How To Create A Wbs In Ms Project 2016

How to Create an MS Project Subtask? 5 Easy Steps

Note: This tutorial on how to add an MS Project subtask is suitable for Project versions 2013/2016/2019.

In this tutorial, learn how to give your project structure by adding subtasks and summary tasks. I'll cover:

What are subtasks and summary tasks?
Video Tutorial – How to Add Subtasks in MS Project?
How to Add Subtask in MS Project?
Step 1 – Create An MS Project Subtask
Step 2 – Add Subtasks for the Entire Project
Step 3- Show or Hide Subtask in MS Project
Step 4 – Moving Summary Tasks and Subtasks
Step 5 – Adding a Project Summary Task
CLOSING THOUGHTS

Related:

What are subtasks and summary tasks?

Project plans can get complicated. For any large project, there will be many tasks, and you must organize your plan in Microsoft Project, so it is logical, has structure, and is easy to understand.

One way to define the structure of a project is to use subtasks and summary tasks. In Project, an indented task becomes a subtask of the task above it, which becomes a summary task. A summary task consists of subtasks, and it shows their combined information.

Video Tutorial – How to Add Subtasks in MS Project?

To see the MS Project subtask in action, please watch the following video tutorial:

How to Add Subtask in MS Project?

In this example, I have a project plan for a wedding. The plan contains numerous tasks that need completing before the wedding day. Currently, the tasks are just listed out in Microsoft Project with their duration, start and end times, etc. but with no real structure.

To give the project structure and make it easier to understand, I am going to add subtasks and summary tasks to separate the top-level tasks.

Step 1 – Create An MS Project Subtask

In the example below, I have a task called 'Attire.' Tasks 3,4 and 5, fall under the heading of attire, so I am going to make them into subtasks.

Select Task 3,4 and 5

From theTask tab, in theSchedule group, click theIndent Task button or pressAlt+Shift+Right

The tasks are now indented and have effectively become subtasks of Attire.

Attire is now being displayed in bold as it is a summary task. Summary tasks are collapsible and expandable to help when modifying large projects.

*Subtasks start appearing with an indent*

Step 2 – Add Subtasks for the Entire Project

Go through the project, adding subtasks and summary tasks where necessary.

You can also create subtasks of subtasks utilizing the same method. In this example, I have added three new tasks and made them subtasks of the 'Bridal Party Fitting' subtask. The subtask then becomes a summary task.

*Create subtasks for subtasks if needed*

Step 3- Show or Hide Subtask in MS Project

In larger projects, you might want only to show certain tasks at any given time.

From theView tab, in theData group, click the drop-down arrow underOutline.

Make your selection depending on which tasks you would like to show or hide.

*Show/Hide Subtasks in MS Project using the Outline option*

Step 4 – Moving Summary Tasks and Subtasks

You can move summary tasks and subtasks using the drag and drop method. All subtasks will move with the summary task. When you move an individual subtask, it will take with it its level of indentation.

*You can move the subtasks within the project by dragging and dropping them.*

Step 5 – Adding a Project Summary Task

You can show a project as a summary task in the task list. A project summary task displays your whole project on a single row with its own summary taskbar.

From theFormat tab, in theShow/Hide group, tick theProject Summary Task box.

*Add a Project Summary task to summarize the entire project*

Suggested Reads:

How To Combine Projects In Microsoft Project 2016

How To Change A Task Duration In Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project 2019: Linking Tasks And Dependencies

CLOSING THOUGHTS

That is how you add MS Project subtask. If you have any doubts regarding this or any other MS Project feature please let us know in the comments.

For more information relating to subtasks and summary tasks in Microsoft Project, please check out the following links:

OnePager – Summary Tasks in Microsoft Project

Microsoft Support – Create and work with subtasks and summary tasks in Project desktop

For more free training resources on Microsoft Project take a look at:

Free Microsoft Project Training Course
Microsoft Project 2019 – Ribbon and Toolbar
How to Open an MPP file without Microsoft Project

Take a look at the full range of Microsoft Project courses available from Simon Sez IT.

Deborah Ashby

Deborah Ashby is a TAP Accredited IT Trainer, specializing in the design, delivery, and facilitation of Microsoft courses both online and in the classroom. She has over 11 years of IT Training Experience and 24 years in the IT Industry. To date, she's trained over 10,000 people in the UK and overseas at companies such as HMRC, the Metropolitan Police, Parliament, SKY, Microsoft, Kew Gardens, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. She's a qualified MOS Master for 2010, 2013, and 2016 editions of Microsoft Office and is COLF and TAP Accredited and a member of The British Learning Institute.