Hey fellow project managers and schedulers. In this blog post, I’m excited to walk you through a nifty feature in Microsoft Project that you might not have fully explored yet—the Add New Column virtual column. It’s a powerful tool that’s often overlooked, but once you understand its capabilities, it can greatly enhance your project management experience. Let’s dive right in! If you would rather watch the YouTube video on this subject, click here or click the thumbnail below.
Unveiling the Add New Column Virtual Column
So, have you ever noticed that mysterious “Add New Column” column at the far right end of every table in Microsoft Project? That’s the Add New Column virtual column we’re talking about here. Most people have seen it, but few have tapped into its true potential. In this guide, I’ll show you how to harness its power and make your project management tasks smoother.
Step 1: The Basics
Back in the 2010 version of Microsoft Project, a nifty feature called the Add New Column virtual column was introduced. You’ll find it on the right end of every table you view in the software. Now, you might already know that clicking the column header of the Add New Column virtual column allows you to select any built-in or default field available in Microsoft Project, like the successors field, for instance. Once you’ve chosen the desired field, you can easily drag it into place.
Step 2: Let’s Get More Advanced
For this guide, let’s focus on some of the more special functionalities of the Add New Column virtual column. Say you type the name of a field that isn’t a default field in Microsoft Project. What happens next is quite neat: the software automatically inserts the first available text field and renames it based on the name you’ve entered. For instance, if I type “POC field,” it becomes a renamed version of “Text1.”
Step 3: Playing with Data Values
Here’s where it gets even more interesting. If you type a data value of any type in this Add New Column virtual column for a task, Microsoft Project reacts accordingly.
- Numbers and Currency: Type a number, like “4600,” and the software inserts the first available number field (usually “Number1”). Similarly, if you input something like “1000 dollars,” it adds the first available cost field (often “Cost1”).
- Yes or No: Type a “Yes” or “No” value and Microsoft Project will automatically insert the first available flag field (usually “Flag1”).
- Duration: Type a task duration, such as “10 days,” and the software intuitively inserts the first available duration field (typically “Duration1”).
- Text Information: Type a text value, such as “Mickey Cobb”, and the software inserts the first available text field (let’s say “Text2” in this case).
Step 4: Customizing Data Types
But what if you want to change the data type of a field? Easy! Let’s say you initially used the number field, but now you need to input both numbers and text. Simply right-click on the column header of the field you want to change, go to the “Data Type” flyout menu, and choose the desired data type. For instance, changing “Number1” to a text field would make it “Text3” based on the preceding examples.
Step 5: Cleaning Up Your Workspace
You might not want the Add New Column virtual column in every table. No worries—getting rid of it is a breeze. Just right-click on its column header and choose “Hide Column” from the shortcut menu.
And there you have it! The Add New Column virtual column in Microsoft Project is way more powerful than you might have thought. It’s a versatile tool that can make your project management tasks a whole lot smoother. I hope you’re just as amazed by its capabilities as I am.
If you have questions, please add them in the Comments section below. Or if you watch the video, add your questions or comments there. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave “Likes” if you like the videos.
If you would like to have a formal class on using Microsoft Project, here is a link for my classes.