Using WBS Schedule Pro with

Microsoft Project


By popular demand, here are a few topics related to using WBS Schedule Pro with Microsoft Project. If you have Microsoft Project and plan on using it with WBS Schedule Pro, we think you will find the information below useful.



How does WBS Schedule Pro work with Microsoft Project?


There are two ways to use WBS Schedule Pro with Microsoft Project:

 

1) Create WBS Charts and Network Charts from existing MS Project plans - WBS Schedule Pro installs buttons into MS Project to integrate the two tools.The buttons in MS Project look like this:

 Microsoft Project Ribbon

 

Open an existing MS Project plan and click a button to produce a WBS or Network Chart of your MS Project plan in WBS Schedule Pro. As you make changes in WBS Schedule Pro these changes are instantly reflected in the MS Project plan. It's a dynamic two-way interface! 

  

2) Use WBS Schedule Pro as a Front-End project planner to MS Project - Create projects first in WBS Schedule Pro and then transfer these to Microsoft Project. Many users prefer to start planning projects using the WBS Charts in WBS Schedule Pro and then transfer these to MS Project for advanced scheduling.


Why use MS Project with WBS Schedule Pro?


For the WBS Charts - WBS Charts are not available in any version of Microsoft Project. Begin the planning process using the WBS Chart in WBS Schedule Pro. WBS Schedule Pro can also take a MS Project Gantt Chart (with indented Tasks) and convert it into a Top-Down hierarchical view of your project. It's the perfect way to visualize the structure and breakdown of your project.

WBS Chart in WBS Schedule Pro


For the Network Charts - The Network Charts in WBS Schedule Pro are simply better than Microsoft Project's Network Chart. If you need to produce Network Charts from your Microsoft Project data, WBS Schedule Pro's Network Charts are much easier to read and print on far fewer pages. There are also numerous advanced features for working with Network Charts that are not present in Microsoft Project.

Network Chart in WBS Schedule Pro


Because WBS Schedule Pro is easier to use! - Microsoft Project can be overwhelming at times. WBS Schedule Pro makes it easy to plan and manage any project by giving you the tools and intuitive user interface to create and schedule tasks fast and effectively. With WBS Schedule Pro, you can overcome many of the complexities of MS Project.

What is Project Online and Project for the web?


Many have asked us if WBS Schedule Pro works with Project Online or Project for the web.

 

Project Online and Project for the web are two different Cloud-based tools from Microsoft for working with your Microsoft Project data. 


Don't let this confuse you, there is no Online or Web-based version of Microsoft Project. 

 

The traditional Project Professional (now known as Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client) and Project Standard applications that have been around for almost 30 years are still needed to perform the majority of your project planning.


Project Online uses plans created in Project Professional to populate the online application where you can use a few cloud-based features to manipulate and present this data.


Project for the web offers a few tools for creating projects online but lacks an extensive feature set for planning most projects.

 

WBS Schedule Pro does not have a direct interface to Project Online or Project for the web. 

 

Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client


Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client is simply the new name for the Project Professional and application.


WBS Schedule Pro works with all versions of Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client.



Project Professional and Project Standard


Microsoft Project Professional and Microsoft Project Standard are still available as standalone Desktop applications. If you don't need the Microsoft Online tools you can still purchase these from Microsoft here:


Project Professional and Project Standard from Microsoft


WBS Schedule Pro is compatible with all versions of Project Professional and Project Standard including the most recent Project 2016, Project 2019 and Project 2021 versions.


Note: Project 2019 and Project 2021 still refer to themselves as Project 2016 internally. This means that when setting up Project 2019 or Project 2021 to integrate with WBS Schedule Pro you may see a message that refers to Project 2016. This is normal and the message can be ignored. WBS Schedule Pro will work perfectly with Project 2019 and Project 2021.


Project Plan 1, Project Plan 3, and Project Plan 5


These are 3 subscription models for Microsoft Project.


  • Project Plan 1 is a subscription model that provides access only to Project Online and Project for the web. It does not include the Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client application.


  • Project Plan 3 is a subscription model that provides access to Project Online and Project for the web. It includes the Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client application.


  • Project Plan 5 is a subscription model that provides access to Project Online and Project for the web. It includes the Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client application.


Click here for Microsoft's description of these services: Project Plan Descriptions


If you are deciding on a plan to use with WBS Schedule Pro, choose Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5 since these are the only plans that include the Microsoft Project Online Desktop Client application that is needed to work with WBS Schedule Pro.

Project Server


WBS Schedule Pro works with data from all versions of Project Server via Project Professional and Standard (where applicable). 


See this FAQ on our website for more info: Project Server


Having issues with the integration of WBS Schedule Pro and MS Project?


Most issues with MS Project can be resolved by following these simple steps:

 

1) Make sure you are using the latest version of WBS Schedule Pro. The latest version is 5.1.0025 (go to File-About to check the version). Use the File-Check for Updates feature within WBS Schedule Pro to update to this version (if you don't have the Check for Updates feature than you have a really old version and you should go to our website and download the latest version).


2) Start MS Project and leave it running. Do not log into Project Server.


3) Start WBS Schedule Pro separately (not from within Project).


4) In WBS Schedule Pro, select the Microsoft Project drop down arrow in the upper right corner and select Setup Microsoft Project. Complete the steps.


5) Close MS Project and close WBS Schedule Pro.

 

To test the integration, open MS Project, create a small project, save it and click the button in the upper left corner to create a WBS or Network Chart. If this works, you should be all set. If not, it may be one of these:

 

Click here if you receive a message that says Automation Error

 

Click here if you receive a message that says Unable to Start MS Project or MS Project is not installed

 

Download WBS Schedule Pro


Need to Download WBS Schedule Pro quickly or didn't receive the Demo software after signing up?

If you signed up for the Demo and did not receive the email link to download WBS Schedule Pro it may be a security setting or permission issue on your system.

Click the Download button below to instantly start downloading WBS Schedule Pro. This bypasses the signup required on our website and can sometimes work when the regular download doesn't.
Download

Note: The download button above is for the full WBS Schedule Pro software only and can be used by Demo users and existing customers.


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