{"id":7387,"date":"2024-05-09T10:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T08:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/?p=7387"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:23:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T15:23:07","slug":"ms-project-tutorial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/ms-project-tutorial\/","title":{"rendered":"MS Project Tutorial \u2013 11 Steps to Your Perfect Project Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you a Microsoft Project beginner? In this case, this MS Project Tutorial<\/strong> is just the right reading for you. In 11 simple steps, you will get to know the most important MS Project basics for creating your project plan.<\/p>\n

Plus, importantly, you will avoid typical pitfalls right from the start \u2013 things that often make new users worry, become uncertain and waste time. Our MS Project tutorial ensures that this will not happen to you! In the future you may be ready to scale from single projects to portfolio oversight, integrate your MS Project plans with PPM project tools<\/a> and then benefit from aggregated data, building executive dashboards, and aligning work with portfolio priorities.<\/p>\n

You can also download this article as a PDF in the first chapter of this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

MS Project Tutorial \u2013 11 Steps at a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Define the project start<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Define the task mode<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Create tasks<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Structure project tasks<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Enter task duration and milestones<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Link tasks<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Define resources<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Assign resources<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Use deadlines instead of task constraints<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Set baseline<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. Show project summary task<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Step 1: Define the Project Start<\/h2>\n

    After creating your project, you start with Step 1 of our MS Project Tutorial \u2013 with entering the start date. This is particularly important, as MS Project sets the start of all newly created tasks to the project start date by default. Effectively, this means that: the calculation of the entire project is based on the project start date.<\/p>\n

    As an alternative, you can enter the project finish date. In this case, MS Project automatically calculates the project start date.<\/p>\n

    Please note:<\/strong> In general, you should not use the calculation of the project finish date during the course of the project. As a matter of fact, delays can have the effect of moving unfinished tasks to the past.<\/p>\n

    In an early planning phase, however, it can make sense to set up planning with the calculation of the finish date. This allows you to calculate a theoretical start date and thus get valuable information on when to start the project. However, the calculation will not include a buffer. Therefore, you should subsequently go back to calculating from the project start date and set a deadline (see Step 9<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    Note:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    When calculating the project start date, all tasks start as early as possible. Thus, the earliest possible finish date for the project is calculated (forward calculation).<\/p>\n

    When calculating the project finish date, all tasks start as late as possible. Thus, the latest possible start date for the project is calculated (backward calculation).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    To set the project start date in Microsoft Project, proceed as follows:<\/p>\n

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    1. Create a project or open an existing project.<\/li>\n
    2. Open the Project<\/em> tab.<\/li>\n
    3. Activate the Project Information<\/em> button.<\/li>\n
    4. Select a date in the Start date<\/em> field or enter the date manually.<\/li>\n
    5. Confirm with OK<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      Figure: Opening the Project Information and setting the project start date<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      If there are existing tasks in your project plan, the tasks without a linked predecessor are set to the project start date.<\/p>\n

      Below, you can download a PDF of the article:<\/p>\n

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      Free PDF Download: <\/strong> MS Project Tutorial \u2013 11 Steps to Your Perfect MS Project Plan<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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      Are you a MS Project beginner? In this case, this Tutorial is just the right reading for you. In 11 simple steps, you will get to know the most important MS Project basics for creating your project plan. Please fill in the form to download.
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