Module 2: Creating and Defining Projects

Overview

1
Creating and Saving Projects

Module 2: Creating and Defining Projects

6
Setting Scheduling Options

2
Defining Options and File Properties

5
Modifying and Applying Calendars

3
Creating and Organizing the Task List

4
Importing Data

Lesson 1: Creating and Saving Projects

The Process of Creating New Projects

Demonstration: How to Create and Save New Projects

The Process of Creating New Projects

Create a new project by using one of the three methods:
From an existing template

From an existing project

From a blank project

Demonstration: How to Create and Save New Projects

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Create a new project from an existing template

Create a new project from an existing project

Create a project from a blank project

Save a new project file

Lesson 2: Defining Options and File Properties

Demonstration: Completing the Project Information Dialog Box Ramifications for Choosing the Schedule From Date Demonstration: How to Enter File Properties and Set Security Options

Demonstration: Completing the Project Information Dialog Box

Your instructor will demonstrate how to complete the Project Information dialog box
Start Date = Forward Scheduling Finish date is calculated End Date = Backward Scheduling Start date is calculated

Ramifications for Choosing the Schedule From Date

Option 1 Choose Schedule From Start Date

Ramifications

Option 2 Choose Schedule From Finish Date

Ramifications

End date will be calculated Default constraint will be ASAP

Start date will be calculated Default constraint will be ALAP

Demonstration: How to Enter File Properties and Set Security Options

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Enter file properties

Set security options

Lesson 3: Creating and Organizing the Task List

Demonstration: How to Enter, Insert, Move, and Delete Tasks What Is Change Highlighting? What Is a Milestone? Demonstration: How to Create an Outline What Is the Purpose of Work Breakdown Structure Codes? Demonstration: How to Create Custom WBS Codes and Set Outline View Options

Guidelines for Creating a Well-Formed Outline

Demonstration: How to Enter, Insert, Move, and Delete Tasks

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Enter tasks
Insert and delete tasks Rearrange tasks

What Is Change Highlighting?

Change highlighting
A new feature in Office Project 2007
Automatically highlights cells that recalculate because of a change Advantage: Visually displays the impact is on every schedule item affected

What Is a Milestone?
Indicates a major event or check point in the schedule Any task with zero duration

Used to monitor schedule progress

Demonstration: How to Create an Outline

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Display change highlighting

Indent and outdent tasks Create a multilevel outline

Enter a milestone task

What Is the Purpose of Work Breakdown Structure Codes?

WBS Codes are added to the project schedule to: Identify each tasks location in the outline structure of the project Assist with reporting and tracking Help an organization connect a task item with another process or system

Demonstration: How to Create Custom WBS Codes and Set Outline View Options
Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Define a custom WBS code structure

Generate WBS codes Show the project summary task

Guidelines for Creating a Well-Formed Outline

Consider the following:
Establish an easy to follow naming convention for tasks Include two or more subtasks for each summary task Ensure that the subtasks completely cover the work of the summary task Limit outline levels to three or four Create a completion milestone as the last subtask

Practice: Creating and Organizing the Task List

In this practice, you will create and organize a task list

Lesson 4: Importing Data

The Process of Importing Data Demonstration: How to Import Data

Guidelines for Importing Data

The Process of Importing Data

Brings in information from one software program into another software program Saves time when creating task lists in a new or existing schedule Is automated by using the Office Project 2007 Import Wizard

Demonstration: How to Import Data

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Import information from Office Excel

Use the Import Wizard Import tasks from Office Outlook

Guidelines for Importing Data

Consider the following:

Include a header row for Office Excel files (.xls)
Match data types in source and destination fields Import data, not formulas

Lesson 5: Modifying and Applying Calendars

What Is the Standard Project Calendar? Demonstration: How to Set Calendar Options and Work with the Standard Calendar Guidelines for Setting Calendar Options

What Is the Standard Project Calendar?

The Standard project calendar: Determines the schedule for tasks and resources

Is based upon the organizations working hours, working days, and nonworking days
Is the default base calendar for every project

Demonstration: How to Set Calendar Options and Work with the Standard Calendar
Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Set calendar options

Change the working hours of the default work week

Guidelines for Setting Calendar Options

Consider the following:

Make sure the hours per day and hours per week match the Standard calendar working hours Do not change fiscal year if you share schedules outside of your organization Record how many years out you have entered holidays Create additional calendars for groups of resources on unique schedules

Practice: Modifying and Applying Calendars

In this practice, you will:

Set calendar options

Set exception days

Lesson 6: Setting Scheduling Options

What Is an Assignment Unit? Demonstration: Setting Assignment Units and Schedule Options What Is Effort Driven and How Does It Work?

What Is an Assignment Unit?

An assignment unit:
Is created when a resource is assigned to a task
Represents the portion of a resource that is allocated to a specific task Is displayed as a percentage or decimal

Demonstration: Setting Assignment Units and Schedule Options

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Set assignment units

Set the schedule options

What Is Effort Driven and How Does It Work?

Effort driven is an option that determines if a task will get done in a shorter time frame if more resources are added to it

Fixed work tasks are effort driven by default, that is, selected (turned on)

Lab: Creating and Defining Projects

Exercise 1: Entering Project and File Properties Exercise 2: Setting Appropriate Schedule Options Exercise 3: Setting Corporate Holidays Exercise 4: Importing Data from Office Excel Exercise 5: Updating a Task List Exercise 6: Creating a Multilevel Outline