Creating and Editing Tasks

Now that your project is open, it’s time to build your plan. Start by entering your tasks and their estimated durations directly into the spreadsheet.

Watch: Create and Edit Tasks Video

Example Task Structure:

Task Name	Duration	Note
Project Summary Task	Auto-calculated	Will reflect total duration after subtasks are indented.
Design	10 Days
Development	10 Days
Document	5 Days
Test	10 Days
Product Rollout	0 Days	Entering “0” automatically creates a Milestone.

Refining Your Tasks

To add more detail, select a task and click the Edit Task icon. A dialog box will appear with several tabs to help you manage specific data points:

• Main: Adjust basic info like Duration and Percent Complete.

• Dates: View Start and Finish dates (calculated automatically by the scheduling engine).

• Tabs for Deep Control:

  • Predecessors: Set dependencies between tasks.

  • Resources: Assign team members.

  • Advanced: Manage Constraints, Deadlines, and specialized Calendars.

  • Notes: Add context or documentation for specific tasks.

  • Baseline/Actuals: Track your original plan against real-world progress.

After tasks exist on the Gantt, link them (Linking Tasks), assign resources, then deepen the plan in Scheduling (task types, effort-driven, calendars, constraints, baselines, and actuals).