MS Project Advanced
Advanced MS Project Training is designed for experienced Microsoft Project users who want to work more effectively with complex project schedules, tasks, views, Gantt charts, variances and Work Breakdown Structure codes.
This practical one-day Microsoft Project course develops skills beyond the basic and intermediate features of the software. Delegates work through advanced tools that can help them manage and present project information more effectively.
College Africa Group provides instructor-led Advanced MS Project Training for corporate groups and experienced users. Training can be arranged onsite, offsite or virtually, depending on client requirements.
Delegates should already understand Microsoft Project and fundamental project management terminology before attending this advanced course.
Who Should Attend MS Project Advanced Training?
This course is intended for people who already have working knowledge of Microsoft Project and want to develop more advanced skills.
Advanced MS Project Training may be suitable for:
- Project managers.
- Project coordinators.
- Project administrators.
- Programme and portfolio support staff.
- Operations managers.
- Team leaders responsible for project schedules.
- Employees who already use Microsoft Project and need more advanced functionality.
If delegates need to strengthen their understanding of project management concepts before working with the software, see our Project Management Fundamentals course.
MS Project Advanced Course Overview
The purpose of the course is to extend the skills of existing Microsoft Project users and help them make better use of the software’s more advanced functionality.
The course consists of 12 areas covering file management, advanced task management, task operations, custom views, graphical indicators, Gantt chart formatting, variances, Work Breakdown Structure codes and cube data.
Rather than simply introducing Microsoft Project, this Advanced MS Project Training course concentrates on functionality that experienced users can apply when working with more detailed project information.
Advanced MS Project Training Course Content
1. File Management Tools
Delegates examine file management functionality including file formats, AutoSave, file passwords and file properties.
2. Advanced Task Management
Learn how to split tasks, overlap tasks, delay tasks, assign variable units to a task and change remaining work.
3. Advanced Task Operations
This section covers fixed-duration tasks and advanced task operations, including setting and modifying fixed tasks, adding hyperlinks and using custom fields.
4. Advanced Views
Microsoft Project provides different ways of viewing project information. Delegates learn how to apply advanced views, work with tables, create custom tables and create custom views.
5. Adding Shapes
Learn how to use shapes within project displays, including drawing, moving, resizing and deleting shapes.
6. Formatting Shapes
Delegates learn how to change the order of shapes, adjust line and fill formatting and attach drawings to tasks.
7. Graphical Indicators
Graphical indicators can help users display task progress and other project information visually. This section covers setting up fields, creating indicators, using formulas with graphical indicators and importing criteria from other files.
8. Formatting the Gantt Chart – Part One
Learn how to change text styles and gridline settings, select layouts and format columns to make project information easier to interpret.
9. Formatting the Gantt Chart – Part Two
This module extends Gantt chart formatting to include bars and bar styles, selecting tasks to display, choosing a baseline and showing or hiding task information.
10. Working with Variances
Delegates learn how to use the variance table, check project variances and display work and cost variances.
Advanced MS Project Training at a Glance
- Duration: One day.
- Level: Advanced.
- Delivery: Instructor-led.
- Options: Onsite, offsite or virtual training.
- Course material: Delegate manual.
- Completion: Electronic attendance certificate.
- Corporate groups: Group training and corporate rates available.
Practical Advanced MS Project Skills
Experienced Microsoft Project users often know how to build a project schedule but do not use many of the more advanced features available within the software.
Advanced MS Project Training helps delegates move beyond basic project creation and develop stronger control over tasks, views, formatting, project variances and project information.
The course can help users improve the way they organise, analyse and present Microsoft Project data while developing a better understanding of the advanced functionality available within the application.
Advanced Task Management
Task management becomes increasingly important as projects become more complex. Users may need to adjust task relationships, manage remaining work, work with different task types and control how project information is displayed.
The course therefore goes beyond basic task creation and introduces delegates to more advanced task-management and task-operation techniques.
These skills are particularly useful for users responsible for maintaining project schedules and updating projects as circumstances change.
Gantt Charts, Views and Project Information
Microsoft Project contains extensive functionality for displaying project information. Knowing how to customise views and Gantt charts can make complex schedules easier to understand and communicate.
During the Advanced MS Project Training course, delegates learn to work with advanced views, custom tables, graphical indicators and Gantt chart formatting.
This can help project teams present important schedule information more clearly to managers, project stakeholders and other team members.
Working with Project Variances
A project plan becomes more valuable when users can compare planned activity with what is actually happening.
The course introduces Microsoft Project’s variance functionality and shows delegates how to review project variances, including work and cost information.
This provides experienced users with additional tools for examining project performance and identifying differences within the project schedule.
Work Breakdown Structure in Microsoft Project
Work Breakdown Structure codes provide a structured way of identifying where individual tasks fit within a larger project.
Delegates learn how WBS codes work within Microsoft Project, how to assign them to tasks and how to customise the coding structure for project requirements.
This part of the course is particularly useful for projects where tasks need to be organised into clearly defined sections or work packages.
One-Day MS Project Advanced
This is a one-day Advanced MS Project Training course. It is designed to concentrate the advanced content into a practical instructor-led programme for people who already have Microsoft Project experience.
Delegates receive a course manual and an electronic attendance certificate on completion.
Training dates can be arranged around corporate requirements where possible. For groups, College Africa Group can provide onsite training at the client’s venue as well as other delivery options.
Corporate Advanced MS Project Training
College Africa Group works with organisations that need Microsoft Project skills developed across project teams and departments.
Corporate Advanced MS Project Training can be arranged for groups and scheduled according to operational requirements where possible.
Training can be delivered onsite at the client’s venue, offsite or virtually. This allows organisations to select a delivery method appropriate to their employees, location and working arrangements.
College Africa Group provides corporate training across South Africa and Southern Africa, with virtual delivery also allowing geographically dispersed teams to attend together.
Related Microsoft Project and Project Management Training
Advanced Microsoft Project is one part of our broader project management and Microsoft Project training portfolio.
Delegates who are not yet comfortable with Microsoft Project should develop the required foundational skills before attending the advanced programme.
Why Choose College Africa Group?
College Africa Group has provided workplace and corporate training since 2003. Our training focuses on practical skills that employees can apply in their working environment.
For Advanced MS Project Training, the emphasis is on helping experienced users understand and apply the more advanced features of Microsoft Project rather than repeating basic software functionality.
- Instructor-led corporate training.
- Onsite, offsite and virtual delivery options.
- Training for individuals and corporate groups.
- Practical Microsoft Project course content.
- Electronic attendance certificate.
- Group training options available.
Advanced MS Project Training Enquiries
Contact College Africa Group to discuss course dates, corporate group requirements, delivery options and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MS Project Advanced training?Advanced MS Project Training develops the skills of existing Microsoft Project users. The course covers advanced task management, custom views, graphical indicators, Gantt chart formatting, variances, Work Breakdown Structure codes and other advanced Microsoft Project functionality.
How long is the Advanced MS Project course?The Advanced MS Project course is a one-day instructor-led programme.
Who should attend the course?The course is intended for people who already have Microsoft Project experience and want to develop more advanced software skills. This may include project managers, project coordinators, project administrators and other employees responsible for maintaining project schedules.
Do I need Microsoft Project experience before attending?Yes. Delegates should already understand Microsoft Project and fundamental project management terminology before attending the advanced course.
Does the course cover advanced task management?Yes. Delegates learn techniques including splitting and overlapping tasks, delaying tasks, assigning variable units and changing remaining work.
Does the course cover Gantt charts?Yes. The course includes advanced Gantt chart formatting, including text styles, gridlines, layouts, columns, bars, bar styles, baselines and task-information display.
Does the course cover project variances?Yes. Delegates learn how to use variance information and examine work and cost variances within Microsoft Project.
Can Advanced MS Project Training be delivered onsite?Yes. Corporate training can be arranged onsite at the client’s venue. Offsite and virtual instructor-led options are also available.
Do delegates receive a certificate?Yes. Delegates receive an electronic attendance certificate on completion of the course.
Microsoft Project Resource
For additional product information, visit Microsoft Project.