Network Diagram view in MS Project Pro

Contents:

1. Using to the network diagram in MS Project Pro
2. Customizing to the network diagram in MS Project Pro
3. Customizing the styles of the network diagram in MS Project Pro
4. Chat

Using to the network diagram in MS Project Pro

The Network Diagram is a powerful tool for project managers to visualize the logical flow of tasks. Unlike the Gantt Chart, which focuses on a timeline, the Network Diagram emphasizes the relationships between activities, making it easier to identify the critical path and potential bottlenecks in the project's structure.
By analyzing the network model, you can verify the integrity of your project's logic. It allows you to check all dependencies (links) and ensure that no tasks are "dangling" without a predecessor or successor. This view is particularly useful for complex projects where the sequence of operations is more critical than the specific dates.
To access and manage the network model, follow these steps:

1. Switch the View: Click the "View" tab in the top ribbon menu.
2. Select the Diagram: Click the "Network Diagram" button located in the "Task Views" group.
3. Access Formatting: Once the view is active, click the "Network Diagram Format" tab (this is a contextual tab that appears only in this view) in the top menu to access specialized styling tools.

The Network Diagram can be customized to show different levels of detail depending on your needs. You can change how boxes are aligned, how links are drawn, and how summary information is displayed.

• Managing Summary Tasks: If you want to expand or collapse a summary task to hide or show subtasks, simply click the "+" (plus) or "-" (minus) symbol on the summary task box.
• Highlighting the Critical Path: In this view, MS Project automatically highlights critical tasks (usually in red), allowing you to immediately see which activities cannot be delayed without impacting the project's finish date.
• Task Information: Each "box" (node) in the diagram can be customized to show specific data fields like Start Date, Finish Date, Resource Names, or Percent Complete, providing a comprehensive snapshot of every task at a glance.

Using this view regularly helps maintain a "clean" project schedule, ensuring that all logical links are correctly established and that the project flow is transparent for all stakeholders.

Customizing to the network diagram in MS Project Pro

• Yo can collapse tasks, click the "Collapse Boxes" button.
• You can show the type of links between tasks by clicking the "Link Labels" button in the "Show/Hide" block.
• You can change type of links between tasks in the network diagram by clicking the "Straight Links" button in the "Show/Hide" block.
• You can show or hide completed tasks in the network diagram by clicking the "Progress Marks" button in the "Show/Hide" block.
• You can show or hide summary tasks in the network diagram by clicking the "Summary Tasks" button in the "Show/Hide" block.
• You can show or hide project summary tasks in the network diagram by clicking the "Project Summary Tasks" button in the "Show/Hide" block.
• If you want to change the task style, select the task and click the "Bar" button in the "Format" block.
  • You can set the style from the list of templates. Select the template in the "Data template" field.
  • You can create a new template by clicking the "More Templates ..." button.
  • You can change the selected task border shape by selecting in the "Shape:" field of the "Border" block.
  • You can change the selected task border color by selecting in the "Color:" field of the "Border" block.
  • You can change the selected task border width by selecting in the "Width:" field of the "Border" block.
  • You can show or hide the selected task horizontal gridlines by set in the "Show horizontal gridlines" box of the "Border" block.
  • You can show or hide the selected task vertical gridlines by set in the "Show vertical gridlines" box of the "Border" block.
  • You can change the selected task backround color by selecting in the "Color:" field of the "Backround" block.
  • You can change the selected task backround pattern by selecting in the "Pattern:" field field of the "Backround" block.
• Click the "Ok" button.

Steps to create a new style template:

• You can create a new template by clicking the "New ..." button.
• You can create a new template using an existing one by selecting and click the "Copy ..." button.
• You can change the template by clicking the "Edit ..." button.
• You can import the template from other plan by clicking the "Import ..." button.
• You can delete the template by clicking the "Delete ..." button.
• You can show task data in a block by specifying its number in the "Show data from task ID:" field.
• Click the "Ok" button.

Steps to change the style template:

• Change the template name by entering it in the "Template name:" field.
• You can show task data in a block by specifying its number in the "Show data from task ID:" field.
• Change template table layout cells by clicking the "Cell Layout ..." button. 
• Set field names in table cells in the "Choose cell(s)" block.
• Change the cell font clicking the "Font" button.
• Set the horizontal alignment cell by entering "Horizontal alignment:" field.
• Set the vertical alignment cell by entering "Vertical alignment:" field.
• Set the table row height by selecting in the "Limit cell text to:" field.
• You can show the field name in the cell by entering or clicking the "Show table in cell" box.
• You can set the date format by setting in the "Date format:" field.

Steps to set the style cell layout in the "Cell Layout" widow:

• Set the number of rows in the "Number of rows:" field.
• Set the number of columns in the "Number of columns:" field.
• Set the cells width in the "Cell width" field.
• Set the cells merge in the "Blank cells" block.
• Click the "Ok" button.

Customizing the style of the network diagram in MS Project Pro

You can change the style all boxs of the network diagram in MS Project Pro. 

Steps to change the all boxs:

1. Click the "Network Diagram Format" item in the top menu.
2. Click the "Box Styles" button in the "Format" block.
   • You can set the style from the list of templates. Select the template in the "Data template" field.
   • You can create a new template by clicking the "More Templates ..." button.
   • Select the box type in the "Style settings for:" list. You can preview the box type in the "Preview" block.
   • You can change the selected task border shape by selecting in the "Shape:" field of the "Border" block.
   • You can change the selected task border color by selecting in the "Color:" field of the "Border" block.
   • You can change the selected task border width by selecting in the "Width:" field of the "Border" block.
   • You can show or hide the selected task horizontal gridlines by set in the "Show horizontal gridlines" box of the "Border" block.
   • You can show or hide the selected task vertical gridlines by set in the "Show vertical gridlines" box of the "Border" block.
3. Click the "Ok" button.

You can customize the network diagram layout in MS Project Pro. Steps customizing the network diagram layout:

1. Click the "Network Diagram Format" item in the top menu.
2. Click the "Box Styles" button in the "Format" block.
   • You can adjust the layout automatically or manually. Select the box in the "Layout Mode" block.
   • You can choose the location of tasks on the network diagram. Select the location type in the "Arrangement" field in the "Box Layout" block.
   • You can set the alignment for the rows and columns of task locations in a network diagram in the "Alignment:" field. 
   • You can set the spacing between tasks on the network diagram in the "Spacing:" field.
   • You can set the height for the rows of task locations in a network diagram in the "Height:" field. 
   • You can set the width for the columns of task locations in a network diagram in the "Width:" field.
   • You can show and hide the summary tasks by setting the "Show summary tasks" box.
   • You can keep tasks with their summaries by setting the "Keep tasks with their summaries" box.
   • You can place tasks between page breaks by clicking "Adjust for page breaks" box. 
   • You can select link style in the "Link style" block. 
   • If you want to show or hide links by clicking the "Show arrows" box in the "Link style" block. 
   • If you want to show or hide link types by clicking the "Show link labels" box in the "Link style" block.
   • You can set the links color in the "Link color" block. 
   • You can set the background color in the "Diagram Options" block. Select a background color in the "Background color" field. Select a background pattern in the "Background pattern" field.
   • You can show or hide marks in progress for the tasks by clicking the "Mark in-progress and completed" box. 
3. Click the "Ok" button.