If you're starting to use Microsoft Project 2003 or Project 2007, you'll find an extra help feature called the Project Guide which is available once a Project file opens, in addition to the regular Help facility. The Project Guide is really useful in guiding you in a step by step way through the various stages in building a new project plan and is particularly helpful for first time Project users. This article describes the Project Guide and how to use it.

If you launch Project a new file opens and the Project Guide information pane appears to the left of the Gantt chart. Above the Project Guide pane you'll see the Project Guide toolbar consisting of five clickable buttons. The first button, Show/Hide Project Guide lets you turn off on turn on the Guide task pane. When the pane is turn on it replaces the table normally shown to the left of the Gantt Chart.

The remaining buttons, Tasks, Resources, Tracking and Reports open different guide panes showing clickable lists of items you need to work through under each button heading. Alternatively you can click on a pop down to the immediate right of a button to see the same list of clickable items.

The Project Guide, by the way, is configured to launch on Project startup. To change this setting, choose Tools, Options and select the Interface tab. If you look left of centre in the Interface panel you'll see that the Display Project Guide checkbox is ticked by default. If you untick this and clicking OK the feature turns off, so next time Project launches the Guide will not show. If you have a project file open and the Guide is not showing, it can be turned on by choosing View, Toolbars, Project Guide.

The Project Guide buttons correspond to the main stages of creating a project plan. The stages are to add and organise tasks, then create and organise resources, then track your project and finally ensure reports are generated for all interested parties.

To begin using the Guide click the Tasks button. Then click on each task in turn and carry out the required steps. This could be selecting a date via a pop down, or adding data to a text box, or completing details in a separate help panel such as for setting project working times. Project will create the necessary details within the file and show your data in the normal way on the Gantt chart and in the various Project tables.

Once all tasks are completed in that pane you can move to the next pane, and so on. You can also close the current Guide panel at any time, work elsewhere within Project and return to the Guide later if you wish.

If you want to close one of the Guide panes without completing it, you simply click on another Guide pane button. Project will prompt you to ask you if you want to navigate away from the current pane and not save the changes.

So to summarise this article, there are at least four important benefits of using the Project Guide in Project.

Firstly use of the Guide gives you a clear idea of what steps need to be performed and in what order. So if you're new to Project the Guide can keep you on the right course in building a successful project plan.

Secondly most steps in the Guide are accomplished via a couple of mouse clicks, saving you the need to search out menus, sub menus and additional panels. So you can easily see what to need to do, and then easily move on to the next step, all from within the guide.

Thirdly most steps have helpful explanations so you can understand why you are carrying out a particular activity. Traditional help systems can be cumbersome to understand and navigate but in the Project Guide all explanation text is right next to the task detail in the pane.

Fourthly use of the Project Guide does build your confidence and your skills in use of Microsoft Project, and you can always return to the Guide at any time to recap on features.

You will find that The Project Guide is really a very effective learning system to help you build your skills in using Project. Another way would be to attend a training course and that way you would get the best of both worlds, and really build your Project skills very effectively.