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In addition to the outline (outline: A hierarchical structure for a project that shows how some tasks fit within broader groupings. In Project, subtasks are indented under summary tasks.) structure you specify with summary tasks and subtasks and built-in outline and WBS codes, you can specify an alternate structure for your project with outline codes (outline codes: Custom tags you define for tasks or resources that allow you to show a hierarchy of the tasks in your project that is different from WBS codes or outline numbers. You can create up to 10 sets of custom outline codes in your project.).

1. On the View menu, click a sheet view that contains the tasks or resources you want to organize with an outline code, such as the Task Sheet or Resource Sheet.

   To use a view that is not on the View menu, click More Views, click the view you want to use in the Views list, and then click Apply.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Customize, and then click Fields.
3. Click the Custom Outline Codes tab.
4. Under Outline Code, click Task or Resource, and then click the outline code you want to define, such as Outline Code1.
5. Click Rename.
6. In the New name for box, type a name for the custom outline code you want to create, and then click OK.
7. Click Define Code Mask.
8. To specify the outline code for first-level tasks or resources, in the Sequence column, select the character type.
   • Click Numbers to show a numerical outline code for this level.
   • Click Uppercase Letters to show uppercase alphabetical outline codes; for example, A, B, and C for the first three summary tasks in the project.
   • Click Lowercase Letters to show lowercase alphabetical outline codes; for example, a, b, and c for the first three summary tasks in the project.
   • Click Characters to show any combination of numbers and uppercase and lowercase letters; for example, Arch1, Const1, and Insp1 for the first three summary tasks in the project. Choosing characters gives you the most flexibility for entering customized outline codes.

   Microsoft Office Project 2003 displays an asterisk (*) in the outline code field until you define a string of characters for this level of the outline code.

9. In the Length column, select the number of characters you want to use in the first-level outline code.

   For example, type 3 to make three characters the mandatory number of characters to enter in this level of the outline code. The total length of an outline code can be up to 255 characters.

10. In the Separator column, type or select the character you want to use for separating outline code levels.

    By default, the separator character is a period.

    • You can specify different separator characters for each code level.
    • You can type other separator characters, such as an ampersand (&) or a number sign (#).
    • You can display code levels without a separator character. In the Separator column, select the character, and then press DELETE.
11. Repeat steps 6–10 for each outline code level you want to specify.
12. To restrict outline codes to those with values in all levels of the outline code mask you have defined, select the Only allow new codes with values in all levels of mask check box.

    When you select this check box and enter outline codes without a value in each level of the outline code mask, Project displays a message stating that the outline code is not valid.

You can view outline codes by adding an outline code column (field) to the view.

Note  After you create a custom outline code, you can define entries users can choose from when assigning outline codes to tasks or resources by creating a lookup table.