Let's look at the different parts that make up the user interface of Project 2003. Again, it is important for you to become familiar with how Project lays things out onscreen. When you are managing your projects, the faster you can find a command, button, or other element, the quicker you can do the real work of managing the project.
Menu bar ” Although the toolbars give you access to many of the most commonly used commands, the Menu bar is where you find all the other commands. They are laid out in a way common to all the other Microsoft Office applications, and generally conform to these other apps. Finding commands is easier if you have a background with these other applications, but you should still look around and explore.
Toolbars ” Toolbars are quick shortcuts to getting at the commands you use the most. You can show or hide as many of the toolbars as you like, depending on your preference. I tend to prefer to show as few as possible to make more room for the view to display information.
Table (also called a sheet) ” This is the section of the user interface that shows you most of the data about your tasks and resources. Later in the book, we will discuss creating different tables that allow for the display of data that is specific to a particular need.
Column headers (fields) ” Fields allow you to control which pieces of information your tables show.
Chart area ” This is the main graphical area of Project 2003. This is where the Gantt chart will be displayed for Gantt Chart views and where the timephased data will be shown for Usage views.
Timescale(s) ” This is where you view and control how Project displays time-based information. You can zoom in or out to display larger or smaller sections of time as your needs change.
View bar ” The View bar is to views what toolbars are to commands. It is a place to quickly get to the views that you use most commonly.
Status bar ” The Status bar is used to display information about what Project is doing. For example, when closing and saving a project, Project 2003 will display the status of the save in the Status bar.
Did You Know?
You can show or hide toolbars . Show toolbars by right-clicking on any visible toolbar and then selecting the toolbar you want to show from the menu. You can hide visible toolbars in the same way.
Although the toolbars give you access to many of the most commonly used commands, the Menu bar is where you find all the other commands. They are laid out in a way common to all the other Microsoft Office applications, and generally conform to these other apps. Finding commands is easier if you have a background with these other applications, but you should still look around and explore. 
Toolbars are quick shortcuts to getting at the commands you use the most. You can show or hide as many of the toolbars as you like, depending on your preference. I tend to prefer to show as few as possible to make more room for the view to display information. 
This is the section of the user interface that shows you most of the data about your tasks and resources. Later in the book, we will discuss creating different tables that allow for the display of data that is specific to a particular need. 
Fields allow you to control which pieces of information your tables show. 
This is the main graphical area of Project 2003. This is where the Gantt chart will be displayed for Gantt Chart views and where the timephased data will be shown for Usage views. 
This is where you view and control how Project displays time-based information. You can zoom in or out to display larger or smaller sections of time as your needs change. 
The View bar is to views what toolbars are to commands. It is a place to quickly get to the views that you use most commonly. 
The Status bar is used to display information about what Project is doing. For example, when closing and saving a project, Project 2003 will display the status of the save in the Status bar. 