration | Work | Units | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Duration1...10 | Work1...10 | Custom fields | |
Actual Duration | Actual Work | ||
-- | Baseline_Work Baseline1...10_Work | ||
-- | Overtime Work | ||
-- | Regular_Work | ||
Remaining_Duration | Remaining_Work | ||
-- | Remaining_Overtime_Work | ||
- | Actual_Overtime_Work | ||
Duration Variance | Work_Variance | ||
Free Slack Total Slack | - | ||
Leveling_Delay | - | - | |
Assignment_Delay | - | Assignment_Units | |
- | - | Max_Units | |
- | Scheduled_Work | ||
- | Percent_Work_Complete | ||
- | Peak |
|
Start Dates | Finish Dates | Usage |
---|---|---|
Start_Date | Finish_Date | |
Start1...10 | Finish1...10 | Custom fields |
Actual_Start | Actual_Finish | |
Baseline_Start | Baseline_Finish | |
Baseline1...10_Start | Baseline1...10_Finish | |
Early_Start | Early_Finish | |
Late_Start | Late_Finish | |
Start_Variance | Finish_Variance | |
Date1...10 | ... | |
... | Deadline | Appears as diamond indicator if Finish date is beyond this date. |
Available_From | Available_To | - |
The Work_Contour field identifies the assignment timephased level contour used.
|
|
|
Edited contours can have a user-defined number of segments, each with a different duration. Segment durations are automatically changed when the duration is changed.
|
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() |
|
|
It is difficult to accurately define the scope of work, the tasks, the resources needed, and their rate — all before a project starts.
But define we must because some number is needed to specify the number (and skills) of people recruited onto the project.
Earned Value calculations begin from an estimate of the final cumulative cost (budget) of the project — what the cumulative cost of the project is supposed to be when the "% complete" of the project eventually reaches 100% (when the project scope is accomplished). This datum is call Budget At Completion (BAC).
The BAC is also called "Baseline Cost"
because the purpose of Earned Value is to guage variation from a baseline.
|
Task Name | Baseline Duration | Baseline Start | Baseline Finish | Baseline Work | Baseline Cost |
|
|
The various sets of baselines can be compare to each other in menu Report Baseline Comparison .
Values for any set of periods can be captured
and accumulated outside MS Project in an
Excel spreadsheet such as this.
|
![]()
|
To determine how well a project is going, the PV (BCWS) is compared against two other series of data accumulated during the same time:
The sample EV graph here illustrates a project the is unfortunately too typical: starting slower than planned (resources being more difficult to obtain), then getting more efficient at the Status Date during the middle of the project, but is projected to end up overspending (with overtime, etc.) during the a dash for completion.
Task ID | Task Name | Start | Finish | Baseline Start | Baseline Finish | Start Var. | Finish Var. |
The amount what the total project is now expected to "Cost"
is the Estimate At Completion (EAC), also called the Latest Revised Estimate (LRE). It is the total of the Actual costs (ACWP) incurred up to the report date (the historical "sunk cost") plus projected costs for remaining work.
|
|
![]() ![]() |
| ![]() This explanation Assume the task is for two workers working together to build a stone wall with 5 rows of bricks in 150 minutes.
The first row (on the bottom) takes 20 minutes.
Both workers start at the same time.
But one of the workers leave after 60 minutes and the other completes the first three rows
75 minutes after they both started. Therefore, |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() |
|
View > Table (Resource) Cost | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Cost data by task ("Task Costs Report") | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
To record the effect of each change analysis, insted of extending existing tasks and creating lags or constraints, add new tasks to show delays or scope changes.
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Overview | Project Summary |
Top-level Tasks | |
Critical Tasks | |
Milestones | |
Working Days | |
Assignments | Who Does What |
Who Does What When | |
To-do List | |
Overallocated Resources | |
Current Activities | Unstarted Tasks |
Tasks Starting Soon | |
Tasks in Progress | |
Completed Tasks | |
Should Have Started Tasks | |
Slipping Tasks | |
Workload | Task Usage |
Resource Usage | |
Costs | Cash Flow |
Budget | |
Overbudget Tasks | |
Overbudget Resources | |
Earned Value | |
Custom | Base Calendar |
Crosstab | |
Resource (material) | |
Resource (work) | |
Task | |
Task Usage |
|
Color Scheme | Centered | Columns | Stripes | Tabs | BGCOLOR | BODY TEXT | Title Font |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black | - | Y | Y | Y | #CCCCCC | #000000 | #000000 |
Clay | - | Y | Y | Y | #E6CCCC | #800000 | #800000 |
Cool Tone | - | Y | Y | Y | #3333CC | #FFFFFF | #99CC99 |
Desert Light | - | - | - | Y | #FFCC99 | #CC6600 | #663399 |
Glacier | Y | Y | Y | - | #9999CC | #660099 | #CCE6E6 |
Ivy | Y | Y | Y | - | #CCCC99 | #336600 | #D6E0D6 |
Maroon | Y | Y | Y | - | #CC9999 | #800000 | #E6CCCC |
Mist Dark | Y | - | - | - | #336666 | #336666 | #ADA990 |
Mist | Y | Y | Y | - | #ADA990 | #336666 | #D6E0E0 |
Mulberry | - | Y | Y | - | #669999 | #660033 | #E0CCD6 |
Navy | Y | Y | Y | - | #9999CC | #000080 | #CCCCE6 |
Neon | Y | - | - | - | #000000 | #000080 | #99EEEE Dates
#EE00EE Report title |
Vineyard | Y | - | - | Y | #669999 | #330066 | #CCCC00 |
Personally, I don't like Microsoft's default designs.
Download "Wilsons Basic MSProject Report Template.html" into that folder,
then specify it as the "Base export on HTML template" on:
Each template file contain comment tags which are replaced during report creation. First comes the project attributes at the top of the page:
When you click the "Finish" button, MSProject adds values
to the right of the comment rather than replace the comment.
This means that you can't place the comment tags in the <TITLE> tag.
Then comes 3 sets of 2 sections:
I haven't figured out a way to change the font within tables, because MSProject replaces
each table comment tag with a complete table.
If you know, can you please email me? Thanks.
This Add-in for Microsoft Project 2000 lists differences between two versions of the same file, such as two possible Projections.
Before Duration values are stored in a Project database, they are normalized into minutes multiplied by 10. For example, a duration of 8 hours is stored as 4,800 minutes (8 * 60 * 10).
Before Work values are stored into a Project database, they are normalized into minutes multiplied by 1,000. For example, a work amount of 8 hours is stored as 480,000 minutes (8 * 60 * 1,000).
Before Cost values are stored into a Project database, they are normalized into currency units multiplied by 100.. For example, a project cost of $2,000.50 is stored as $200,050 ($2,000 * 100).
The default field configuration (and my preferred columns)
for 11 default maps which comes with the package are described in the next section:
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Core (Basic) | (Expert) | Comprehensive |
---|---|---|
Creating a Project Plan
|
| Define the Project
|
Customizing a Project
|
| Define and Modify Tasks
|
General Project Management Concepts
|
|
|
Resource Management
| Specify and Assign Resources
|
|
Tracking a Project
|
| Track Progress
|
Communicating Project Information
|
| View and Report Project Status
|
Multi-Project Management
|
| Manage Multiple Projects
|
|
|
Add a New Project
Add a New Task
Review Existing Projects
Review Existing Tasks for a Resource
|
Managing With Microsoft Project 2002 (Roseville, Calif: Premier Press, 2002)
by Lisa Bucki & Gary Chefetz (who also wrote the book on Project Server)
Managing Projects With Microsoft Project 2000 (Wiley eBook, 2001)
by Gwen Lowery and Teresa S. Stover
Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management with Microsoft Project 2003
by Ron Black
provides a great overview of this project in the context of its use.
It's updated from the
2000 version
|
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
These sites by MVPs (Microsoft Valued Professionals) on Project, Gary Chefetz & Dale Howard self-published through their ms project experts.com two books on Enterprise Project Management:
![]()
FREE guides on Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 from Microsoft (dated 8/24/2004):
![]()
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Related Topics:
Keyboard Shortcuts
Project Software
Project Central
![]()
| Your first name: Your family name: Your location (city, country): Your Email address: |
Top of Page ![]() Thank you! |