Customize the quick command bar in Microsoft Project by adding, removing, and reordering commands; place it above or below the ribbon for faster access, introduced in Office 2007.

Learn how to manage the recently used file list in Microsoft Project 2010 by pinning items, removing entries, and adjusting how many projects appear on the left or middle panels.

Set project information in advanced properties using the summary tab to define the title, author or manager, and company, plus keywords for search and Gantt chart printing.

Set and adjust the project start date in Microsoft Project 2010 by planning forward, with options to schedule from start or finish, and to adjust calendars and priorities.

Add a new task in Microsoft Project 2010, choose manual or automatic scheduling, set durations in minutes to months, and let the project determine the task's start and finish dates.

Import tasks from Outlook into Microsoft Project 2010 with a one-click dialog, bringing start dates, durations, and notes into the project. Then build relationships to drive the schedule.

Insert zero-duration milestone tasks at the end of planning and preparation phases, marking them with diamonds on the Gantt chart.

Set estimated and elapsed duration tasks in Microsoft Project 2010, using question marks or task information to mark uncertainty and align scheduling with working time and elapsed time.

Master moving and deleting tasks in Microsoft Project 2010, using drag-and-drop, cut and paste, or right-click, with undo support to rearrange tasks across phases for a cleaner project plan.

Mark a task as inactive in Microsoft Project 2010 using the inactivate option on the task ribbon to grey out and strike through, noting effects on predecessors and project plan.

Change the task priority value in Microsoft Project 2010 by accessing task information. Adjust from 0 to 1000 with a default of 500 for grouping, sorting, and resource allocation.

Learn to add and format task notes in Microsoft Project 2010 using the notes tab in the task information box, including post-it notes, bullets, color, and alignment.

Attach external files to a task in Microsoft Project 2010 using insert object, choosing link or embed to control updates and file size, with attachments shown as icons in notes.

Enable the project summary task from the format ribbon to create a top-level project overview, edit the title and notes in task information or properties, and toggle its display.

Explore five methods to link tasks in microsoft project 2010: drag-and-drop, using the link icon, Ctrl shortcut, typing predecessor IDs, and task information, all to create finished-to-start timelines and milestones.

Explore four link types in Microsoft Project 2010—finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, and start-to-finish—and learn how to set predecessors, with finish-to-start as the default.

Learn to add lag or lead time to task links in Microsoft Project 2010, using finish-to-start and other relationships with elapsed days or percentage and set times.

Jump to an exact date or task ID on the Gantt chart with the F5 goto dialog, and use scrollbars to view dates and tasks in large projects.

Display the current task in the Gantt chart and quickly bring any task into view with a click or go-to date, using the keyboard shortcut for navigation on large projects.

Sort project tasks by id, name, duration, start or finish date using column drop-downs, explore ascending/descending orders, and apply 3-field sorting for primary, secondary, and tertiary fields.

Learn to group tasks in Microsoft Project 2010 by duration, priority, or active vs inactive status, switch groupings on the view tab, and revert to no grouping for sorting.

Learn how deadlines appear as markers on the Gantt chart and how constraint types: finish no later than, must finish on, start no earlier shape task scheduling and project timelines.

Remove an unwanted or accidental constraint by changing the task constraint type to as soon as possible in the advanced tab, letting the task be controlled by its predecessors.

Explore calendar view in project, switch from Gantt Chart, use task ribbon, zoom with the control key and wheel, and adjust date range to see milestones and tasks across weeks.

Open the network diagram view to visualize the flow of work, with tasks, milestones, and summary tasks, and identify critical tasks that affect the final outcome.

Explore the task inspector in Microsoft Project 2010 to view task details, toggle warnings and suggestions, and diagnose scheduling issues, including manual versus auto scheduling and repairing links.

Learn how Microsoft Project identifies the critical path by flagging tasks with no slack, whose delays shift the project date, and how to display them (in red) for action.

Identify and visualize the critical path in Microsoft Project 2010 using the gantt chart in detail, the network diagram, and filtering, then highlight critical tasks to manage project risk.

Add a material resource in the resource sheet by selecting material type, naming the resource, and setting units, standard rate, cost per use, and resource IDs and reference codes.

Learn to add a new cost resource type in the resource sheet, set its cost type, and assign it to tasks; distinguish fixed from non-fixed costs.

Learn to add and view notes for resources in the resource sheet using the resource information box, notes tab, and hover previews, including attaching files and linking to Excel spreadsheets.

Learn to manage varying costs for a work resource in Microsoft Project 2010 by applying standard, overtime rates, and cost tables with effective dates.

Learn to group resources in Microsoft Project 2010 to streamline costings and daily budget views. Create consistent group names, filter by tradesmen like plumbers and carpenters, and refine allocations.

Explore three methods to allocate material resources to tasks in Microsoft Project 2010: resource name column, task information (resources), and assign resources dialog for material costs.

Use the split screen method to assign resources in Microsoft Project 2010. The upper pane shows the Gantt chart and data entry table, the lower pane displays task information.

Allocate cost type resources to a task in Microsoft Project 2010 using the floating assign resources box, the cost table, and the resources tab to enter sundry costs.

Learn when to use effort driven tasks in Microsoft Project 2010. See how duration, work, and cost change as you toggle effort driven on or off.

Spot over allocation by checking the resource sheet, resource usage, and red indicators in the Gantt chart. Resolve by adjusting task relationships, dates, or adding resources to level the project.

Learn to detect and resolve over allocations in Microsoft Project 2010 with manual resource leveling, choosing between leveling the entire project or specific days.

Learn how to resolve resource over allocation by assigning overtime to a specific task in Microsoft Project 2010, adjusting work hours, costs, and visibility in the Gantt chart.

View and analyze the project costs in Microsoft Project 2010, using the cost table and splits to break down total cost by task and monitor spending.

Alter the working time defaults for a project, preferably a new one, to avoid effects on existing tasks; adjust hours per day, hours per week, and the default calendar.

Alter the project base calendar in Microsoft Project 2010 using change working time, adjust working weeks and days, and understand how these times affect task and resource availability.

Learn to modify the standard calendar for a project file by changing working times, adding holiday exceptions, and configuring recurring non-working periods that affect resources and tasks.

Learn how to alter project calendars and individual work resource calendars in Microsoft Project 2010, applying changing working times and exceptions to manage availability, holidays, and task scheduling.

Create recurring absence patterns in Microsoft Project 2010 to affect standard and work resource calendars. Configure exceptions for holidays and patterns like the first Monday of May to streamline scheduling.

Create a brand new calendar or copy an existing one in Microsoft Project 2010, then apply exceptions and assign the calendar to tasks or resources to customize working times.

Assign a customized calendar to resources in Microsoft Project 2010 by creating a child-friendly base calendar and applying it through the resource sheet or resource information.

Use the project file to execute the plan, then set a baseline as a snapshot to measure progression against. Save baselines to track full-project progress and compare current results.

Update multiple tasks at once by marking percent complete in the task information dialog, then apply actual start and finish dates, reflecting progress on the Gantt chart.

Use the tracking Gantt in Microsoft Project 2010 to monitor progression, compare against the baseline, and identify delays and critical tasks to bring the project back on track.

Learn to manually split a task in Microsoft Project 2010 using the split task command, zoom in, drag to create a second half, rejoin when needed, with dependent tasks updating.

Activate and display the timeline in project 2010 to create a condensed view of tasks from start to finish above the Gantt chart, with today’s marker, and share by email.

Expand and contract the timeline scale in Microsoft Project 2010 using the mouse wheel, plus/minus controls, or right-click zoom to screen, then customize date formats and add or remove tasks.

Learn to customize the timeline in Microsoft Project 2010 by adjusting text formatting, font size and color for tasks and headers, and changing background colors across selected items.

Export the timeline as a snapshot and paste it into email, Word, or PowerPoint. Use the timeline tools to select the snapshot size, then paste as a movable image.

Customize print settings for Gantt charts in Project 2010, including page layout, margins, header and footer, legend, and the tracking Gantt as the baseline.

Explore how to access, preview, and print built-in MS Project reports—including project summary, current data, costs, assignments, and workload—and customize them using the print dialog box.

Export data from Microsoft Project 2010 to Excel or Visio using built-in visual reports and templates, then filter by category and time scale and customize charts.

Export your Microsoft Project data to an Access database to build custom reports in Crystal Reports or other reporting tools, using Visual Reports and prebuilt cubes.

Learn to email the Microsoft Project file to others directly from the project using the file ribbon's send attachment, creating separate copies that require manual updates if changed.

Export the gantt chart to PDF for distribution, using print settings or the built-in PDF creator. Include document properties, whole project range, and readable formatting for PDF viewers.

Explore the master project model, combining multiple subprojects in a single file with a shared resource pool, and weigh its advantages against disadvantages like hard-coded links and accidental updates.

Create and manage a master project by inserting subprojects, linking them, and configuring embedded or linked relationships; monitor updates and adjust subproject details in a single file.

Create a new blank project file to host a resource sheet, copy resources from an Excel file into it, and save as a resource pool for use across subprojects.

Create and save a resource pool in a project file for use across projects. Open subprojects, link them to a master project, and assign shared resources with pool precedence.

Learn to assign resources from a linked resource pool in Microsoft Project 2010, using split-screen view to see allocations across project files and set tasks as fixed durations.

Learn to assign resources from a shared resource pool to subprojects and the master project in Microsoft Project 2010, including opening the resource pool, assigning tasks, and saving updates.

Open the resource pool to view resource usage, allocation, and costs; choose read-only, read-write, or shared options to manage projects, assign resources, and generate reports with the resource sheet.