Microsoft Project — “Tables” Menu (Every Item Explained)

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Microsoft Project — “Tables” Menu (Every Item Explained)

A Table controls which columns you see on the left side of a view (Task Sheet, Gantt Chart, Tracking Gantt, etc.). Tables do not change the schedule—they only change what data is visible.

📊 Table = columns 👀 Only changes visibility 🚫 No schedule change 🏗 Real project use
Think of it like: “Which information am I looking at right now?”
Tip: Use Show All to read everything quickly.
🏗 Built-In Tables Microsoft Project default tables (columns sets) ⌄

Built-in tables are pre-made column sets. Pick a table depending on what you want to review: cost, progress, float (LS/LF), baseline variance, resources, etc.

Cost Financial view (Cost, Actual, Remaining, Variance) ›

Purpose

Financial view of the schedule: where money is planned vs spent.

Typical columns

  • Cost
  • Fixed Cost
  • Actual Cost
  • Remaining Cost
  • Cost Variance

Use it when

  • Reviewing project budget
  • Checking cost overruns
  • Preparing cost reports
Construction example: “Which activities are costing more than planned?”
Entry ✅ (Default) Main working table for building the schedule ›

Purpose

Task creation and logic building (the table most planners/engineers use every day).

Typical columns

  • Task Name
  • Duration
  • Start
  • Finish
  • Predecessors
  • Resource Names

Use it when

  • Building the schedule
  • Linking tasks
  • Editing durations and logic
📌 This is the main working table for planners and site engineers.
Hyperlink Document control (link drawings, checklists, files) ›

Purpose

Document control & references from tasks.

Typical columns

  • Hyperlink
  • Hyperlink Address
  • Hyperlink Subaddress

Use it when

  • Linking drawings / shop drawings
  • Linking method statements
  • Linking Google Drive/SharePoint files
Construction example: Click the task → open drawing PDF or inspection checklist.
Schedule CPM analysis (ES/EF/LS/LF, Float/Slack) ›

Purpose

Early/Late date analysis for CPM scheduling and float control.

Typical columns

  • Early Start
  • Early Finish
  • Late Start
  • Late Finish
  • Total Slack
  • Free Slack

Use this table when

  • Analyzing float
  • Identifying critical and near-critical tasks
  • Delay recovery planning
📌 Very important for professional CPM scheduling.
Tracking Progress updating (Actuals, Remaining, % Complete) ›

Purpose

Progress updating: record actual start/finish and remaining work.

Typical columns

  • % Complete
  • Actual Start
  • Actual Finish
  • Actual Duration
  • Remaining Duration

Use it when

  • Updating site progress weekly/monthly
  • Reporting actual performance
Construction example: Slab casting = 100% • Walls = 45%.
Variance Baseline vs current (Start/Finish/Duration/Cost variance) ›

Purpose

Compare planned (baseline) vs current schedule to identify delays/changes.

Typical columns

  • Start Variance
  • Finish Variance
  • Duration Variance
  • Cost Variance

Use it when

  • Comparing baseline vs current schedule
  • Identifying delays
  • Client reporting
📌 Requires a baseline to be meaningful.
Work Labor/effort view (Work, Actual, Remaining, Variance) ›

Purpose

Labor & effort tracking (hours/days of work) for productivity and leveling.

Typical columns

  • Work
  • Actual Work
  • Remaining Work
  • Work Variance

Use it when

  • Tracking manpower effort (hours/days)
  • Resource productivity analysis
  • Resource leveling
Construction example: Planned 120 man-hours • Actual 150 man-hours → investigate inefficiency.
Summary High-level overview for management (phases/WBS) ›

Purpose

High-level management overview (phases and major WBS sections).

Typical columns

  • Task Name
  • Start
  • Finish
  • Duration
  • % Complete (summary level)

Use it when

  • Presenting to management
  • Reviewing project phases
  • High-level planning
📌 Best used with summary tasks only (or with a Summary Tasks filter).
Usage Time-phased work/cost (Task Usage / Resource Usage views) ›

Purpose

Shows time-phased resource data (work/cost per day/week/month).

Used in

  • Task Usage View
  • Resource Usage View

Use it when

  • Analyzing daily labor demand
  • Checking overloads
  • Planning equipment usage
🛠 Table Management Commands Reset, save your layout, manage tables ⌄

These commands help you repair, standardize, and reuse table layouts across projects.

Reset to Default Restore the table to Microsoft’s original layout ›

What it does

Restores the current table to Microsoft’s original default columns and order.

Use it when

  • You messed up columns
  • Someone edited the table badly
⚠️ Custom column changes will be lost.
Save Fields as a New Table Save your current columns as a custom reusable table ›

What it does

Saves your current column setup as a custom table.

Why it’s recommended

  • Create company standard tables
  • Create construction-specific views
  • Reuse layouts across projects

Example custom table

“Construction Progress Table”: Task Name | Start | Finish | % Complete | Total Slack | Responsible

More Tables… Open Table Manager (edit/copy/rename/set defaults) ›

What it does

Opens the full Table Manager: edit, copy, rename tables, and set default tables.

Use it for

  • Professional schedule standards
  • Template development
  • Advanced customization
🧠 Very Important Concept Tables + Filters + Groups = power ⌄

Example (Site Control)

  • Table: Schedule
  • Filter: Late Tasks
  • Group by: Critical

Result: You instantly see which late tasks will delay handover.

🏗 Recommended Tables for Construction Which table to use for each purpose ⌄
Purpose Best Table
Build schedule Entry
Update progress Tracking
Analyze delays Variance
Control float (LS/LF) Schedule
Resource control Work
Budget review Cost
Management report Summary
Next step: If you want, I can help you build a construction-standard table set, recommend exact tables per phase, or design a custom Weekly Site Control table.
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