Microsoft Project Essentials course outline -Melton IT Services Ltd

Microsoft Project 2003 Essentials

Overview and objectives

After completing this two-day course, students will have a broad understanding of the capabilities of Microsoft Project 2003.

Who should attend?

Students should have a good working knowledge of the Windows 98 or later. No previous experience of Project 2003.

Getting started

Discussing project management concepts • Discussing project management tools • Exploring the Project 2003 window • Starting Project 2003 • Examining the Project Guide • Opening an existing project in Gantt Chart view • Navigating views • Using Help • Using the Office Assistant • Using the Help task pane • Working with project files • Creating a new project file • Saving a project file • Setting Auto Save • Closing project files and closing Project 2003

Views and navigation techniques

The view bar • Gantt chart view • Other tables • Other views • Navigation techniques

Working with base calendars

Creating the base calendar • Copying calendars and changing working time • Identifying public holidays/non-working time

Using project information and properties

Working with tasks

Creating a work breakdown structure (WBS) • Creating the WBS • Summary tasks • Copying/moving • Inserting/deleting • Entering subtasks • Defining durations • Elapsed durations • Milestones • Creating an outline • Expanding/collapsing the outline • Understanding the critical path

Establishing task dependencies

Task relationships explained • Finish to start • Start to start • Finish to finish • Start to finish • Creating relationships • Creating lead and lag • Constraints • Constraint types • Setting constraints

Formatting your projects

Using the Gantt chart wizard • Formatting text styles • Formatting the critical path • Formatting the timescale • Formatting gridlines

Extracting information from your projects

Tables summary • Creating custom tables & filters •Extracting information using predefined filters • Using the autofilter • Understanding filters • Creating custom filters • Creating an interactive filter • Filter test options for custom filters

Working with resources

Creating a resource pool • The resource sheet explained • Assigning resources • Effort driven scheduling • Microsoft Project scheduling • Scheduling delays between work on assignments • Removing a resource from a task • Identifying and viewing overallocations • Activating the toolbar for resolving overallocations • Assigning overtime • Options for handling overallocations

Working within budgets

Assigning fixed costs for tasks • Assigning variable resource costs to a task • Assigning a fixed resource cost to a task

Project control

What is a baseline • Saving a baseline • Tracking your project • Entering actual start/finish dates for a task • Entering actual duration for a task

Reporting and printing

Printing a view • Printing a report • Modifying reports • Creating a custom report • Printing options • Creating manual page breaks