How to Create Custom Fields in Microsoft Project and Apply Functions to Them for Calculations
This article discusses the use of Custom Fields, Functions and Formula in Microsoft Project. Custom Fields allow you to create a new field, give a unique name to it and apply functions to the field to perform calculations.
The learning objectives include:
1. What is a Custom Field in Microsoft Project?
2. Benefits of Using Custom Fields
3. Examples Where You Apply Custom Fields
4. What type of Field Category to create the Custom Field for?
5. Custom Field Types
6. How to Enter a Formula Into a Custom Field
7. Creating Custom Field Calculations
What is a Custom Field in Microsoft Project?
A Custom Field refers to a user-defined field in Microsoft Project that gives users more flexibility to store and organize additional information specific to the project schedule. Create and use Custom Fields to track attributes that the built-in Project Fields don’t.
Benefits of Using Custom Fields
Custom Fields can be very useful for tracking custom attributes. When assigned, they can be used to group, sort, and filter Task list or Resource list.
Examples Where You Apply Custom Fields
Some of the real-life examples where you can apply Custom Fields are listed below:
1. If you engage subcontractors in your project, you can create a Custom Field to track who will be working on a Task. It can also be used to enter workers that are responsible for each Task.
2. Sometimes, a Task may take place at different work sites. In this case, you can create a Custom Field to track locations.
3. When you want to know the Maximum Number of each Work Resource (or personnel) whiich is calculated from Max Unit.
4. You may source your Material Resources from different vendors (or suppliers). It is a good practice to include Vendors field where you can enter or select Vendors’ name for the item supplied.
5. Budget Status for each Task can be determined using Custom Fields. Similarly, Days Left for each Task can be estimated with Custom Fields.
What type of Field Category to create the Custom Field for?
In Microsoft Project, there are three (3) major field categories. They are Task, Resource, and Project.
When creating Custom Fields in Microsoft Project, the type of Field Category where the field can be used must be checked. This will make the field available and accessible in a Table that handles that Field Category. For example, if you create a Resource field, you will only be able to use it to assign values to resources under Resource Sheet.
Microsoft Project Quiz Questions on Custom Fields
Author: Ana Arm
Estd. 2013