Project 2000 Appropiate use?

[spondee]

Well, I'm trying AGAIN, and still getting nowhere. I tried this a
couple of years ago w/Project 97. (You may remember me posting here)
Silly me, I thought if I upgraded, it would help. Sigh...

I want to make a DETAILED To Do list for several small projects (I am
a writer; self-employed, no big company or even a small one!).

I want to be able to insert an ESTIMATED (& therefore changeable) due
date for each task.

I also want to be able to enter DOWN time on this task, and WORKING
time. (Not literally the time, but measured in days, weeks, etc).
And to be able to see all three of these features on chart and
calendar. (Without adding a separate Task step for each item.)

Hopefully, complete tasks and add new ones!

I do NOT NEED time, billing, reports, assigning to others, sharing,
printing, etc.

I HAVE read the help files, checked out the online tutorials. All of
which is geared for BIG projects of BIG companies and truthfully, most
of it goes right over my head!

I could only find one reference to 'list making' and it was short,
obtuse and uninformative. It had no examples, tutor program etc.

Can anyone help me?

 

[Rob Schneider]

Since you are do to do lists for projects, which by definition should
have a start date, end date, and take "work" and "resources" to
accomplish, can't see why Project won't work. However, I can understand
why you won't find any tutorials/documentation focused on your specific
needs since this is not a conventional use of Project.

Perhaps the best way forward for you would be to find some sort of
mentor/consultant who can sit down with you for a day or so and work
through your work processes with you and help construct your project
planning system ... based on Project or whatever. Or you could take a
training class in Project and/or Time Management.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[Rob Schneider]

Not sure why it didn't occur to me previously, but have you looked into
MindManager as a possible tool to use?

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[spondee]

Actually, I did check out many different 'Project Managers' Including
MindManager. I decided on MS Project because I run Office 2003, Win
xpro, etc, and assumed it would 'integrate' and be something I could
use...

I'm usually a very satisfied Microsoft customer! I may have finally
run into a MS product that doesn't work for me, it remains to be
seen...

 

[spondee]

btw, I forgot to mention a little shareware program I'm STILL playing
around with that only costs like $30!!! (If I remember correctly).
Perhaps the best of the bunch I've d/l and demod. Another writer
recommenced it to me, AFTER, I'd gotten Project!

Life Balance by Llamagraphic
(I have NO connection w/software or company!)