{"id":119,"date":"2022-01-26T18:45:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T18:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/chapter\/4-5-microsoft-project-tutorial\/"},"modified":"2025-01-03T02:35:56","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T02:35:56","slug":"4-5-microsoft-project-tutorial","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/chapter\/4-5-microsoft-project-tutorial\/","title":{"rendered":"4.5 Microsoft Project Tutorial"},"content":{"raw":"Microsoft Project is one of the most common software tools in project management worldwide. In this book, we use Project Professional 2019. The tutorials in this book apply to all the recent versions of Microsoft Project.\r\n\r\nWhen you open MS Project for the first time, you can open a \u201cBlank Project\u201d or select a template (Figure 4.5.1).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"914\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.1: MS Project \u201cNew\u201d Window[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen you select \u201cBlank Project,\u201d the project page will open with a ribbon that includes tabs (in the same format we have on Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) (Figure 4.5.2). While the default view is \u201cGantt with Timeline,\u201d we changed it from \u201cOptions\u201d to \u201cGantt Chart\u201d view. Therefore, Figure 4.4 doesn\u2019t display the timeline. In Figure 4.5.3, under Project View, the default view is set as Gantt with Timeline.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1282\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.2: Blank Project (Gantt Chart with Timeline)[\/caption]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"626\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.3: Project Options \u2013 General tab[\/caption]\r\n\r\nWe will use \u201cGantt with Timeline\u201d as our default view in this chapter's tutorial and the following chapters. Besides, we are not changing the schedule options. This means we are not working on the weekends, and our durations are automatically labeled \u201cdays.\u201d However, we can type another unit such as a week (wk or wks) or month (mon or mons) (Figure 4.5.4).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"626\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.4: Project Options \u2013 Schedule tab[\/caption]\r\n\r\nUnder the \u201cFormat\u201d tab, we should check \u201cProject Summary Task\u201d first. Therefore, the total duration of our project can be automatically calculated by MS Project. The row number becomes zero for the project summary task (Figure 4.5.5). If we insert a column titled \u201cWBS,\u201d the system also gives zero to this task. MS Project doesn\u2019t use the name \u201cActivity\u201d but \u201cTask.\u201d\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"743\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.5: Project Summary Task[\/caption]\r\n\r\nFor this MS Project tutorial, we will use letters and numbers for the activities. A is the project, and the highest level is 1. The lowest level in our WBS is the third level (Table 4.5.1).\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Table 4.5.1: Activities<\/caption>\r\n
WBS Level<\/strong><\/td>\r\nActivity\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
1<\/td>\r\nA<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
2<\/td>\r\na1<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
2<\/td>\r\na2<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
3<\/td>\r\na21<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
3<\/td>\r\na22<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
1<\/td>\r\nB<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
2<\/td>\r\nb1<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
3<\/td>\r\nb11<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
3<\/td>\r\nb12<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
1<\/td>\r\nb2<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nAfter we type all the activities, we can select a1 and a2, and indent them as both are under A (Figure 4.5.6). WBS numbers are given automatically by MS Project when we indent and outdent. After we indent a1 and a2, these two activities can be subtasks of A, which could be considered a phase or major deliverable.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1239\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.6: Indenting tasks \u201ca1\u201d and \u201ca2\u201d[\/caption]\r\n\r\nFor a21 and a22 at the third level, we should click the \u201cIndent Task\u201d icon twice, as they are under a2 at the second level. Figure 4.5.7 displays the WBS numbers after all the activities have been indented.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_118\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1063\"]\"Figure Figure 4.5.7: Indenting all the tasks at the second and third WBS levels[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAs can be seen in Figure 4.5.7, WBS numbers changed automatically when we indented the tasks. This tutorial served as an introduction to Microsoft Project and only discussed how a WBS can be created. Therefore, we have not typed the durations and predecessors. We will cover them in Chapter 7, \u201cScheduling\u201d<\/a>.","rendered":"

Microsoft Project is one of the most common software tools in project management worldwide. In this book, we use Project Professional 2019. The tutorials in this book apply to all the recent versions of Microsoft Project.<\/p>\n

When you open MS Project for the first time, you can open a \u201cBlank Project\u201d or select a template (Figure 4.5.1).<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.1: MS Project \u201cNew\u201d Window<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you select \u201cBlank Project,\u201d the project page will open with a ribbon that includes tabs (in the same format we have on Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) (Figure 4.5.2). While the default view is \u201cGantt with Timeline,\u201d we changed it from \u201cOptions\u201d to \u201cGantt Chart\u201d view. Therefore, Figure 4.4 doesn\u2019t display the timeline. In Figure 4.5.3, under Project View, the default view is set as Gantt with Timeline.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.2: Blank Project (Gantt Chart with Timeline)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.3: Project Options \u2013 General tab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We will use \u201cGantt with Timeline\u201d as our default view in this chapter’s tutorial and the following chapters. Besides, we are not changing the schedule options. This means we are not working on the weekends, and our durations are automatically labeled \u201cdays.\u201d However, we can type another unit such as a week (wk or wks) or month (mon or mons) (Figure 4.5.4).<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.4: Project Options \u2013 Schedule tab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Under the \u201cFormat\u201d tab, we should check \u201cProject Summary Task\u201d first. Therefore, the total duration of our project can be automatically calculated by MS Project. The row number becomes zero for the project summary task (Figure 4.5.5). If we insert a column titled \u201cWBS,\u201d the system also gives zero to this task. MS Project doesn\u2019t use the name \u201cActivity\u201d but \u201cTask.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.5: Project Summary Task<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this MS Project tutorial, we will use letters and numbers for the activities. A is the project, and the highest level is 1. The lowest level in our WBS is the third level (Table 4.5.1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 4.5.1: Activities<\/caption>\n
WBS Level<\/strong><\/td>\nActivity\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\na1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\na2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\na21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\na22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nb1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nb11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nb12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nb2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

After we type all the activities, we can select a1 and a2, and indent them as both are under A (Figure 4.5.6). WBS numbers are given automatically by MS Project when we indent and outdent. After we indent a1 and a2, these two activities can be subtasks of A, which could be considered a phase or major deliverable.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.6: Indenting tasks \u201ca1\u201d and \u201ca2\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a21 and a22 at the third level, we should click the \u201cIndent Task\u201d icon twice, as they are under a2 at the second level. Figure 4.5.7 displays the WBS numbers after all the activities have been indented.<\/p>\n

\"Figure
Figure 4.5.7: Indenting all the tasks at the second and third WBS levels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As can be seen in Figure 4.5.7, WBS numbers changed automatically when we indented the tasks. This tutorial served as an introduction to Microsoft Project and only discussed how a WBS can be created. Therefore, we have not typed the durations and predecessors. We will cover them in Chapter 7, \u201cScheduling\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-119","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":99,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1059,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/119\/revisions\/1059"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/99"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/119\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=119"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=119"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/projectmanagement2ndedition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}