Replies

1. 
   OneofmanyBobs | Nov 04, 2003 01:59am | #1

   Microsoft Project.  Expensive and complicated.  But, it works.  Gantt, pert, resource allocation, employee schedules, pretty much everything.

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Nov 04, 2003 02:35am | #2

   Amen on Microsoft Project being complicated.   If the job is complex enough to need automated Gantt charting, Project will suck up an infinite amount of time.  Back when I was a professional program manager, I preferred to keep track of projects with a big whiteboard, lots of yellow stickies, and my brain.   I could see the whole project better, and it took less time.  When I needed to make presentations, I'd make legible Gantt charts with any simple graphics program.    The presentation charts wouldn't have any of the guts that makes Project so complicated -- automated dependencies and the like.  They'd just present to people what they needed to know.

1. 
   darrel | Nov 04, 2003 03:45am | #3

   MS Project is not only complicated, but hasn't been updated for the Mac in eons.

   MS project is really just a tool for contract PMs to produce reams of documentation to give the impression that they were productive. ;o)

   I do what Jamie does. If you only need Gantt charts, use a nice illustration app (Freehand, Illustrator, Corel Draw, etc.) Ed Tufte has a nice bit of information on effective Gantt charts.

   http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000076&topic_id=1&topic=Ask%20E%2eT%2e

1. 
   CloudHidden | Nov 04, 2003 04:20am | #4

   MS Project gets way beyond gantt charts into CPM and other complicated concepts. A product that's been around even before I produced Mac software is AEC Fastrack Schedule. http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=403723 They've kept it current and viable through all these years, and it does its job well.

1. 
   darrel | Nov 06, 2003 05:19am | #5

   Just came across another Mac Project Management app today:

   http://www.jtechsoftworks.com/

2. 
   CapnMac | Nov 06, 2003 08:27am | #6

   MS project is really just a tool

   And a tool with lousy presentaion graphics.  The tracking of reality versus planned is pretty crummy, too.  Very sensitive to which Office installation you have, too (bidirectionally, as well).

   Very vunerable to PHB meddling, too.  In two ways, no less.  First way is when PHB has no ideas about which tasks are interdependant (or in what order).  No fun like chsing a critical path with no slack that is missing several key steps ("What do you mean, the project will take an additional 4 months?  I doesn't say that on my computer!")  Second way is when PHB changes the priorities on "your" copy.  Voila!  Project is back on time (sure, they can hang 29,000 sf of ceiling grid & tile in 5 days, even if the sloped glass ceiling is not fully installed . . . )

   MS project is over complicated to make a simple chart, and under sophisticated to create a detailed planning system.  Any employee/contractor times generated are automatically suspect to me--unless I get to meet the poor schmo who is stuck with generating the hoohaw, and I find out that reasonable amounts of slack, or decent dependencies are built in (12 acres & 90 parking spaces of site work, no problem, 3 weeks, if the weather is good; whaddya mean, we got 2, an' it's raining!?"Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

2. 
   SusannaKat | Jul 31, 2019 01:07pm | #7

   I am just starting out with project management, and for a noob MS Project was too much to handle.

   Are there any newbie-friendly options?

3. 
   florida | Jul 31, 2019 01:32pm | #8

   You're posting on a 16-year-old thread. Start a new one for better response.

1. 
   SusannaKat | Aug 08, 2019 02:23pm | #9

   I don't think it matters how old the thread is - it's coming up in google search, so other people will be arriving here too, looking for answers.

   Found this list:https://exceltemplate.net/free-project-management-tools/ - maybe someone can comment on the best tool from this list?

1. 
   cussnu2 | Aug 08, 2019 05:25pm | #10

   I love you people who have "figured out" you can't put your SPAM in the first post so you wait for a response and then hit with the SPAM.

   Do you really get paid enough to do this to your fellow human beings?

1. 
   SusannaKat | Aug 09, 2019 03:43am | #11

   lol, I run my own company, I wish I had time for spamming people.

   I would really appreciate if someone shared their experience if free tools, if they have any.

   I am leaning towards https://www.ganttproject.biz/