Microsoft Project: Basics

Start a new plan

• Create a new plan and set its start date
• Set nonworking days in the project calendar
• Enter the plan title and other properties

Build a task list

• Create tasks
• Switch task scheduling from manual to automatic
• Enter task durations and estimates
• Enter milestone tasks
• Create summary tasks to outline the plan
• Link tasks to create dependencies
• Check a plan’s duration and finish date
• Document task information

Set up resources

• Set up work resources
• Enter the maximum capacity for work resources
• Enter work resource pay rates
• Adjust working time in a resource calendar
• Set up cost resources
• Document resources by using notes

Assign resources to tasks

• Assign work resources to tasks
• Control work when adding or removing resource assignments
• Assign cost resources to tasks
• Check the plan after assigning resources

Format and share your plan

• Customize a Gantt chart view
• Add tasks to a Timeline view
• Customize reports
• Copy views and reports
• Print views and reports

Track progress: Basic techniques

• Understand progress tracking
• Save a baseline of your plan
• Track a plan as scheduled
• Enter a task’s completion percentage
• Enter actual values for tasks