Use the Work Breakdown Structure window to create, view, and edit the open project's work breakdown structure (WBS). You can group and sort the WBS, customize columns, and open and save WBS layouts.
To display the Work Breakdown Structure window, do one of the following:
- Click
on the Project toolbar. - On the Project menu, choose WBS.
Refer to the following sections of this topic for information and links to concepts and tasks about working with the WBS in the Work Breakdown Structure window:
- Working in the Work Breakdown Structure window
- WBS concepts
- WBS tasks
Working in the Work Breakdown Structure window
When working in the Work Breakdown Structure window, you can:
- Use the Edit menu on the Menu bar, the Edit toolbar, or shortcut (right-click) menu to add, delete, cut, copy, and paste WBS elements.
- Use the Layout Options bar, the View menu on the Menu bar, the Layout toolbar, or shortcut (right-click) menu to customize WBS layouts. For example, you can customize columns of the WBS table, group and sort WBS elements, specify a timescale, customize Gantt Chart bars, and open or save WBS layouts.
- Use the Layout Options bar, the View menu on the Menu bar, or the Top Layout toolbar to show or hide the WBS table, WBS chart, and Gantt Chart in the top layout.
- Use WBS Details to view or define properties for the selected WBS element. To show or hide WBS Details, choose View, Show on Bottom, Details, or click
on the Bottom Layout toolbar. - Use the arrows on the Move toolbar to move the selected WBS element around in the hierarchy.
Tips
- After opening the Work Breakdown Structure window, the window remains open until you close all open projects or you close the window; if you open or navigate to another window without closing the Work Breakdown Structure window, click the WBS tab to return to the window at any time.
- To expand or collapse individual elements of the WBS hierarchy, right-click in the Work Breakdown Structure window and choose Expand All or Collapse All.
- A padlock icon
on top of a folder icon indicates a user has the associated project opened in Exclusive access mode.
WBS concepts
The following concepts relate directly to working with the WBS:
- Calculating earned value using resource curves or manual future period buckets
- Earned Value
- OBS security
- Organizational breakdown structure (OBS) overview
- Using a WBS for top-down planning
- Using weighted milestones in the work breakdown structure
- WBS status types
- Work Breakdown Structure
WBS tasks
You can perform all of the following tasks in the Work Breakdown Structure window:
- Add a WBS element
- Assign an OBS element to a WBS element
- Assign WBS weighted milestones
- Assign work products and documents to a WBS element from the Work Breakdown Structure window
- Change the work breakdown structure chart display
- Change the work breakdown structure table display
- Copy and paste a work breakdown structure element
- Cut and paste a work breakdown structure element
- Define earned value settings for a specific work breakdown structure element
- Delete a work breakdown structure element
- Determine a WBS element's status
- Display work breakdown structure details
- Display work product and document details in the Work Breakdown Structure window
- Edit a work breakdown structure element
- Move around the WBS chart
- Open a work product or document from the Work Breakdown Structure window
- Remove work product and document assignments in the Work Breakdown Structure window
- Save a layout in the Projects or Work Breakdown Structure window
- View the WBS