Introduction to

WHAT IS PROJECTLIBRE ?
• A free and open-source project management software intended ultimately as a standalone replacement for Microsoft Project
• Written in the Java programming language
• Certified to run on Linux, MacOS and MS Windows
• Released under the Common Public Attribution License (CPAL) and qualifies as Free Software according to the Free Software Foundation.

SHORT HISTORY OF PROJECTLIBRE ?

• It was developed by the founders of the abandoned project OpenProj in 2008.

• In 2009 support for OpenProj was suspended
• In 2012 the founders released a new version called: ProjectLibre
• In 2016 they released a cloud version as well

FEATURES OF PROJECTLIBRE ?

• Microsoft Project 2010 compatibility • PERT graph only (not PERT technique)
• Ribbon user interface • Resource breakdown structure (RBS) chart
• Earned value costing • Task usage reports
• Gantt chart • Work breakdown structure (WBS) chart

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

OVERVIEW

1. Creating a Project

2. Creating a Calendar

3. Creating Tasks

4. Creating Resources

5. Inserting new columns

6. Creating a Project Baseline

7. Printing of a GANTT Chart

8. Creating Reports

Example of a project created in ProjectLibre

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

1. CREATING A PROJECT

Creating a new Project, opening an existing Project and Saving a Project

There are two ways to create/open a Project: There are more ways to save a Project file:

1. From the welcome window 1. In the FILE Ribbon by clicking on the “Save” tag or icon
saves files as a “FileName.pod” file which is native to
2. From the New/Open from the FILE Ribbon ProjectLibre
For a New Project a dialog box pops up where you Name your Project, your 2. Alternatively, clicking on “Save as” allows you to save in
Project Manager and the Start Date  or Finish Date  the alternative “Microsoft Project.xml” format.

Changes the
Start Date to
Finish Date

From here you

can choiose
the file format

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

2. CREATING A CALENDAR

Editing the Standard Calendar and Defining your own Calendar

There are many calendar options. You can define your own working and non-working days, and different calendars for different resources.
Click on the ‘Calendar’ button on top. (It should be available whether you are at the File, Task and Resource section)

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

3. CREATING TASKS

Work Breakdown Structure

ProjectLibre starts with a worksheet for entering tasks.

To enter tasks following steps are performed:
1. Go to Task Tab and select Gantt Chart view from the view menu.
2. In the spreadsheet enter information of all the activities; (i.e.,task name, duration,
start date, end date, predecessors and various other fields).
3. You can double click on the activity to add more information
Predecessor
4. For predecessor activity, you need to write activity number Activity Number

GANT Chart
5. After that the Gantt Chart will be completed

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

3. CREATING TASKS

Grouping Tasks in Logical Order

Outlining helps organize your tasks into more manageable chunks. You can indent related tasks under a more
general task, creating a hierarchy.
• the general tasks are called summary tasks;
• the indented tasks are subtasks
A summary task's start and finish dates are determined by the start and finish dates of its earliest and latest subtasks

Summary
Task

Subtask

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

4. CREATING RESOURCES

Creating different resource types

You can use the Resource Sheet in ProjectLibre to create a list of the people, equipment, and material resources that make up your team and carry out
the project tasks.
• Work resources - are people or equipment
• Material resources - are consumable materials or supplies, such as concrete, wood, or nails

If you click on the “Resources” icon, the main display window opens up to a spreadsheet that allows you to enter, select, and modify resources and how
they will be used..
Incidentally, you can also reach the Resource spreadsheet by choosing View and clicking on the Resources icon

There are 2
types of
resources to
choose from

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

4. CREATING RESOURCES

Assigning Resources to Tasks

Once the resources are created, you can go back to the View menu, and click Gantt chart to see again the tasks, and then when you double click a task
you can add a resource to this task by using the tab “Resources”.

You can also

assign
Resources from
the Icon in the
Task Tab

You can choose from

the Created
Resource
spreadsheet

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

5. INSERTING NEW COLUMNS

Pre-defined and Custom columns

In a sheet view, select a column by clicking its title. This displays the options to Insert, Hide or Find a certain column.
By choosing Insert Column you can add an already pre-defined Field which you want to show in your Spreadsheet (ex. like Actual Cost) or create your own field by
renaming custom Filed (Ex. Text1)

Right click one of

the column title

Right click on tiltel

and choose
Rename for custom
filed column

Pre-defined
column fileds list

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

 6. CREATING A PROJECT BASELINE

Measuring the real performance of the project against initial schedule

After planning is finished and before the project begins a ‘snapshot’ can be saved as a baseline for the initial project plan.
In the File tab at the menu on the top, with Save Baseline button it is possible to set the baselines of the most important project milestones or whenever there is a
significant change.
• There can be up to 10 baselines.
• It is also possible to do only for selected tasks in the Project.
• A shadow will appear below each project task on the Gantt diagram. The ‘shadow’ represents the baseline.
• Even if you change a task, the shadow remains the same until you ‘Save Baseline’ again.

For adjustments
you can also
Clear or Update a The “Shadow”
Baseline Represents the
Saved Baseline

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

7. PRINTING OF A GANTT CHART

Print preview and page settings

To print the GANTT CHART of the project you can go to the File Tab choose the Print button or Preview before printing.
From the Preview button you are able to select your page size and other printing properties.

You can choose

from the
Standard Page
Formats
You can also
Export to PDF.
format

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre

8. CREATING REPORTS

Project details Resource Information Task Information Who Does What

Report types and usage Default Baseline Assigned
Dates: Start, Finish, Actual Start
and Actual Finish Earned Value Constraint Dates Resources
Duration: Scheduled, Remaining, Earned Value – Cost Cost Basic Report
There are four reports available: Earned Value – Schedule Default Name and Id
Actual and Percent Complete
Name Earned Value Resource Usage
• Project Details Work: Scheduled, Remaining and
Actual Earned Value – Cost Tasks Assigned
• Resource Information Costs: Scheduled, Remaining, Earned Value – Schedule
Actual and Variance Name
• Task Information Along with notes. Schedule
Schedule (CPM)
• Who Does What Schedule Variance
Summary
Tracking
In order to view the report click on View, then ‘Report’ and then Report: Project Details’ Work

You can Save your

Report or Export it
to an Excel sheet

8-Nov-18 | Introduction to Project Libre