BRC Academy / Scheduling & Tools

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project desktop from first file to a full Northgate schedule: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

21 sessionsBeginner → IntermediateEach with a worked example, quiz and references
Start session 1All courses

Beginner Sessions 1–20

  1. 1Microsoft Project in 2026: desktop, Planner, and Project Online retiredWhich Microsoft Project is which in 2026: desktop, Planner premium, Project Server, and what the Sept 30, 2026 Project Online retirement changed.
  2. 2Microsoft Project interface tourA guided tour of the Microsoft Project desktop window: ribbon tabs, Gantt Chart view, timescale, Timeline, split views and the status bar.
  3. 3Create a project and set the start date in Microsoft ProjectStart a Microsoft Project file the right way: blank or template, Project Information, start vs finish scheduling, and the start date an owner should use.
  4. 4Calendars and Ontario statutory holidays in Microsoft ProjectBuild a Microsoft Project calendar with Ontario's public holidays for 2027 and 2028, handle weekend and non-statutory days, and record owner decisions.
  5. 5Tasks and WBS outline levels in Microsoft ProjectTurn a summary WBS into Microsoft Project outline levels: indent tasks, show outline numbers, define stable WBS codes and renumber safely.
  6. 6Durations and estimates in Microsoft ProjectDuration units, elapsed durations, the estimated-duration question mark, and four ways to estimate durations for an owner's master schedule.
  7. 7Dependencies in Microsoft Project: FS, SS, FF and SFThe four task dependency types in Microsoft Project, how to link and edit tasks, predecessor codes, and logic rules an owner should enforce.
  8. 8Lags and leadsEnter lags and leads in Microsoft Project desktop, choose working, elapsed or percentage lag, and set owner rules for lags in a master schedule.
  9. 9MilestonesCreate milestones in Microsoft Project desktop, link start and finish events correctly, handle external milestones, and report contract milestones.
  10. 10Auto vs manual schedulingAuto-scheduled and manually scheduled tasks in Microsoft Project desktop: how each behaves, how to switch, and when an owner should allow manual tasks.
  11. 11Critical path and total slackHow Microsoft Project calculates total and free slack, how to show the critical path in Project desktop, and how owners read slack on a real sequence.
  12. 12Constraints and deadlinesThe eight constraint types in Microsoft Project desktop, how typed dates create constraints, and why owners carry contract milestones as deadlines.
  13. 13Task types: units, duration, workHow Microsoft Project links work, duration and units, what Fixed Units, Fixed Work and Fixed Duration hold still, and how owners pick a task type.
  14. 14Effort-driven schedulingWhat effort-driven scheduling does in Microsoft Project, when it applies, how it interacts with task types, and when an owner should switch it off.
  15. 15Gantt chart formattingFormat the Gantt chart in Microsoft Project desktop: bar styles, critical and slack bars, bar text, text styles, gridlines and a reusable owner view.
  16. 16Resource sheetBuild the Resource Sheet in Microsoft Project desktop: work, material and cost resources, Max. Units, groups, calendars and what an owner should load.
  17. 17Assigning resourcesAssign resources in Microsoft Project desktop: Resource Names, Assign Resources, Task Information, Team Planner, units, materials and costs.
  18. 18Resource levellingHow resource levelling works in Microsoft Project desktop: overallocations, Level All, the Leveling Options, priorities, and how an owner should use it.
  19. 19Costs: rates, fixed costs, accrualEnter resource rates, per-use and fixed costs in Microsoft Project desktop, and set Start, Prorated or End accrual so the owner's cash forecast is right.
  20. 20Budget resourcesSet up budget resources in Microsoft Project desktop, assign them to the project summary task, and compare budget with planned cost by category.

Intermediate Sessions 21–21

  1. 21Setting baselinesHow to set, update and clear baselines and interim plans in Microsoft Project desktop, read variance, and run an owner's baseline register.
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Photo: Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash (Unsplash Licence).