One additional note. When you originally set up the project, I recommend this process:
- Set up all the Tasks in List View, using a sortable WBS number at the beginning (because List View likes to sort by Name). Like 101010 Project Kickoff, 101020 Preliminary Planning, 201010 Software Installation, etc. Leave room between initial WBS numbers, 10 at least for every level!!
- Avoid Sub-tasks. They disappear by default in the various views. Make everything a Task, and establish the “sub” relationship using the Gantt and your WBS numbering.
- Make a simple %Complete or Status field that is color coded (to color the Gantt. You can see in the above screenshots you can tell which tasks are complete (dark grey), which are in process (pink to blue), and which are not started (red). Makes an excellent at-a-glance overview of the project!
- Go to the Gantt. Make your initial sketch of the project either with no dependencies at first, or with Dependency Management to Off.
- Once your project sketch is set up, enter the dependencies (drag-n-drop is the easiest), then set Dependency Management to “Maintain Buffer”.
Away you go!