Microsoft Project 2007 bible

Microsoft Project 2007 Bible......Page 1
Contents......Page 12
Whom it’s for......Page 30
Margin icons......Page 31
Part II: Getting Your Project Going......Page 32
Part VI: Advanced Microsoft Project......Page 33
Project Management Glossary......Page 34
Part I: Project Management Basics......Page 38
Understanding Projects......Page 40
Critical path and slack......Page 41
Durations and milestones......Page 44
Diagrams that aid project management......Page 45
Managing projects with project management software......Page 48
What’s required of you......Page 49
What Microsoft Project can do to help......Page 50
Identifying your goal and the project’s scope......Page 51
Planning......Page 52
Revising......Page 53
Tracking......Page 54
Learning from your mistakes......Page 55
Summary......Page 56
Taking a First Look at Project......Page 58
Starting Project......Page 59
Working with the Project Guide......Page 60
Examining the Gantt Chart view......Page 66
Using Project menus......Page 68
Examining the toolbars......Page 72
Entering information......Page 73
Changing views......Page 75
What’s New in Project 2007......Page 76
Summary......Page 77
Part II: Getting Your Project Going......Page 78
Gathering Information......Page 80
Determining detail tasks......Page 81
Looking at dependencies......Page 82
Other ways to open or start projects......Page 83
Establishing Basic Project Information......Page 86
Looking at Project Calendars......Page 89
Setting calendar options......Page 90
Creating a new calendar......Page 91
Adjusting the calendar......Page 94
Entering Tasks......Page 98
Adding Subtasks......Page 101
Saving Project Files......Page 104
Saving files......Page 105
Protecting files......Page 106
Adjusting tasks in an outline......Page 107
Copying tasks......Page 110
Displaying and hiding tasks......Page 112
Using the Help system......Page 115
Finding online help......Page 118
Summary......Page 119
Establishing Timing for Tasks......Page 120
Fixed-duration tasks......Page 121
Fixed-work tasks......Page 122
Using the Gantt table......Page 123
Using the Task Information dialog box......Page 125
Using your mouse and the task bar......Page 127
Setting scheduling options......Page 128
Assigning a calendar to a task......Page 129
Creating milestones......Page 130
Timing for summary tasks......Page 131
Using Recurring Tasks......Page 132
Using deadline dates......Page 136
Setting constraints and deadline dates......Page 137
Manipulating the Gantt Chart to View Timing......Page 139
Entering Task Notes......Page 142
Understanding the interactions between constraints and dependencies......Page 145
Allowing for delays and overlap......Page 147
Finish-to-Start (FS)......Page 149
Start-to-Finish (SF)......Page 150
Start-to-Start (SS)......Page 152
Finish-to-Finish (FF)......Page 153
Setting finish-to-start dependencies......Page 154
Setting other types of dependencies......Page 155
Viewing Dependencies......Page 157
Summary......Page 159
Understanding Resources......Page 160
How resources work......Page 161
How Project gathers cost information......Page 162
Creating a Resource List......Page 163
Modifying Resource Information......Page 166
Specifying a booking type......Page 167
Creating a generic resource and assigning custom fields......Page 170
Creating a budget resource......Page 171
Adding notes to a resource......Page 172
Modifying a resource’s working hours......Page 174
Blocking off vacation time......Page 176
Assigning resources to tasks......Page 178
Assigning a budget resource......Page 180
Getting help while selecting resources to assign......Page 182
Some tips about resource assignments......Page 185
Removing or replacing a resource assignment......Page 187
Looking at the project’s cost......Page 188
Assigning a fixed cost to a task......Page 189
Assigning a fixed resource cost to a task......Page 190
Accounting for resource rate changes......Page 192
Summary......Page 195
Part III: Refining Your Project......Page 196
What Is a View?......Page 198
Changing a table......Page 199
Changing a Details section......Page 201
Examining Indicators......Page 202
Admiring the Views......Page 203
Calendar......Page 204
Detail Gantt......Page 205
Gantt Chart......Page 206
Leveling Gantt......Page 207
Tracking Gantt......Page 209
Multiple Baselines Gantt......Page 211
Network Diagram......Page 212
Descriptive Network Diagram......Page 217
Relationship Diagram......Page 218
PERT analysis views......Page 219
PERT Entry Sheet......Page 220
Optimistic Gantt......Page 221
Expected Gantt......Page 222
PERT Weights......Page 223
Resource Allocation......Page 225
Resource Form......Page 226
Resource Graph......Page 227
Resource Name Form......Page 228
Resource Sheet......Page 229
Resource Usage......Page 231
Rollup views......Page 232
Using the summary task bar......Page 233
Using the Rollup_Formatting macro......Page 235
Switching rollup views......Page 238
Task Details Form......Page 240
Task Entry......Page 241
Task Form......Page 242
Task Name Form......Page 243
Task Sheet......Page 244
Task Usage......Page 245
Printing Your Project......Page 246
Summary......Page 250
Changing row height and column width......Page 252
Hiding and inserting columns......Page 254
Adding fields to a usage view......Page 255
Switching tables......Page 257
Creating new tables or editing existing tables......Page 258
Working with views......Page 261
Adding views......Page 262
Creating a combination view......Page 264
Sorting tasks......Page 266
Creating WBS codes......Page 269
Renumbering WBS codes......Page 272
Defining outline numbers......Page 275
Filtering Views to Gain Perspective......Page 279
Applying a filter to a view......Page 283
Creating custom filters......Page 284
Using AutoFilters......Page 285
Using grouping......Page 286
Summary......Page 290
Changing Project’s Looks......Page 292
Using the Gantt Chart Wizard......Page 294
Formatting selected text......Page 298
Applying formatting to categories of text......Page 300
Formatting taskbars......Page 302
Changing the layout of the Gantt Chart......Page 307
Changing gridlines......Page 309
Formatting network diagram nodes......Page 310
Modifying node box styles......Page 311
Formatting fields that appear on nodes......Page 312
Changing the layout of the network diagram......Page 315
Formatting the Calendar view......Page 317
Formatting the Calendar entries......Page 318
Changing the Calendar layout......Page 319
Copying pictures......Page 321
Inserting visual objects......Page 328
Using the Drawing toolbar......Page 331
Modifying graphics and drawings......Page 334
Summary......Page 335
Resolving Scheduling Conflicts......Page 336
Adding resources to tasks......Page 337
Using overtime......Page 338
Adding time to tasks......Page 339
Adjusting slack......Page 340
Changing task constraints......Page 341
Adjusting dependencies......Page 344
Splitting a task......Page 346
Using the Critical Path to Shorten a Project......Page 348
Identifying the critical path......Page 349
Shortening the critical path......Page 352
Using Multiple Critical Paths......Page 354
Summary......Page 357
Conflicts Occur......Page 358
Spotting Resource Conflicts......Page 359
Using views to spot resource conflicts......Page 360
Using filters to spot resource conflicts......Page 362
Changing resource allocations......Page 364
Switching resources......Page 365
Adding or deleting a resource assignment......Page 367
Scheduling overtime......Page 368
Redefining a resource’s calendar......Page 369
Assigning part-time work......Page 371
Controlling when resources start working on a task......Page 373
Letting Project level resource loads......Page 374
Making adjustments to leveling......Page 377
Contouring resources......Page 379
Setting a contour pattern......Page 380
Contouring a resource’s availability......Page 382
Summary......Page 383
Part IV: Tracking Your Progress......Page 384
Understanding the Principles of Tracking......Page 386
Making adjustments as you go......Page 387
What is a baseline?......Page 389
Setting a baseline......Page 390
Adding a task to a baseline......Page 393
Using interim plans......Page 394
Viewing Progress with the Tracking Gantt View......Page 396
Interpreting the Tracking Gantt view......Page 397
The Task Variance table......Page 399
The Task Cost table......Page 400
The Task Work table......Page 401
Tackling the work of tracking......Page 402
Summary......Page 403
Organizing the Updating Process......Page 404
Understanding Calculation Options......Page 405
Updating Tasks to Reflect Actual Information......Page 408
Setting actual start and finish dates......Page 409
Recording actual durations......Page 410
Setting the Percent Complete value......Page 411
Setting work completed......Page 413
Setting remaining durations......Page 414
Using Actuals and Costs......Page 416
Using the Cost table for tasks......Page 417
Overriding resource cost valuations......Page 418
Tracking work or costs regularly......Page 421
Accelerating the updating process......Page 424
Letting Project reschedule uncompleted work......Page 426
Reviewing Progress......Page 427
Using the Tracking Gantt view......Page 428
Using the Work table for tasks......Page 429
Viewing progress lines......Page 430
Summary......Page 432
Reporting on Progress......Page 434
Creating Text Reports......Page 435
Critical Tasks......Page 438
Milestones......Page 440
Generating reports on costs......Page 441
Cash Flow......Page 442
Earned Value......Page 443
Overbudget reports......Page 445
Tasks Starting Soon......Page 447
Completed Tasks......Page 450
Slipping Tasks......Page 451
Who Does What When......Page 452
Overallocated Resources......Page 455
Reporting on workloads......Page 456
Resource Usage......Page 457
Custom reports......Page 460
Customizing an existing report......Page 462
Visual Reporting......Page 466
Task Usage reports......Page 467
Earned Value Over Time Report......Page 468
Cash Flow Report......Page 469
Resource Availability Report......Page 470
Resource Cost Summary Report......Page 471
Resource Work Availability Report......Page 472
Resource Work Summary Report......Page 473
Baseline Cost Report......Page 474
Baseline Report......Page 475
Baseline Work Report......Page 476
Budget Cost Report......Page 477
Budget Work Report......Page 478
Critical Tasks Status Report......Page 479
Task Status Report......Page 480
Resource Remaining Work Report......Page 481
Resource Status Report......Page 482
Customizing visual report templates......Page 483
Summary......Page 486
Understanding Earned Value......Page 488
Understanding earned value fields......Page 489
Using the Physical % Complete method to calculate earned value......Page 491
Setting the date for earned-value calculations......Page 492
Using the Earned Value table for tasks......Page 494
Using the Earned Value table for resources......Page 495
Using the Earned Value Cost Indicators and Earned Value Schedule Indicators tables......Page 496
Evaluating Cost Information......Page 498
Charting earned value......Page 499
Using PivotTables for analysis......Page 506
Making Adjustments During the Project......Page 511
Modifying resource assignments......Page 512
Summary......Page 513
Part V: Working in Groups......Page 514
Consolidating Projects......Page 516
Setting up to use consolidation......Page 517
Inserting a project......Page 519
Using inserted projects and their source files......Page 525
Consolidating all open projects: A shortcut......Page 526
Moving subprojects within a consolidated project......Page 527
Linking tasks across projects......Page 528
Changing links across projects......Page 530
Consolidated projects — to save or not to save......Page 531
Viewing Multiple Projects......Page 533
Viewing the Critical Path across Projects......Page 534
Sharing Resources Among Projects......Page 537
Creating a resource pool and sharing the resources......Page 538
Opening a project that uses a resource pool......Page 539
Updating information in the resource pool......Page 540
Quit sharing resources......Page 541
Summary......Page 543
Understanding Project Server and Project Web Access......Page 544
What’s New in Project Server 2007......Page 547
Identify staff members to interview......Page 549
Conduct interviews......Page 550
Establishing and enforcing organizational standards......Page 551
Developing a strategy for implementation and configuration......Page 554
Avoiding the Pitfalls......Page 555
Summary......Page 556
Reviewing Requirements......Page 558
Meeting hardware requirements......Page 559
Assessing the network environment......Page 560
Considering software/hardware scenarios......Page 561
Installing Peripheral Software......Page 562
Checking the SQL version......Page 563
Enabling IIS......Page 564
Checking the IIS mode......Page 566
Setting Up Windows Security Accounts......Page 567
Site Collection Owner account......Page 568
Creating an account......Page 569
Installing Project Server and Windows SharePoint Services......Page 571
Connecting to Project Server through Project Web Access......Page 577
Summary......Page 578
Project Server and the Administrator......Page 580
Double-Checking Settings......Page 581
Specifying Project Server features for your organization......Page 583
Managing Windows SharePoint Services......Page 585
Managing security templates......Page 587
Managing groups......Page 589
Working with categories......Page 591
Managing Users......Page 594
Working with Views......Page 597
Working with the Enterprise Global......Page 599
Defining Enterprise custom fields......Page 601
Creating Enterprise calendars......Page 604
Setting Up and Editing Enterprise Resources......Page 605
Creating the Enterprise Resource Pool......Page 606
Editing resources in the Enterprise Resource Pool......Page 607
Importing Projects......Page 609
Financial Periods......Page 611
Timesheet Periods......Page 612
Timesheet classifications......Page 613
Timesheet Settings and Defaults......Page 614
Task Settings and Display......Page 616
Close Tasks to Update......Page 618
Setting Up Administrative Time......Page 619
Control the appearance of the Quick Launch pane......Page 620
Selecting the Gantt taskbar styles and timescales......Page 621
Selecting grouping formats......Page 622
Checking in enterprise projects and resources......Page 623
Managing information in the Project Server databases......Page 625
Schedule backups......Page 626
Restore a backup......Page 627
Managing the Queue......Page 628
Migrating the Analysis Services Repository......Page 630
Configuring the cube......Page 633
Establish cube building settings......Page 634
Checking cube building status......Page 635
Enabling users to view the cube......Page 636
Managing operations......Page 639
Alerts and reminders......Page 640
Configuring the server-side event handler......Page 641
Synchronizing the Enterprise Resource Pool with an Active Directory Group......Page 642
Working with Project Workspaces......Page 643
Summary......Page 645
Creating a Project Server logon account......Page 648
Understanding the structure of the Project Server database......Page 651
Reviewing a project’s Web-based options......Page 652
Storing a draft project in the Project Server database......Page 653
Working with Web-Based Projects......Page 654
Understanding the Open dialog box......Page 655
Opening a draft project or a published project......Page 656
Managing the local cache......Page 657
Viewing Project Server pages in Project Professional......Page 659
Using activity plans and proposals......Page 660
Assigning Resources to Projects......Page 663
Adding enterprise resources to your project......Page 664
Replacing generic resources with real resources......Page 665
Using the Resource Substitution Wizard......Page 666
Assigning resources using Project Web Access......Page 670
Establishing a tracking method......Page 675
Setting up status reports......Page 677
Receiving updates from team members......Page 679
Working with issues and risks......Page 682
Tracking issues......Page 683
Tracking risks......Page 687
Managing deliverables......Page 688
Summary......Page 691
Logging on to Project Web Access......Page 692
Reviewing the Home Page......Page 693
Customizing the Home Page......Page 694
Viewing Information......Page 697
Working with your tasks......Page 698
Entering time on tasks......Page 700
Submitting task updates......Page 701
Adding tasks......Page 702
Reassigning a task......Page 704
Working with your timesheet......Page 705
Saving timesheet entries......Page 707
Reporting administrative time......Page 708
Setting up integration......Page 709
Setting integration options......Page 711
Importing Project Web Access assignments into Outlook......Page 712
Updating Project Web Access with Outlook information......Page 714
Working with Documents......Page 715
Reporting Status......Page 718
Summary......Page 720
Reviewing Your Portfolio......Page 722
Identifying Trends and Potential Problems......Page 727
Summary......Page 730
Part VI: Advanced Microsoft Project......Page 732
Using Custom Fields......Page 734
Creating a custom field......Page 735
Using a custom field for data entry......Page 737
Using formulas in custom fields......Page 739
Setting levels of Undo......Page 744
Windows taskbar icons......Page 745
Saving Project files......Page 747
Using the Organizer......Page 749
Combining or separating toolbars......Page 750
Adding and deleting tools from a toolbar......Page 754
Creating custom toolbars......Page 755
Changing and editing button images......Page 757
Adding menus......Page 760
Assigning new commands......Page 762
Summary......Page 764
Using Macros......Page 766
Recording Macros......Page 767
Running Macros......Page 771
Assigning a macro to a toolbar button......Page 772
Assigning a macro to a menu command......Page 776
Assigning a keyboard shortcut to a macro......Page 782
Summary......Page 783
Customizing Microsoft Project Using VBA and Active Scripting......Page 784
Recording a macro to create a filter for critical tasks......Page 785
Editing the macro to show only specified resources......Page 788
Testing the code......Page 789
Example Two: Creating a UserForm Object to Adjust Work......Page 793
Creating a UserForm......Page 794
Adjusting the size of the UserForm......Page 795
Adding controls to the UserForm......Page 796
Adding code to display resource names......Page 802
Adding code to the OK button to change work......Page 804
Adding code to the Cancel button......Page 807
Adding a sub procedure to show the UserForm......Page 808
Example Three: Customizing the Project Guide......Page 809
Project Guide XML document elements......Page 811
Customizing the Project Guide to create a new project......Page 815
Adding a new task to the Tasks goal area......Page 816
Creating a custom HTML page......Page 817
Summary......Page 821
Understanding General Importing and Exporting Concepts......Page 822
Saving reporting information in an OLAP Cube or an Access database......Page 823
Exporting to Office files......Page 825
Sending Project data to Excel......Page 826
Sending Project data to Microsoft Word......Page 830
Exporting Project information to a graphic image......Page 832
Exporting to text files......Page 834
Importing Information......Page 835
Bringing Excel workbook information into Project......Page 836
Bringing Access database information into Project......Page 838
Bringing Outlook task lists into Project......Page 839
Bringing Word document information into Project......Page 840
Importing other files......Page 845
Importing Microsoft Project Exchange files......Page 846
Troubleshooting......Page 847
Linked or embedded objects don’t import or export......Page 848
The imported project is empty......Page 849
Summary......Page 850
Case 1......Page 852
Problem solution......Page 853
Business benefits......Page 855
Problem statement......Page 856
Problem statement......Page 857
Problem solvers......Page 858
Problem solution......Page 859
Problem solver......Page 860
Problem solution......Page 861
Case 6......Page 862
Problem solution......Page 863
Project solution......Page 864
Summary......Page 865
Part VII: Appendixes......Page 866
System Requirements......Page 868
Software on the CD-ROM......Page 869
Milestones Professional......Page 870
PertMaster Project Risk......Page 871
WBS Chart Pro......Page 872
What’s on the Web Site......Page 873
Troubleshooting......Page 874
Phase I: Research......Page 876
Phase II: Planning......Page 878
Phase III: Creating Your Project Schedule......Page 880
Tracking procedures checklist......Page 881
Phase V: Preparing for the Next Project......Page 882
Appendix C: Available Fields and Functions for Custom Field Formulas......Page 886
Associations......Page 902
Books......Page 905
Journals and magazines......Page 906
Software Products......Page 907
Glossary......Page 912
Index......Page 918