Lesson1.13.Using the Project Guide

Lesson 1.13. Using the Project Guide

Figure 1-14. A new project file with the Project Guide displayed.

A new feature introduced in Project 2002, and probably the most helpful feature for beginners, is the Project Guide (as shown in Figure 1-14). The Project Guide is like an advanced wizard that guides you through each step in creating a project: entering tasks and resources, recording progress, reporting project status, and so on. The Project Guide appears whenever you create a new project file, but you can turn the Project Guide off once you are more familiar with how to build a project.

There are two ways to use the Project Guide:

• Project Guide toolbar: This toolbar provides access to instructions and wizards in each of four basic project elements: Tasks, Resources, Track, and Report.

• Project Guide task pane: The task pane contains a list of tasks for each basic project element, and provides the necessary instructions and wizards to help you accomplish those tasks.

In this lesson, we will explore the Project Guide.

1. If you can't see the Project Guide task pane, click the Show/Hide Project Guide button on the Project Guide toolbar.

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   Tip: To view or hide the Project Guide toolbar, select View

   The Project Guide task pane displays the steps for working with tasks.

   Let's try a step in the Tasks category.

2. Click the Define general working times link in the Project Guide task pane.

   The first step in defining the project's working times appears.

   Notice that there are two arrows at the top of the guide, which you can use to progress between steps in the wizard. If you were actually creating a project, you would just follow the arrows.

   If you know the exact step you want help with, you can quickly access it from the Project Guide toolbar.

3. Click the Resources button list arrow on the Project Guide toolbar.

   A list of all the steps available in the Resources category of the Project Guide appears.

4. Select Specify people and equipment for the project from the list.

   The options for entering resources appear in the task pane. Also, notice that the view changes from Gantt Chart to Simple Resource Sheet. The Project Guide recognizes the action being performedin this case, entering resourcesand changes the view to accommodate the steps.

   If the task pane is taking up too much room, you can close it and work only from the Project Guide toolbar.

5. Click the Show/Hide Project Guide button on the Project Guide toolbar.

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   Tip: To turn off the Project Guide, select Tools Interface tab, and uncheck the Display Project Guide checkbox.

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   The task pane disappears.

   One of the great advantages of the Project Guide is that even if you know how to create a project, you can still use the Project Guide to view the different methods or options available to perform a step. Refer to Table 1-9 for a listing of the steps that the Project Guide covers.

Table 1-9. Project Guide Steps

Tasks
Define the project	Link to or attach more task information
Define general working times	Add columns of custom information
List the tasks in the project	Set deadlines and constrain tasks
Organize tasks into phases	Add documents to the project
Schedule tasks	Publish project information to the Web
Resources
Specify people and equipment for the project	Link to or attach more resource information
Define working times for resources	Add columns of custom information
Assign people and equipment to tasks	Publish project information to the Web
Track
Save a baseline plan to compare with later versions	Prepare to track the progress of your project
Incorporate progress information into the project	Check the progress of the project
Make changes to the project	Track issues associated with this project
Request text-based status reports	Publish project information to the Web
Report
Select a view or report	Change the content or order of information in a view
Change the look or content of the Gantt Chart	Print current view as a report (new feature in Project 2003)
Compare progress against baseline work	See the project's critical tasks
See how resources' time is allocated	See project costs

QUICK REFERENCE

TO VIEW THE PROJECT GUIDE TOOLBAR:

• SELECT VIEW TO USE THE PROJECT GUIDE:

  1. ON THE PROJECT GUIDE TOOLBAR, CLICK THE CATEGORY BUTTON YOU WANT TO WORK ON.

  2. CLICK THE LINK TO THE STEP YOU WANT TO COMPLETE IN THE PROJECT.

  3. FOLLOW THE PROJECT GUIDE'S INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPLETE THE SETUP.

     OR...

     CLICK ANY BUTTON LIST ARROW ON THE PROJECT GUIDE TOOLBAR AND SELECT THE STEP YOU WANT TO COMPLETE.

  TO TURN OFF THE PROJECT GUIDE:

  • SELECT TOOLS INTERFACE TAB AND UNCHECK THE DISPLAY PROJECT GUIDE CHECKBOX.