Computer E-Learning

Welcome to the Microsoft Project Expert Level course! Get ready to unlock even more features of Microsoft Project to get your projects running smoothly. This course will dive deep into the Project environment, using templates and fields, expert-level task and resource features, as well as the team planner, and evaluating and communicating your project needs.

This module introduces you to the Project Options dialog box. You’ll learn about customizing the user interface and display options first. On the Scheduling tab, you’ll learn about the calendar and scheduling customization. You can control proofing, saving, and language options as well. Finally, we’ll take a brief look at the many options on the Advanced tab, where you can control a number of settings for how Project works.

This module addresses a few additional items for customizing your Project environment. You can customize the Ribbon or the Quick Access Toolbar. You’ll also practice setting some common settings by setting the default task type and the default assignment unit format.

This module will help you get your new projects up and running even faster than before. You’ll learn how to create templates so that you can capture a completed project and use it repeatedly for future projects. You’ll also learn how to create a project from an existing project. This module also explores Project’s capabilities of creating project plans from other file formats. First, we’ll create a project plan from a SharePoint task list. Finally, we’ll create a project plan from a Microsoft Excel workbook.

This module introduces you to the ability to customize a field for a specific use. You’ll first lean about custom fields. Then you’ll learn the general procedure for creating a custom field. We’ll look in depth at using a lookup table and creating formulas, as well as determining graphical indicator criteria. You’ll learn how to import a custom field from another project to save time. You’ll also learn how to show that custom field once you have created it.

This module will teach you some additional ways to work with tasks. First, you’ll learn how to display the Project Summary task in order to get a high-level view of the duration, start and end dates for your project (as well as any other columns of information you may be viewing). You’ll also learn how to create milestones. If your plan needs a little tweaking, you may want to rearrange your tasks or cancel them. This module also explains how to create manually scheduled tasks. Finally, you’ll learn how to create a recurring task.

This module helps you handle resources in your projects. First, you’ll learn how to use the Assign Resources dialog box to both remove and replace a resource assignment. You’ll also learn how to manage unassigned tasks. Then, the module covers some options for resolving resource conflicts. You’ll also learn how to print a view or report of resource information.

You learn even more resource procedures in this module. We’ll talk about adding individual and multiple resources to the Enterprise Resource Pool so that you can share resources from your project with the entire organization. You’ll also learn how to export and import resource information to or from other file formats, like Microsoft Excel. Finally, you’ll learn how to view resource availability across multiple projects.

This module focuses on formatting the Team Planner view so that you can customize the way the information is shown. First, we’ll look at how to roll up tasks so that you can control the amount of detail shown on the Team Planner. Next, you’ll learn how to work with the Team Planner gridlines. You’ll also learn how to change the text styles. You can change the fill and border styles for several different types of tasks, so that you can differentiate each type of task at a glance. This module also explains how to prevent over allocations when making changes in the Team Planner view. Finally, we’ll look at how to show or hide unassigned and unscheduled tasks.

This module will help you further analyze the information that you’ve collected with your project schedule. First, you’ll learn how to review differences between planned, scheduled, and actual work. You’ll also learn how to find slack in the schedule so that you will know if tasks slip how it will affect the project schedule. This module also explains how to compare two versions of a project. Finally, we’ll look at calculating earned value analysis.

Now that you are an expert at managing your project schedule, you’ll need to know how to communicate that information. This module explains some options for communicating Project information with those who don’t have Project 2010. You’ll learn the specific procedures for copying a GIF image of your plan, publishing your project to a SharePoint list, attaching documents and including hyperlinks with your project. You’ll also learn how to print a view based on a specific date range.

Although this workshop is coming to a close, we hope that your journey to improve your Project 2010 skills is just beginning. Please take a moment to review and update your action plan. This will be a key tool to guide your progress in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We wish you the best of luck on the rest of your travels!