Yes the tables in Microsoft Project can be very revealing, but because there are so many to choose from, you might just miss out on some essential data because you don't know its there. This article introduces you to four of the key tables and also looks at copying and editing a table to create you own tailored version.

When you first launch Project 2007 you'll see the Gantt Chart view with a graphical display of task bars against a calendar timescale on the right, and an Excel like table on the left. The vertical divide between these two can be dragged to the right or left to let you see more of one and less of another.

The left hand table show project data with a particular focus. There are over 20 different tables to choose from, each with a different subject and set of headings. You can see all the choices by clicking the View button on the top menu bar, then choosing Table and you'll see the most popular ones in the sub menu.

If you do this you'll also see the name of the table being currently viewed. If you follow down the sub menu and choose More Tables you'll see a panel listing more listed, with either a task or resource focus.

The Entry Table is shown on start-up. When you launch Project the programme opens with the Gantt Chart view which has the Entry table on the left. The Entry table is used to enter or add new task names, durations, start and end details. Project then obligingly adds the task visually to the Gantt Chart on the right. Once you've built up your project plan with linked tasks on the Gantt Chart, the Entry table shows the resulting start and end details for each task.

You can edit the task details directly in some tables, but not in others. For example some tables show progress calculations which are not editable. Others such as the Entry table do allow data entry, so you can change a task's duration, start or end detail. But editing task start or end details via the Entry table may affect the time constraint on that particular task as displayed on the Gantt Chart.

The Costs table is very useful once resources are added. If you have added Project resources and costings in the Resource sheet, you may have then assigned resources to individual tasks. The Costs table has headings for each task including, fixed cost, total cost and baseline cost. You can add Project fixed costs on a task by task basis directly into this table and Project calculates the total costs per task from the assigned resources, task duration and any added task fixed costs.

The Variance table is really useful after you've set a project baseline and have started tracking. As you record tracking project on a task by task basis (in the Tracking Gantt view), you'll record for each task the actual start and actual end details. The Variances table shows for each task the planned start and end details, actual start and end details and the differences between the two (variances).

The Tracking table is also very helpful as you record project tracking. The table details include task actual duration, start and end details, percentage of task completed and the actual cost incurred.

Once you've become accustomed to using different Project tables, you may want to change details displayed in the table. To do this it's best to copy a table and then amend the copy - that way no harm is done if your edit isn't what you want. In Project you can easily hide table columns, (table columns cannot be deleted), but unless you know the exact field name for the table heading, it can be tricky to restore a hidden heading.

Suppose you want to copy the Cost table because you want to add an additional heading to show Resource Costs, as the Cost table only shows Fixed cost and Total cost. We want to add a heading called ResourceCost and apply a formula to subtract Fixed Cost from Total Cost.

To do this choose View, Table, More tables, and in the More Tables panel select the Cost table on the left. Then click the Copy button on the right and your Copy of Cost Table will appear in the panel. Choose Apply to view it. (Tip: make sure you confirm that you are viewing your copy table not the original Cost table by choosing View, Table).

You can customise the headings available to the copy Cost table by adding a new heading Resource Cost and set it to calculate (Total Cost - Fixed Cost). If you're interested in how to do this in detail, or interested in generally exploring Project 2007's many features, consider attending a training course. The best ones will help to really boost your working knowledge of Project 2007.