Course Overview and Objectives

This course covers everything that you need to know to start building project schedules. This course should take you approximately 16 hours to complete.

You will learn how to build a project schedule from the ground up, just like you would need to do in the real world. we will teach you using a structured process that starts with setting up the Microsoft Project file. We will then move into creating tasks, configuring calendars, applying lags, setting date constraints and deadlines, baselining the schedule, and recording progress.

By the end of the course, you will be prepared to confidently work with teams to build and manage project schedules with ease!

As part of this course you will learn the following:

Setting up the Project File

• Modify file settings
• Hide and unhide the Timeline
• Customize the Quick Access Toolbar
• Set the Project Start Date

Working with fields in Microsoft Project

• Describe what fields can do for us in Microsoft Project
• Add and remove fields from your Microsoft Project view
• Modify field characteristics
• Create custom fields
• Create a Schedule Data Dictionary

Working with Schedule Elements (Tasks, Summary Tasks, and Milestones)

• Explain the difference between a Task, Summary Task, and Milestone
• Explain proper Task, Summary Task, and Milestone naming convention
• Create Tasks, Summary Tasks, and Milestones
• Delete Tasks, Summary Tasks, and Milestones
• Indent and Outdent Tasks
• Add notes to Tasks

Create Task Relationships

• Explain what a dynamic schedule is
• List the 4 types of task relationships
• Identify which type of task relationship should most commonly be used
• Assign task relationships in Microsoft Project
• Describe the concept of Perspective
• Describe what a Dangling Task is

How to Navigate the Schedule

• Expand and collapse the schedule
• Apply and clear AutoFilters
• Apply and clear built-in Filters
• Remove the Summary Task structure of the schedule
• Sort the schedule

View Tasks in the Gantt Chart

• Scroll the Gantt to view one or more selected tasks
• Zoom the Gantt on one or more selected tasks
• Zoom the Gantt to view all the project tasks
• Manually configure the Gantt Timescale

Calendars

• Identify the different types of calendars
• Create a new calendar
• Add holidays and other non-working periods to a calendar
• Change working days
• Assign a calendar as the Project Calendar
• Assign a calendar as a Task Calendar

Leads and Lags

• Define Lags
• Define Leads
• Describe when they should be used
• Describe alternative solutions to using Leads and Lags
• Add a Lag to a task relationship

Date Constraints and Deadlines

• Identify the types of Date Constraints
• Describe the difference between a Hard Constraint and a Soft Constraint
• Apply a Date Constraint to a task
• Apply a Deadline to a task

The Schedule Baseline

• Explain what the schedule baseline is
• Set the schedule baseline
• Identify the different types of Date and Duration fields that we will use to manage our schedule
• Explain what a Schedule Variance is

Total Slack, the Critical Path, and Critical Tasks

• Define Total Slack
• Explain how Deadlines and Date Constraints affect Total Slack
• Explain how to use Total Slack to manage the schedule
• Define Critical Tasks
• Define the Critical Path
• Explain how Critical Tasks and the Critical Path are different

Working with Fields in Microsoft Project Part 2

• Use Custom Fields effectively
• Use the Formula function of Custom Fields
• Use the Lookup function of Custom Fields
• Use the Rollup function of Custom Fields

Statusing the Schedule

• Explain the statusing process
• Status the schedule using the standard method
• Status the schedule using the simplified method
• Review updated schedule forecasts
• Identify schedule changes and areas that need our attention

Other Microsoft Project Topics

• Add a Milestone Section to the top of the schedule
• Print the project schedule
• Modify the legend on printouts
• Customize the Gantt Gridlines

Technical Requirements

For the best learning experience, we recommend using Google Chrome (v45 or higher) or Mozilla Firefox (v48 or higher) web browsers. 

A computer with Microsoft Project 2010 or newer (Standard or Professional) 

If you do not have Microsoft Project , you can purchase it at our preferred vendor Indigo Software

Web-Based Course Materials

You will find 31 practical application exercises throughout the course. Each exercise builds off of the previous exercise.

As you move through the course, you have two options on how you can work through the exercises.

• Option 1: Build and maintain a schedule file as you progress through the course. Each lesson builds off the previous lesson so you will be able to work through most of the course using a single exercise file that you can continue to build and use as you progress through the lessons and exercises.
• Option 2: Use the provided exercise files found in each practical application exercise. Each exercise includes all necessary files that are required to perform the exercise.

We recommend that you build the schedule file as you progress through the course. This will help you get a better feel for what it is really like to build a project schedule from scratch. Use the provided exercise files later on if you are coming back to review a specific lesson or if you want to start from a known good starting point.

Earning Education Points for this Course

While my training courses are not accredited, this is still a technical training course which means that you can claim credits toward maintaining most project management certifications. In fact, most organizations will grant you up to 16 education units for completing this training provided the course relates to your certification.

For example, if you are a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate holder, you can self declare 16 PDUs toward maintaining your PMP certification once you successfully complete the course and earn your completion certificate.