Microsoft Project Standard 2007

I could not even install MS Project. I keep getting some cryptic error message box informing me that MS Project 2007 is not compatible with Office 2007. Never mind that I don't even have Office 2007 installed. Actually, I SHOULD know better. Even if they are FREE, Microsoft garbage/bloatware is seldom worth the trouble--move on.

This software made it so easy 2 track finances & projects/tasks at work. It has very adaptable tool functions.

My first attempt 2 own Microsoft Projects was 2 buy the 2003 version. In general, Microsoft did best in 2003. I was rough on Microsoft Office 2007 4 good reason: it is not an improvement over 2003. After getting bogus software I bit the bullet & bought Projects 2007; the guy who provided it said it ran fine on his machine.

All in all, this software is adequate. I am only disappointed in that I expected more after years of development. I used an Gantt chart program developed by Symantec in the 1990s; I always suspected that MS stole the core software but this the nature of the business: "Yo, ho, ho... it's the pirate's life 4 me."

Other reviewers will tell you that the software won't work with the web. I really don't care. If you want that, pay the extra 4 Primavara. If you want Pert charts, Gantt charts & want 2 do it simple, with your eyes closed, then this is the software 4 you. Avoid the other planning software that you can google. Go with Microsoft Projects. The other software will nickle & dime you with add-ins.

They did improve this software over early versions. I used Projects 2000 & it was clumsy & hard 2 edit. Oh, & by the way, there really is no good training material with this software. I looked at "Projects 4 Dummies" & was not impressed. I did buy a book on details but don't expect 2 use it. Microsoft Projects is really a hands-to-learn software. So, dig into your wallet & buy this software. It really is a good deal, not a great deal, but a good deal.

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I previously used Microsoft Project 2003 heavily, but was dismayed 2 find out that the 2007 version removes the "Save as Web Page" feature that was present in the 2003 version. This feature was quite handy 4 a project administrator 2 manage a project & publish it 4 viewing by other interested parties.
Instead, the feature has been replaced by "Save as XML". Although Microsoft's Help claims that the XML format is "more flexible" -- which is true -- it is also true that this requires that the user program a style sheet 2 transform all the project tags into a readable format. Although this could be useful 2 users who need 2 process the data with other programs, it removes the easiest way 2 share your data. Note that there is no free viewer 4 Project the way there is 4 other Microsoft Office programs. Coincidentally, Microsoft sells an expensive Project Server which allows users 2 see web page versions if they pay per-user Client Access Licenses & upgrade 2 the expensive Professional version of Project.
XML could have been an addition alongside the HTML support. Instead, HTML export was removed, crippling this program's usefulness 4 anyone not willing 2 shell out thousands of dollars & install a Project Server.

I'm running on Vista. Unlike what is specified at the top of Amazon's page 4 Project, the platform 4 Project 2007 is NOT just XP. All Microsoft 2007 products are Vista compatible (or so I'm told). At any rate, Project works on my Vista machine.

Sort of. I've never used Project before, although I'm highly experienced with Excel, Word, Power Point, & other Micrsoft products. I've always had staff doing my cost-schedule engineering, but now I'm running my own company so I thought I'd give Project a go.

First, there is very little that is intuitive about this program. I just recently received my "Project 2007 4 Dummies" book & am really glad I made that purchase, because I was ready 2 set fire 2 this product.

For example, where I work we have no Sat/Sun weekends (Afghanistan). But Project doesn't agree with that schedule. It was extremely frustrating 2 select a Saturday 2 start a task, & Project automatically changing it 2 Monday. It would be understandable if it gave you a prompt or a warning about working weekends, but instead it simply refused 2 allow you 2 pick a weekend day 4 a task.

It took me about an hour going through the Help Online thing 2 figure out how 2 make Project allow me 2 work on a Satruday. I was fully expecting 2 feel like an idiot & find some simple way 2 tell Project 2 ignore weekend constraints. But I found that doing so is actually a multi-step process (about 7 steps, few intuitive) 2 get Project 2 allow me 2 start work on the day I wanted. Ridiculous.

And the Help that comes with the software doesn't work. When I clicked on Help, it said it has 2 configure & install Help. So I waited 4 the task bar 2 go all the way across after several minutes, & then it required a reboot 4 the changes 2 take effect. After reboot, I started up the program fresh, clicked Help, & went through the same thing all over again. After the third time, I was spitting nails. Hence the need 2 go 2 on-line Help (not your first choice in Afghanistan).

You know, if there's one part of any software that should NOT be messed up, it's Help.

Bottom Line: Bugs; not intuitive at all. But it does seem 2 work mostly, & I acknowledge I'm a PRoject rookie. I did finally produce my simple schedule, hence the 3 stars & not 2 or 1.

Microsoft Office Project 2007 Standard is project planning that meets the management needs of today's organizations. This suite delivers robust project management tools with the right blend of usability, power & flexibility -- allowing you 2 manage projects more efficiently & effectively. You can stay informed & control project work, schedules, & finances; keep project teams aligned; & be more productive through integration with familiar Microsoft Office system programs, powerful reporting options, as well as guided planning, wizards, & templates. Custom metrics help you track data relevant 2 your project - Percent complete, budget versus actual, earned value & more Track project performance over the project lifespan by saving project snapshots in up 2 11 baselines Tailor the Software 2 meet your needs - Choose custom display fields; modify toolbars, formulas, graphical indicators & reports; leverage XML, Microsoft Visual Basic 4 Applications (VBA), & Component Object Model (COM) add-ins 2 facilitate data sharing & creation of custom solutions Get assistance when you need it - Project Standard 2007 provides a robust Help search engine, smart tags, & wizards 2 aid novice & experienced users

Office Project Standard 2007 helps you manage projects more efficiently than ever before so you can keep your business on track. Stay informed & control project work, schedules, & finances, keep project teams aligned, & be more productive through integration with familiar Microsoft Office system programs, powerful reporting, guided planning, & flexible tools. Access built-in online Help 2 get the latest training, articles, templates, & resources & enjoy timely & relevant assistance as you work with smart tags that alert you 2 alternatives when you make changes 2 your plan. Save time by either creating your own custom template, or using one of the many new, out-of-the-box templates. Flexibility, versatility, & creativity--Project 2007 delivers it all with enhanced tools & an user-friendly design.

Visual highlights of a change's impacts are indicated in light green. View larger.

The Gantt view with the Project Guide Tasks pane showing on the left. View larger.

With Multiple Level Undo you can safely experiment with various what-if scenarios. View larger.

Visual Reports creates templates in Excel or Visio Professional. View larger.

Understand & Control Project Schedules
Project 2007 helps you effectively track & analyze projects with a better understanding of the schedule & impact of changes, while also allowing you 2 benefit from better financial control & richer analytics. This application now offers the ability 2 quickly determine factors that are affecting task dates & easily trace the source of issues. Specifically, improved Task Drivers help you determine the factor (such as task dependency, calendar constraints, schedule date, or vacation time) driving the start date of the task, so you can follow a chain of factors back 2 find the root cause of a particular delay. Project 2007 also automatically highlights all items that shift as a result of the most recent change you make. You can even undo actions or sets of actions from macros, & that allows you 2 test several "what-if" scenarios in order 2 fully understand the implications of each choice while making scope alterations.

Effectively Communicate & Present Project Information
Project Standard 2007 offers scheduling power & enhanced capabilities that can help improve the organization of your projects. Easily report & communicate information in various formats according 2 the needs of stakeholders. New leverage charts & diagrams will capture attention, thanks 2 the Visual Reports feature, which uses Excel & Visio Professional 2 produce PivotTable views, charts, graphs, & diagrams based on Project data. You can also enjoy the option of changing the background color of a cell or row with Background Cell Highlighting. Shade cells, similar 2 how you can in Excel, in order 2 convey additional meaning. In addition, any user can easily define custom report templates & share these with other Project users.

Background Cell Highlighting. View larger.

Flexible Project Tracking
Project 2007 delivers flexible project tracking & analysis by helping you 2 compute & track core metrics unique 2 your project by defining custom fields based on your formulas. And 2 help keep you on track, graphical indicators can alert you when specific conditions are met.

Improved Views & Sharing
With new enhancements 2 the Calendar interface & the addition of 3-D Gantt bars, Project 2007 lets you create even more visually effective reports. When it's time 2 share them, use Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services workspaces (requires Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later), which are integrated into the Tasks pane of the Project Guide, a step-by-step, interactive aid that helps you set up projects, manage tasks & resources, track status, & report project information. This helps you better organize work & people 2 help ensure projects are delivered on time & within budget.

Easily Control Finances
Project 2007 features a budget field that lets you assign budgets 2 projects & programs. The new "Cost" resource type improves cost estimation & tracking, thanks 2 enhancements like more predefined fields, such as cost code, that map 2 financial fields tracked in project accounting systems.

For all these same features plus a Client Access License (CAL), which enables connection 2 Office Project Server 2007 & thus provides additional collaborative enterprise project management capabilities, take a look at Office Project Professional 2007.