Call Us Today! 1-800-895-3254
[email protected]
Microsoft Training
Integent offers a comprehensive portfolio of training services, with an ideal fit for every organization. Ranging from general courses to custom solutions, we have you covered.
Learn About TrainingSee Full list of Courses
Microsoft Consulting
Integent provides consulting services for a variety of Microsoft applications including Microsoft Project, Project Online, Project for the Web, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft SharePoint.
Learn About Consulting
Microsoft Support
Microsoft technologies set the standard for project portfolio management, business applications, collaboration, and more. Integent has flexible solutions to support every customer.
Learn About Support
Microsoft Project
Integent has the knowledge and experience to help design and deploy a solution to help your organization manage projects and resources more effectively
Learn More About Microsoft Project
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Integent can help you nsure business continuity with a custom cloud solution that connects sales, service, finance, and operations teams to deliver results.
Learn More About Dynamics 365
Microsoft SharePoint
SharePoint is Microsoft’s collaboration platform that is a place where team members can communicate, exchange data, share files and much more.
Learn More About Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Power Platform
Consisting of Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate and Power Virtual Agents, the Microsoft Power Platform helps streamline and improve business functions.
Learn More About The Power Platform
About Integent
Integent was founded in 2009 on the principles of building long-lasting relationships with customers, exceeding expectations, and providing outstanding customer service. 

We’re dedicated to providing a customized solution backed by our knowledgeable team of Microsoft experts.
Discover What Makes Us Different
GSA Schedule
Integent is GSA Schedule Contract holder. A GSA schedule helps simplify selling our services to government customers.
Read More Here
News
Stay informed on Integent’s latest company updates and other important industry information. Our passion is customer success.
Read The Latest News
Videos
Learning new software doesn’t have to be difficult with our library of dozens of free training videos. Our video training always has something new.
Browse Our Training Video Library
Blog
Our industry experts share best practices and common pitfalls to avoid, in order to get the most out of your technology solutions.
Discover More

August 29, 2019

Microsoft Project Training: Lesson 01 - Getting Started, Topic 01 - Explore Project Interface

In this topic, Explore the Project Interface, we will review the various areas of the Microsoft Project scheduling tool that you will become familiar with as we work together through the various modules and topics of this course.

The Project Interface

The Start screen

Upon launching Microsoft Project, the Start screen is displayed. From here you can open an existing plan, create a new one, start a project from a template, and more. You can create a new, blank project by clicking the Blank Project option.

The Microsoft Project Start screen includes many options for creating new projects, opening existing projects, and accessing other parts of the program to set options.

  • Blank Project: This option would be chosen if you want to start from a blank project. In this case you would specify all the options for your project including tasks, dependencies, etc.
  • New from existing project - This is a great option to use if you want to start your project from an existing project that is like the one you will be creating.
  • New from an Excel workbook – Use this option if you have your tasks in Excel and would like to import them into Microsoft Project.
  • SharePoint tasks lists – create a project plan using SharePoint Task lists that were created in SharePoint
  • Templates – Microsoft templates are available as well as a search box for additional templates without having to open a web browser
    Searching for a template

In addition to these options you probably noticed that there are many templates available from Office.com. These templates are all available for free from Microsoft. There is also a Search function and a category side pane allowing you to search through hundreds of available template to find exactly what you are looking for.

Creating a New Project from a Template

Templates may also be created and saved to standardize project schedules. They may contain a work breakdown structure, duration and work estimates, and generic resources. Templates are a great way to help implement standardization across the organization which helps enable consistent reporting. Templates also help project managers new to the organization adapt quicker by utilizing templates. To create a project from an Office.com template, click the icon for the template you wish to use.

The Project Screen

The major parts of the Project screen are noted below. What you see may differ depending on your screen resolution and what customizations have been made to your Project ribbons.

  • Quick Access Toolbar - Customizable, add your frequently used commands
  • The Tell Me box - helps to quickly find help about a Project command.
  • The Ribbon - contains commands used to perform actions & functions in Project.
  • Groups - are collections of related commands.
  • Commands - are specific features to perform actions.
  • Screen tips - provide short explanations of commands and other items in Project.
  • Active View - is displayed in the main Project window.
  • The view label - appears along the left edge of the active view.
  • Status Bar - displays important details, like scheduling mode of new task.
  • View shortcuts - used to quickly switch between recently used views & reports.
  • The Zoom Slider - zooms the active view in or out.
  • Shortcut menus - appear when you right-click an item.

The Backstage view

The Backstage view contains customization and sharing options that apply to the entire plan. The options for the Backstage view are on tabs that appear along the left edge of the Backstage window.

  • Info Page – access to organizer, feature used to share custom elements between plans
  • New Page – displays options for creating a new plan from scratch or based on a template.
  • Open, Save, Save As and Close are standard file-management commands.
  • Print Page includes options for printing a plan.
  • Share Page includes options for Microsoft SharePoint Synchronization and attaching a plan to an email message.
  • Export Page includes options for generating a copy of the plan in PDF, XML of Paper Specification (XPS) format.
  • The Account Page displays connected services and information about Project, such as version information.

Clicking Options opens the Project Options dialog. This dialog box itself contains several pages through which you can adjust a wide range of default settings.

Navigating the Ribbon

The most common commands in Microsoft Project are accessible from the ribbon. The ribbon is divided into tabs that contain commands that are logically grouped.

The Task Ribbon

The Task ribbon contains task centric commands. This includes adding, formatting, and managing tasks within a project.

Note: If you hover over a command a Screen Tip will appear describing what function the command performs.

The Resource Ribbon

The Resource ribbon contains commands related to managing resources within a project. Common commands include, adding resources, assigning resources, and leveling resources.

The Project Ribbon

The Project ribbon provides options for defining project properties, rescheduling work and baselining the project.

The View Ribbon

The View ribbon contains the viewing options available in Microsoft Project. Change the view from this ribbon to display different data, filter, Group by and expand/collapse the outline to change how the data is presented. Modify the timescale on the Gantt chart and create a split view from this ribbon as well.

The Format Ribbon

The Format ribbon provides a variety of formatting options. This ribbon will dynamically change based on the view you are currently in. It is also where the Project Summary Task can be set to display as well as outline numbers for the work breakdown structure.

© Copyright 2023 | Integent.com | All Rights Reserved
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram