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Creating a new Project

Project - a series of task that have a defined start time and end time.

To open MS Project 2003:

1. Click on Start , Programs , Microsoft Office , Microsoft Project 2003 .

2. In the task pane window, click on Create a New Project .

Entering Tasks

Task - a specific action that needs to be completed in a project.

1. On the project guide toolbar, click on Task .

2. In the Gantt chart, under the task name column of the first cell, type in the name of a task.
3. Press Enter , to go to the next cell and continue entering tasks.

4. Delete a task by clicking on Edit, Delete Task .

5. Insert a task by clicking on Insert, New Task .

Continue until you list all tasks that define your project.

Setting Durations

Duration - the time it takes to complete a task.

Note: by default, durations are displayed as days. To change the default, click on Tools , click on Options , click on the Schedule tab , under Duration is entered in: Click on the desired duration setting.

1. Click on the duration cell for the task row that you would like to set.
2. For Days, Click on the duration cell, and type in number of days (if not on default, type D ).
3. For Hours, click in the duration cell, and type in the number of hours followed the letter H .
4. For Minutes, click on the duration cell, and type in the number of minutes followed by the letter M .
5. For Months, click in the duration cell, and type in the number of months followed by the letters MO .
6. For Weeks, click in the duration cell, and type in the number of weeks followed by the letter W .

Note: To modify durations you can retype the new duration or click and drag the graphical representation.

Modifying The Calendar

1. Click on Tools , click on Options , click on the Calendar tab .

 

2. Under Calendar Options , click on the drop down menus and choose your appropriate settings.

3. To change days you are available to work on the project, click on Tools , click on Change Working Time .

4. Under Select date(s) , click on the day you are not available or
   click on the letter of the week to choose that day every week.

5. Under Set selected date(s) to , change the radial button to non-working time , click OK .

Setting Milestones

Milestone - something that needs to be achieved but does not have a duration.

1. Click on the tasks duration cell where you would like the set a milestone.
2. Type 0d in the duration for that task.

A black diamond with a date will show in the project gantt chart graph window, indicating a milestone.

Develop a Summary Task

Summary Task - a grouping of tasks that logically belong together.

1. Click on the first task, in the list of tasks, where you want a summary task.

2. Click Insert , click New Task , type the name of the summary task.

3. Highlight all of the of the tasks to be summarized by holding down the shift key and clicking on each of them.

4. Click Indent on the toolbar.

Linking Tasks

1. Highlight the two tasks to be linked by holding down the shift key and clicking on each of them.

 

2. Click on Task on the project toolbar.

3. Click on Schedule tasks in the task pane display.

4. Choose between the following setting:
   Finish to Start - (most common) used when you need a task to finish before another one starts.
   
   Start to Start - used when you want two tasks to start simultaneously.
   
   End to End - used when you want two tasks to end simultaneously.

 

Note: To break a link, click on the break link icon in the task pane display.