Microsoft Project 2010 is very different from previous versions of Project and so people have been asking us quite a lot of questions. We'd like to share with you the answers to some of these questions:-
Why are the Auto Schedule and Manually Schedule Icons Greyed Out?
If you open a Project file from a previous version, Project 2010 opens it in Compatibility Mode. In this mode you won't be able to use some of the new Project 2010 features such as Manual Scheduling. Convert your file to Project 2010 format and these icons will be enabled.
How do I Create a Timeline?
Right click on the tasks you want added to the Timeline and select Add to Timeline. Click into the Timeline and use the icons on the Format Timeline contextual tab to re-format the timeline as required.
How Do I Automatically Update Task Dates in Project 2010?
If you are using Manual Scheduling, Project does not automatically reschedule tasks when you edit predecessor information. If you want Project 2010 to do this, you must change the task mode to Auto Scheduled by using the drop down in the Task Mode column. Alternatively, you can click on the Respect Links icon on the Task tab. This reschedules the task but keeps it manually scheduled.
How Do I Always Open Project in "Auto Schedule" Mode?
To do this, go to the File tab, select Options and then the Schedule category. In the drop down labelled “Scheduling options for this project:” select All New Projects. In the dropdown labelled “New tasks created”: select Auto Scheduled.
How Do I Change a Task’s Start and Finish Dates in Project 2010?
If a Task is Auto Scheduled, you leave Project to calculate Start and Finish dates. If you attempt to override these calculated dates, Project applies a Task Constraint based on the dates you enter. If a Task is Manually Scheduled, you can enter the Start and/or Finish dates yourself and Project schedules the task accordingly.
What If I Don’t Know How Long a Task Will Take To Complete – Do I Have to Enter a Duration?
If a task is Manually Scheduled, you can enter “To Be Decided” (tbd), or any other text into the duration field. If you also enter a Start Date or you attempt to link a Manually Scheduled task that has no duration, Project gives you a Start-Only Placeholder Gantt bar.
What If I Want My Tasks to Always "Respect Links"?
You can think of a Manually Scheduled task as being constrained by both its Start and Finish dates and therefore any adjustments to predecessor tasks will have no impact on the way its scheduled. If you want a manually scheduled task rescheduled according to its links, you must click on the “Respect Links” icon on the Task Tab. If you want your tasks to always respect links, change the Task Mode to Auto Schedule.
Can I Change the Background Colour of a Project 2010 Gantt Chart?
You can’t change the colour of a Gantt Chart background, only non-working time and gridlines.
Why Do I Get Light Blue Task Bars?
In Project 2010, for manually scheduled tasks that have a Duration but no Start or Finish dates, you get a “Placeholder” Gantt bar that has a faded, light blue appearance.
What is the Manually Scheduled Summary Task Roll-up Bar?
In Project 2010 supports “Top Down Scheduling”. This is where you define the duration of a summary task, rather than Project calculating this for you. When you enter a manually scheduled summary task, you can also choose to enter the duration you want this phase to take. If you do this, a small blue bar under the summary task bar appears. This is the roll-up of the duration of the subtasks, providing a visual way of indicating whether you have contingency time for this phase. If you change the durations of the subtasks so they take longer, the subtasks will end up exceeding the original duration of the summary phase. In this case, the roll-up bar will turn red indicating you now have a problem.
How Can I View Incomplete Tasks?
An Incomplete Task is where Percentage Completion is less than 100%. You can filter Incomplete Tasks from the View tab and the Filter dropdown.
How Can I View Critical Tasks?
Make sure you’re in Gantt Chart view and move to the Format tab (under Gantt Chart Tools). You can also view Slack by checking the Slack check box.
How do I Identify Late Tasks?
In Project 2010 it’s easy to identify Late Tasks. Make sure you’re in Gantt Chart view and move to the Format tab (under Gantt Chart Tools). Click on the Late Tasks check box.
How Can I Schedule Tasks By the Hour Rather than By the Day?
Change the default duration to hours. To do this, go to the File tab, select Options and then the Schedule category. Also, it helps to change the Timescale Units of the Gantt Chart so the Middle Tier shows days and the Bottom Tier shows hours. Double click on the Timescale at the top of the Gantt Chart to do this.
Why Won't Project 2010 Reschedule My Tasks?
If you are using Manual Scheduling, Project 2010 will not reschedule your tasks if you make changes to predecessor tasks.
How Can I Create a High Level View of My Project that I Can Show Non-Project People?
Use the Timeline View. Right click on your tasks and click on Add to Timeline.
Why Doesn't Project 2010 Calculate the Duration of Summary Tasks?
If you are using Manual Scheduling, Project will calculate the duration of Summary Tasks if you don't enter a duration yourself. As soon as you enter your own duration, Project will no longer calculate this field for you. Instead, Project gives you a roll-up bar under the summary bar which is the calculated duration. If you want Project to calculate the duration of Summary Tasks, make sure you set their Task Mode to Auto Scheduled.
How Can I View Slipping Tasks and Track Problems?
Make sure you have Set a Baseline for your original schedule. In Gantt Chart View, move to the Format Tab and click on the Baseline dropdown to display your Baseline schedule bars. You can also click on the Slippage icon to see by how much tasks have slipped from their baseline dates.
I am tryinging to find the project guide where you can ajust calenders time and working days.
Posted by: Juan G Johnson | Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Used to be easy to adjust and create calendars in the 2003 version of project. When we went into the 2007 version, when using the project guide to adjust working times and dates the project calender would default to what ever adjustments were made to the new calendar. Now I am trying to see what or where did this function (project guide) got placed? And if it works better the 2007.
Posted by: Juan G Johnson | Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 08:43 PM
How can I view Microsoft Project file without having it intalled?
Go to www.amiproject.com
Having web browser is enough to view project plan!
Posted by: Denis | Monday, April 11, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Is microsoft project 2010 powerful enough to cover manufacturing using multiple machine processes and place work hourly rated per machine? I feel that I need to give my resources (machines) more information like capacity/speed?
Posted by: Mark | Tuesday, October 04, 2011 at 09:10 PM
How do I get BCM Project Management to calculate total project % complete in the status information box. The only way i can see to do this is to average out all the percentage complete tasks and manually enter this number in.
Posted by: Gordon Jones | Friday, March 09, 2012 at 07:53 PM