If you use Microsoft Project to enter and keep track of tasks (either those assigned to you or to others), you may want to view or print a status report of the tasks. Maybe your boss has asked you for the status report, or maybe you just want an overview of your current project. Microsoft Project Central, a Web-based companion program to Microsoft Project, offers project managers and team members a way to share project information with status reports.

Using Microsoft Project Central, project managers can create customized status report forms for their team members. Team members will be notified of upcoming and overdue status reports when they log on to Microsoft Project Central. In addition to responding to status report requests, team members can create and submit their own unrequested status reports to keep managers updated, as well as responding to requests.

Creating a status report in Microsoft Project Central

Depending on whether you log on to Microsoft Project Central as a manager or as a team member, you will have varying control over preparing status reports.

Status reports are normally submitted regularly (for instance, weekly). The default status report format includes default headings, but you can customize the content to suit your organization and your project management needs. You can also compile results after receiving them, to be viewed in print or online. Team members and project managers can also view an archive of previously submitted status reports.

These activities can all be performed on the Status Report page in Microsoft Project Central. On the Home page, click the Status Report tab, choose an activity in the Actions pane, and follow the onscreen instructions to fill in information and set up the report.