There are many things we could talk about when it comes to using Microsoft Project more efficiently. For anyone that has attended a Projility Project Manager training class, the first thing that you learned was how to adjust the Quick Access Toolbar. This toolbar can make your life easier and more productive – with just a few minor adjustments.
What is the Quick Access toolbar? It allows a user to add buttons that they frequently use from the ‘ribbon’ interface to the top left side of the screen – so that they are convenient and easily accessible.
Here is what the Quick Access Toolbar looks like:
What do we recommend you add to the Quick Access Toolbar?
First of all we recommend that you add anything that you find yourself using on a daily basis or that you’re constantly searching for in the ‘ribbon’ interface.
During training classes, we typically recommend adding the following, at a minimum, but you may add or remove according to your individual preferences:
Scroll to Task:
The ‘Scroll to Task’ button allows a user to select a task; once you click the ‘Scroll to Task’ button the Gantt Chart will automatically scroll to the selected task and bring it into view. However, this button is normally located in the ‘Editing’ section of the ‘Task’ ribbon. It takes a lot of clicks to reach this button, even though it is generally used all the time. Because of this, the ‘Scroll to Task” button is our first recommended addition to the Quick Access toolbar. If you also use it frequently, try placing the button on the far right-hand side of the toolbar for even quicker access.
Cleanup Cache:
When using Microsoft PPM, it is necessary to clean out your Cache from time to time. Unless you have done this a few times, cleaning out your cache can be a difficult process to remember. Just to bring up the cleanup cache options, you need to click: File > Options > save Tab > cleanup Cache. Instead of memorizing the proper steps, we recommend incorporating the ‘Cleanup Cache’ button into your toolbar. It will make the process simple and easy.
Publish:
When using Microsoft PPM, it is very important to publish your updates once you have made significant changes – such as adjusting durations of assigning resources – so that these changes are reflected within Project Web App. In an attempt to encourage this behavior, we recommend that the ‘Publish’ button be added to the toolbar, too. To get into the habit of using the button, try placing it next to the ‘Save’ button so that after your “save” completes, you can then click ‘Publish.’
How to modify the Quick access Toolbar:
To add items to your Quick Access toolbar, you can right click on any button in the ‘ribbon’ and click ‘Add to quick access toolbar.’
Alternatively, you can click on the Quick Access toolbar drop-down and select ‘More Commands…’
From this menu, you can select any command – even those commands not found in the ‘ribbon,’ such as ‘Cleanup Cache.’ Note: you will need to select ‘All commands’ to find the ‘Cleanup Cache’ button because it is not listed in the ‘Popular Commands.’
Below you can see the modifications that we made to our quick access toolbar:
Thank you very much for reading! We hope that this blog and its accompanying graphics can help you to become an even better Microsoft Project user.
