Microsoft Project (Introduction)

This hands-on course is designed for those who want to learn how to set up and manage projects using Microsoft Project. Students will enter tasks and durations and then create an outline with a summary, details, and milestone tasks.

Tasks will be linked, and the instructor will review strategies to change the types of dependencies between linked tasks. Hard constraints and deadlines will also be added to the tasks.

Students will create a resource pool with different types of resources and assign resources to tasks. During this course, custom tables will be created and applied to different views.

At the end of the course, a baseline will be set, and progress will be tracked with students entering actual start dates, actual finish dates, and actual durations. Throughout the course, the instructor will include numerous tips, tricks, and shortcuts. Each student will also receive a course manual.

• Comprehensive course manual
• Sample and exercise files
• Refreshments (for classes conducted in Avantix Learning classrooms)
• Certificate of completion
• Follow-up email support

Course Topics

Working in the Microsoft Project Environment

• Understanding basic project management concepts
• Working efficiently with the Ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar
• Identifying parts of the window
• Applying the Gantt Chart view and other views
• Working with tables
• Setting key default options

Setting Up a Project

• Four steps to setting up a new project
• Changing working dates and times in the default calendar
• Copying calendars between projects
• Saving a project

Creating a Task List

• Types of tasks: detail, summary and milestone tasks
• Auto vs manual scheduling
• Setting defaults for the scheduling method
• Viewing tasks in the Gantt Chart view and other views
• Changing and resetting the timescale
• Recognizing key fields such as Start and Finish
• Creating a task list
• Moving and deleting tasks
• Entering durations
• Assigning an outline
• Collapsing and expanding an outline
• Formatting the task list

Linking and Unlinking Tasks with Dependencies

• Link tasks in different ways
• Control the types of dependencies
• Unlink tasks
• Add lead and lag
• Display the critical path

Setting Constraints and Deadlines

• Hard vs soft constraints
• Issues with hard constraints
• Setting deadlines
• Different task types

Working with Resources

• Adding resources
• Specifying the type of resource (work, material or cost)
• Setting resource availability using resource calendars
• Costs associated with resources
• Assigning resources to tasks

Tracking Progress

• Saving a baseline to compare actual vs planned results
• Marking tasks as complete
• Entering actual start, actual finish and actual durations