Datasheet

28
Part I: Setting the Stage for Project
You start building a project by entering tasks. Simply click a cell in the Task
Name column of the sheet section and then type the name. You can enter and
edit details of a task by entering information directly into various columns
(which you can display in many views) or by double-clicking the task name
in the sheet to access the Task Information dialog box (see Figure 1-13). I get
into more detail about entering task information in Chapter 2.
Figure 1-13:
The vari-
ous tabs in
this dialog
box hold a
wealth of
information
about a
single task
in your
project.
Starting with templates
Reinventing the wheel has never been one of my favorite sports, so I’m grate-
ful that Microsoft provides some convenient project templates through the
online site Office.com. These include projects by type, for example, an engi-
neering project or office move. Templates already have many tasks appropri-
ate to the task type created for you.
Templates typically contain sample tasks broken into logical phases, with
task durations and dependencies in place. The templates from Microsoft
often include resources, but you can create your own resources as well as
use, edit, or delete the ones provided.
You can open a template from the Backstage view, a new location in Project
2010 where you create and manage Project files. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Choose File➪New.
The Available Templates screen appears, as shown in Figure 1-14.
2. Click the a category icon in the Office.com Templates section, then
click a category icon if necessary. Or, click More Templates and
then click a category.
The templates in that category appear.
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