1. The Basics of
Microsoft Project
André Sanz
…or how to avoid using Excel to manage a
project schedule..!
Step 1: Creating & Assigning a Project calendar

2. Agenda
The Basics of Microsoft Project
 Creating & Assigning a Project calendar
 Defining basic Project information
 Loading Project resources
 Creating a top-level WBS (Summary Tasks)
 Loading each top-level WBS (Subtasks)
 Task Types, Durations & Predecessors
 Filtering & Reports

3. Disclaimer (…and pet peeve)
The Basics of Microsoft Project
 This presentation is based on Microsoft
Project 2010 (14.0.6129.5000)
 Location of referenced items in other versions of
Microsoft Project may be different
 The output of Microsoft Project (typically a
Gantt chart) is a Project schedule; A
Project plan is:
...a formal, approved document used to guide both project execution
and project control. The primary uses of the project plan are to
document planning assumptions and decisions, facilitate
communication among stakeholders, and document approved scope,
cost, and schedule baselines.

4. Creating & Assigning a Project
Calendar

5. Creating a Project Calendar
The Basics of Microsoft Project
 A Project Calendar allows you to
account for known, common periods of
non-working time
 It doesn’t account for individual vacation
or sick days (and shouldn't be used for
that)
 Allows you to schedule a project
knowing that these day(s) are
accounted for
 Set it and forget it

6. Creating a Project Calendar
The Basics of Microsoft Project
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 Select Project tab,
then Change
Working Time
Click on Create New
Calendar… 
 Give the Calendar
a name and click OK

7. Creating a Project Calendar
The Basics of Microsoft Project
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Select your newly-
created calendar
from the drop down
list, and begin
entering the non-
working times 
Select OK when
finished

8. Assigning a Project Calendar
The Basics of Microsoft Project
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Select your newly-
created calendar from
the drop down list 
Select OK when
finished
 Select Project tab,
then Project
Information
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