Lesson 1.7. Creating a New Project Figure 1-7. The New Project task pane Once you have your project all planned out, you can begin entering it in a new file. Project automatically opens to a new file, but you don't have to re-open the program every time you want to start a new file. This lesson shows you all you need to know about opening a new file. For now, concentrate on creating a new Blank Project file. Select File Tip: Another way to open a new project file is to click the New button on the Standard toolbar, or press Ctrl + N.
The New Project task pane appears, as shown in Figure 1-7. Here you can open a blank project, choose a project template, or open an existing project. Click the Blank Project link in the New Project task pane. The new Project file appears on the screen, along with the Project Guide. If you want, just follow along with the instructions to begin creating the project. Table 1-7 is a suggestion of steps to take when starting a new project file. Not all of them are necessary, depending on the size and scope of your project. Don't worry if you don't know how to do some of these things; just keep following along in the book, and you'll learn eventually.
Note: The Project Guide is a useful resource to use when creating your project. Follow its steps to set up and create your project.
Table 1-7. Starting a Project FileStep | Description |
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Create a Project file | The first step in creating your project is to open the file you will use throughout your project. You can start a new file, or you can base your new file on an existing file or template. | Enter the Project Scheduling Date | Enter the start or finish date of the project. It's easiest to schedule tasks from the start date. | Enter project properties | Optional: File properties, such as the project title or the company name, can help you and others in the organization identify and locate your file in the future. | Link or store project-related documents in Project | Optional: After you have created a file, attach your project's planning-related documents to it so they are easy to access. | Select the Project Calendar | The Project Calendar defines the working time for tasks and resources in the project. | Set the working time for the Project Calendar | You may need to change the working days and hours for your Project Calendar. In Microsoft Project, the default working time is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (allotting an hour for lunch). You can change working hours for all working days, specific days (such as every Thursday), or certain dates such as holidays or vacation days. |
One of the more difficult aspects of Project is understanding the terminology of all the items in the program. Refer to Table 1-8 for a brief list of common terms that will help you understand the different parts of a project. Table 1-8. Project Terms and DefinitionsTerm | Definition |
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Task | An activity that has a beginning and an end. Projects are made up of tasks. | Resource | The people, equipment, and material used to complete tasks in a project. | Working Time | Hours designated in a Resource or Project Calendar during which work can occur. | Calendar | The scheduling mechanism that determines working time for resources and tasks. The three calendars you will probably work with most often are: Use the available base calendars as templates for the calendars you use in your project. | Baseline | A snapshot of the project schedule at the time you save the baseline. | Cost | The total cost for a task, resource, or assignment. A baseline cost is referred to as the project's budget. | Report | A format in which you can print the status of the project that is appropriate for the intended audience. | Assignment | A specific resource assigned to a specific task. |
QUICK REFERENCE TO CREATE A NEW PROJECT: SELECT FILE CLICK BLANK PROJECT IN THE TASK PANE. OR... CLICK THE NEW BUTTON. OR... PRESS CTRL + N.
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