Use for MS Project by patent attorneys?

[Harlan]

Does anyone have experience in using MS Project for drafting of
documents, specifically patent applications, where there are deadlines,
i.e. bar dates, office actions from PTO, responses, etc? These dates
might be known or unknown, but do occur in the future.

I think MS Project will work well for scheduling these matters, and
being a newbie to Project, I would like to give it a try.

Thanks in advance,

JH.

 

[davegb]

Project will work fine for what you are doing. It might be a little
easier to understand if you do a little studying on Critical Path
Method Scheduling, which is what Project is intended to do.

 

[Harlan]

Can you (or anyone) recommend a good book I should study, specifically
towards teaching attorneys how to use MS Project? Books like the
Project Bible are too broad. Thanks in advance, Jim.

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

Can you (or anyone) recommend a good book I should study, specifically
towards teaching attorneys how to use MS Project? Books like the
Project Bible are too broad. Thanks in advance, Jim.

Well I generaly do not do this but since you asked: I have a book out
that is a beginner level book for Project that is very task focused
that gives specific steps for doing things like: Adding tasks, setting
options, assigning tasks, reporting, etc. It is nowhere near as all
inclusive as books like the Project bible or the Special Edition Using
Project books but *I* think it is a great starter book. Here is the
amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0789730693/qid=1112733595/
sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-6824332-0519044?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

The MS Press Step by Step book is also very good. I know the guys that
wrote it and it is good stuff too. (just to be fair!)

 

[Harlan]

Just put-in an order for it... not a bad deal at <$17 with shipping.
Thanks.

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

Just put-in an order for it... not a bad deal at <$17 with shipping.
Thanks.

Cool. I hope you like it.

 

[davegb]

Brian,
I have a question regarding your book. How do you explain linking? Do
you tell them to click and drag through most or all of the tasks, or to
link individual tasks?
Thanks,
Dave

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

Brian,
I have a question regarding your book. How do you explain linking? Do
you tell them to click and drag through most or all of the tasks, or
to link individual tasks?
Thanks,
Dave

I show both methods

 

[davegb]

Good to know! The first thing I check when I look at books or
coursebooks for Project is how they explain linking. So many say to
just click and drag down the list, then click the Link icon! I tell my
students that if that's how they can schedule their projects, GO HOME.
You don't need scheduling software for that!
I'll see if I can find a copy of your book locally to look over. If I
like what I see, I'll recommend it to my students and clients. I've
been looking for a simpler introductory type book for a while.

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

Good to know! The first thing I check when I look at books or
coursebooks for Project is how they explain linking. So many say to
just click and drag down the list, then click the Link icon! I tell my
students that if that's how they can schedule their projects, GO HOME.
You don't need scheduling software for that!
I'll see if I can find a copy of your book locally to look over. If I
like what I see, I'll recommend it to my students and clients. I've
been looking for a simpler introductory type book for a while.

I talk about dragging from bar to bar as well as selecting and clicking
the link button. I Think showing options is important.


Thanks for looking at it. Ithikkit is good stuff bat Thawed bit of a
bias.