Newbie

I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
below each project?

Thank you

Hi Karen,

Because Project is a scheduling tool the rest of the information you see in
the line with the project title is calculated by Project and short of
changing the text in those cells white, you cannot hide the information. You
can hide columns (right click and choose Hide Column from the shortcut menu)
and add other columns (right click and choose Insert Column), but Project
will still use those hidden columns for calculations and task scheduling.

For what you describe (and until you have some time to work more indepth
with Project) you may wish to use Excel. It doesn't appear from your stated
needs that you may need all of the power (and complications) of Project right
now.

Hope this helps and best wishes for the holidays to you too! Let us know
how else we can help.

Julie

"Karen" wrote:

> Thank you for your help - I have entered all my projects and my tasks as you
> suggested - Only problem, when I enter the project title and outdent, I don't
> want any dates or any other info in that row. I will list the tasks to that
> project below the title and then indent the tasks. How do I get only the
> project title and the rest of the fields in that row blank?
> I'm just setting up a very basic project list. What I want for field titles
> is:
> Task Name
> Completion Date
> % Complete
> Responsible Party
> Can I set up only these fields? Do I need the duration field?
>
> Thanks and Happy Holidays, Karen
> "JulieS" wrote:
>
> > Hi Karen,
> >
> > I assume you wish to enter all of the projects and their tasks into one file
> > instead of each project being its own file.
> > In that case, enter in the name of the project and under the project name
> > enter the tasks and then indent those tasks for that project. (Use the indent
> > button on the Formatting Toolbar.) For the next project, make sure you
> > outdent that project's name and indent each of its tasks under the summary
> > task.
> >
> > If you have an chance you may wish to view Mike Glen's[Project MVP]
> > Introduction to Project articles at:
> > http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23
> >
> > Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
> > Julie
> >
> >
> >
> > "Karen" wrote:
> >
> > > I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
> > > steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
> > > below each project?
> > >
> > > Thank you

Thank you for your help - I have entered all my projects and my tasks as you
suggested - Only problem, when I enter the project title and outdent, I don't
want any dates or any other info in that row. I will list the tasks to that
project below the title and then indent the tasks. How do I get only the
project title and the rest of the fields in that row blank?
I'm just setting up a very basic project list. What I want for field titles
is:
Task Name
Completion Date
% Complete
Responsible Party
Can I set up only these fields? Do I need the duration field?

Thanks and Happy Holidays, Karen
"JulieS" wrote:

> Hi Karen,
>
> I assume you wish to enter all of the projects and their tasks into one file
> instead of each project being its own file.
> In that case, enter in the name of the project and under the project name
> enter the tasks and then indent those tasks for that project. (Use the indent
> button on the Formatting Toolbar.) For the next project, make sure you
> outdent that project's name and indent each of its tasks under the summary
> task.
>
> If you have an chance you may wish to view Mike Glen's[Project MVP]
> Introduction to Project articles at:
> http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23
>
> Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
> Julie
>
>
>
> "Karen" wrote:
>
> > I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
> > steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
> > below each project?
> >
> > Thank you

Hi Karen,

I assume you wish to enter all of the projects and their tasks into one file
instead of each project being its own file.
In that case, enter in the name of the project and under the project name
enter the tasks and then indent those tasks for that project. (Use the indent
button on the Formatting Toolbar.) For the next project, make sure you
outdent that project's name and indent each of its tasks under the summary
task.

If you have an chance you may wish to view Mike Glen's[Project MVP]
Introduction to Project articles at
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
Julie



"Karen" wrote:

> I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
> steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
> below each project?
>
> Thank you

Hi Karen,

The duration field is the amount of time (days, weeks, hours etc) in
*working* time (set in the project calendar) from the start date and time of
the task to the finish date and time of the task. For example: based upon
project start date of today (set in Project -> Project Information) if I
create a task with a duration of 28 days, the end date of the task is
calculated for 1/31/05 - 28 working days from today - ignoring weekends
(non-working time).

You should allow Project to calculate start and finish dates for you. As I
mentioned below, Mike Glen's series of articles are an excellent primer for
using MS Project and may save you a great deal of grief and hair-pulling.

Hope this helps. Let us know how else we can help.

Julie



"Karen" wrote:

> I forgot to ask you something else - How does the "duration" field work?
> Let's say I have a project that should be completed on January 31 - (that's
> 38 days from now) should I set the duration to 38 days? I'm not sure how
> that field works. If not, how is that field used?
>
> Thank you Julie
>
> "JulieS" wrote:
>
> > Hi Karen,
> >
> > Because Project is a scheduling tool the rest of the information you see in
> > the line with the project title is calculated by Project and short of
> > changing the text in those cells white, you cannot hide the information. You
> > can hide columns (right click and choose Hide Column from the shortcut menu)
> > and add other columns (right click and choose Insert Column), but Project
> > will still use those hidden columns for calculations and task scheduling.
> >
> > For what you describe (and until you have some time to work more indepth
> > with Project) you may wish to use Excel. It doesn't appear from your stated
> > needs that you may need all of the power (and complications) of Project right
> > now.
> >
> > Hope this helps and best wishes for the holidays to you too! Let us know
> > how else we can help.
> >
> > Julie
> >
> > "Karen" wrote:
> >
> > > Thank you for your help - I have entered all my projects and my tasks as you
> > > suggested - Only problem, when I enter the project title and outdent, I don't
> > > want any dates or any other info in that row. I will list the tasks to that
> > > project below the title and then indent the tasks. How do I get only the
> > > project title and the rest of the fields in that row blank?
> > > I'm just setting up a very basic project list. What I want for field titles
> > > is:
> > > Task Name
> > > Completion Date
> > > % Complete
> > > Responsible Party
> > > Can I set up only these fields? Do I need the duration field?
> > >
> > > Thanks and Happy Holidays, Karen
> > > "JulieS" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi Karen,
> > > >
> > > > I assume you wish to enter all of the projects and their tasks into one file
> > > > instead of each project being its own file.
> > > > In that case, enter in the name of the project and under the project name
> > > > enter the tasks and then indent those tasks for that project. (Use the indent
> > > > button on the Formatting Toolbar.) For the next project, make sure you
> > > > outdent that project's name and indent each of its tasks under the summary
> > > > task.
> > > >
> > > > If you have an chance you may wish to view Mike Glen's[Project MVP]
> > > > Introduction to Project articles at:
> > > > http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23
> > > >
> > > > Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
> > > > Julie
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Karen" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
> > > > > steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
> > > > > below each project?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank you

Hi Karen,
I understand completely about the pressure to use Project, however if at all
possible, I suggest lobbying your boss (and perhaps the boss's boss) about
investing in some training for you and other users. MS Project is a very
powerful and useful tool but is quite difficult to learn "on the fly."

That being said, to your question: You may print out just the list portion
of your project file by dragging the split bar separating the task sheet
(left side) from the Gantt chart (right side) to the far right side until the
Gantt chart disappears from view. You may also view just the Task sheet
(View -> More Views, select the Task Sheet and click the Apply button.)

About the project file you saw with no other data in the project line row,
my guess would be the creator of that file formatted the text (Format ->
Font) to white.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

"Karen" wrote:

> Thank you for your help Julie - I would rather use Excel, but my boss wants
> to use Project because her boss wants to use Project. Oh well. Actually, I
> saw someone's list he/she created in Project and I saw a row with just the
> title and all the rest of the fields in that row were blank. I'll have to
> find out who created that.
> Another question: How can I print the Project list with my fields only and
> not the Gannt chart to the right?
>
> Thank you again, Karen
> "JulieS" wrote:
>
> > Hi Karen,
> >
> > Because Project is a scheduling tool the rest of the information you see in
> > the line with the project title is calculated by Project and short of
> > changing the text in those cells white, you cannot hide the information. You
> > can hide columns (right click and choose Hide Column from the shortcut menu)
> > and add other columns (right click and choose Insert Column), but Project
> > will still use those hidden columns for calculations and task scheduling.
> >
> > For what you describe (and until you have some time to work more indepth
> > with Project) you may wish to use Excel. It doesn't appear from your stated
> > needs that you may need all of the power (and complications) of Project right
> > now.
> >
> > Hope this helps and best wishes for the holidays to you too! Let us know
> > how else we can help.
> >
> > Julie
> >
> > "Karen" wrote:
> >
> > > Thank you for your help - I have entered all my projects and my tasks as you
> > > suggested - Only problem, when I enter the project title and outdent, I don't
> > > want any dates or any other info in that row. I will list the tasks to that
> > > project below the title and then indent the tasks. How do I get only the
> > > project title and the rest of the fields in that row blank?
> > > I'm just setting up a very basic project list. What I want for field titles
> > > is:
> > > Task Name
> > > Completion Date
> > > % Complete
> > > Responsible Party
> > > Can I set up only these fields? Do I need the duration field?
> > >
> > > Thanks and Happy Holidays, Karen
> > > "JulieS" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi Karen,
> > > >
> > > > I assume you wish to enter all of the projects and their tasks into one file
> > > > instead of each project being its own file.
> > > > In that case, enter in the name of the project and under the project name
> > > > enter the tasks and then indent those tasks for that project. (Use the indent
> > > > button on the Formatting Toolbar.) For the next project, make sure you
> > > > outdent that project's name and indent each of its tasks under the summary
> > > > task.
> > > >
> > > > If you have an chance you may wish to view Mike Glen's[Project MVP]
> > > > Introduction to Project articles at:
> > > > http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23
> > > >
> > > > Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
> > > > Julie
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Karen" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
> > > > > steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
> > > > > below each project?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank you

I forgot to ask you something else - How does the "duration" field work?
Let's say I have a project that should be completed on January 31 - (that's
38 days from now) should I set the duration to 38 days? I'm not sure how
that field works. If not, how is that field used?

Thank you Julie

"JulieS" wrote:

> Hi Karen,
>
> Because Project is a scheduling tool the rest of the information you see in
> the line with the project title is calculated by Project and short of
> changing the text in those cells white, you cannot hide the information. You
> can hide columns (right click and choose Hide Column from the shortcut menu)
> and add other columns (right click and choose Insert Column), but Project
> will still use those hidden columns for calculations and task scheduling.
>
> For what you describe (and until you have some time to work more indepth
> with Project) you may wish to use Excel. It doesn't appear from your stated
> needs that you may need all of the power (and complications) of Project right
> now.
>
> Hope this helps and best wishes for the holidays to you too! Let us know
> how else we can help.
>
> Julie
>
> "Karen" wrote:
>
> > Thank you for your help - I have entered all my projects and my tasks as you
> > suggested - Only problem, when I enter the project title and outdent, I don't
> > want any dates or any other info in that row. I will list the tasks to that
> > project below the title and then indent the tasks. How do I get only the
> > project title and the rest of the fields in that row blank?
> > I'm just setting up a very basic project list. What I want for field titles
> > is:
> > Task Name
> > Completion Date
> > % Complete
> > Responsible Party
> > Can I set up only these fields? Do I need the duration field?
> >
> > Thanks and Happy Holidays, Karen
> > "JulieS" wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Karen,
> > >
> > > I assume you wish to enter all of the projects and their tasks into one file
> > > instead of each project being its own file.
> > > In that case, enter in the name of the project and under the project name
> > > enter the tasks and then indent those tasks for that project. (Use the indent
> > > button on the Formatting Toolbar.) For the next project, make sure you
> > > outdent that project's name and indent each of its tasks under the summary
> > > task.
> > >
> > > If you have an chance you may wish to view Mike Glen's[Project MVP]
> > > Introduction to Project articles at:
> > > http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/P...Search&AUTH=23
> > >
> > > Hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.
> > > Julie
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Karen" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have 4 projects to enter into Microsoft Project. Each project has 15-25
> > > > steps. How do I go about entering this information so that each step is
> > > > below each project?
> > > >
> > > > Thank you