Microsoft Project 2010

What is Task Mode?

Task Mode in the Entry Form of your Gantt Chart:

Manually Schedule- This is on by default and it gives the user flexibility when scheduling tasks. This allows you to enter duration, start and end dates with greater granularity. Project will not change any dates automatically but it will warn you of potential issues.

Automatically Schedule- Note that this is not on by default for each task but it behaves accordingly with the predecessor, constraints and calendars. It does not allow you to move tasks on the Gantt Chart flexibly as it is based on calculations based on the three mentioned variables.

We recommend that you start scheduling your project plans with Manual Scheduling and once you have come to a satisfied level of planning within your Gantt Chart you should then change this to Automatically Schedule so that you are able to level your resources. If you keep Manual Scheduling on, then you will not be able to level your Time Phased Grid in the Task Usage or Resource Usage views.

Microsoft Project 2010

Active and Inactive Tasks

Microsoft Project 2010 has a new feature called Active and Inactive Tasks: 

Active Tasks- This is when a task is live and does take effect on the project plan i.e. costs calculate and predecessors take effect. 

Inactive Tasks- Tasks which are not live and are the costs are not calculated and the predecessors do not take effect i.e. they have no affect on the project unless re-activated. 

This is a powerful feature and can be used when planning, budgeting and resourcing. 

How to use Inactive Tasks feature in Microsoft Project 2010: 

>Create a Task 

>Double click the task on the Gantt Chart view: Task Entry sheet 

>Now in the General tab check the box labelled Inactive and then click > OK 

You should now notice that the Gantt bar and task name is greyed out. This means that the

task is inactive.

Are you finding it difficult to adapt to the new layout of Microsoft Project 2010? Well here at Acumen EPM we have those vital tips to make MS Project 2010 become easier.

So where was the “Options Dialogue Box” in MS Project 2007 ?

On the Standard tool Bar “Tools”> “Options”

Where is it in MS Project 2010?

On the Standard tool bar “Files”> “Options”

You will notice the similarities in MS Project 2010, but the location of the dialogue boxes may have changed. The "Options Dialogue Box" is also now called the "Project Options Dialogue Box"

The "Project Options Dialogue Box" is where you can change the default settings to your project plans such as "Calendars", "Currency" and many other settings. 

Microsoft Project 2010 blogs!

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