Microsoft Office Training Project – why use it? Plus some hints and tips!

Microsoft Office Training Project – Why should you use Project instead of another package?

Project is not part of the standard Office package but is part of the Microsoft suite of main line business applications.
It is a very useful tool that can be used for project planning and scheduling and so “runs rings” around Excel in this area.

Project isn’t a particularly easy package to train yourself in from scratch as there are a number of key initial steps that you need to do before you can create your plan; unlike Excel and Word where you can pick up some basic skills in these packages without training.

If you are ever involved with any of the following areas, Project could be just the package for you:

  • Responsible for the success of projects going in on time
  • Managing people and projects (big or small)
  • Involved with scheduling of tasks of any kind
  • Managing a set of tasks which are time or cost or resource dependent
  • Want to be work smarter and neater for control of your work tasks

Excel has no scheduling capabilities for tasks, resources or costs and Outlook Tasks are very basic and do not offer the same kind of analyses and so in these areas especially, Project offers much more in the creation of your plans.

Take a look below at some hints and tips that are found in our Project courses.

 

Five features to do first in Microsoft Project!

Before you start to build your project plan, always begin with the following set up activities:

  1. Set a start date
  2. Set working hours
  3. Turn on auto scheduling
  4. Setup working time and calendars
  5. Switch on auto link on options

 

Creating links from Project to Excel

If you create a project plan in MS Project then you can export it to Excel so at least those without MS Project can see a basic outline of your tasks and resources and dates.

To find out more on Microsoft Office Training Project and about the 2 day MS Project course we offer, please contact us on johnlegge@jplcomputer.co.uk or browse our website for course content.

 

Why not take a look at our previous post on symbols in Excel?