Project 2019, the most recent incarnation of Microsoft’s popular project management software, offers a tremendous wealth of functionality. Microsoft Project 2019 however, probably isn’t like any other software you’ve ever used, so mastering it can seem a daunting process. This Cheat Sheet provides you with tips and tricks for doing what you do every day as a project manager.
How to create your project schedule
Microsoft Project 2019 makes it easy to set your project schedule. In just ten easy steps, you will be on your way to project management success!
- Enter the project information, such as the project name and start date.
- Develop a work breakdown structure to organize your work.
- Enter the tasks needed to create the WBS deliverables.
Don’t forget to indicate if you want manual or auto-scheduled tasks, and the task type. - Link your tasks to show dependencies and create a network diagram
- Enter the resources who will work on your project, their cost/rate, and the time they have available.
- Estimate the effort or duration for each task.
- Assign resources to each task.
- Resolve any resource conflicts.
- Balance schedule, cost, resource, and performance constraints to meet stakeholder expectations.
- Baseline your schedule.
Shortcut keys
Microsoft Project 2019 maximizes efficiency as you manage projects — but Project 2019 shortcuts also save you time at the keyboard. Here are some shortcut keys you’ll use all the time when building and working with a Project schedule.
| Keystroke | Result |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+N | Opens a new blank Project |
| Alt+Home | Moves to the beginning of the project |
| Alt+End | Moves the end of a project |
| Alt+Right Arrow | Moves the timeline to the right |
| Alt+Left Arrow | Moves the timeline to the left |
| Shift+F2 | Opens the Task Information dialog box |
| Ctrl+F | Displays the Find dialog box |
| Ctrl+Z | Undoes the previous action |
| Ctrl+P | Displays the Print preview in the Backstage |
| Ctrl+S | Saves the file |
| Alt+Shift+Hyphen (–) | Hides subtasks |
| Alt+Shift+Plus Sign (+) | Shows subtasks |
Helpful websites for honing Project 2019 skills
Whether you consider project management an art or skill, Microsoft Project 2019 helps you do it better. Enhance your Microsoft Project expertise by visiting websites that offer templates and third-party add-ins for Microsoft Project and other project management information. Check out the following websites:
