Hi,

in my previous post I’ve explained how to use Microsoft Project for the Web, using Board – Group by Progress.

Today I will show you how to use Board  group by Buckets.

OK. I have a Project, which looks like this:

I will now switch to Group by Bucket:

What is this? Let me explain this Board by example. Let’s say that you are working on Software Development Project. And each and every Task should be analyzed, then developed, then tested,  and then it is done. Pleas do not kill me because I know this is old way of developing software, but I promise you that in one of my next posts I will show you how to do Scrum in Project for Web.

OK! First I will rename Bucket1 with Analyzing:

and then:

Now I will add (using Add bucket) button, Developing, Testing and Done buckets:

OK. Now, let’s say that Task 1 is Analyzed, and it is moved to Developing. I will drag it from Analyzing bucket and drop it to Developing:

Be aware of this: When you move any Task from bucket to bucket, % Complete wouldn’t change. Obviously since Task is analyzed, and moved to development some work is already done. I can use many was to change % Complete. First is that I can click on this Task and put, for example 25%:

Or, I can go to the Board – Group by Progress, and change it there:

As you can see, Task 1 I moved to in Progress, because I put 25% in % Complete (in board – Group by Bucket!)

Now I will move form this board Task 2 to in Progress, and it will be automatically marked ad 50% completed:

As you can see, Task2 is 50% completed, but it is still in Analyzing Bucket. Why? Because from here you are tracking progress, not phases (Analyzing, Developing, etc.). Task 2 is marked ad 50% completed. But, let’s say that it is also 25% completed, and it has to be in Developing Bucket. Can I do it from Group by Progress bucket? Sure I can. I will click on this particular Task and I will put 25% at % Complete, but I will also choose Developing bucket:

and I will get:

IF I switch to the Group by Bucket board, I will see:

Now, let’s say that Task 1 was passed Testing phase, and it is Done. I can move it to the Done column in this Board, but it will not be in Done column in Group by Progress board, unless I mark it like 100% done. So I’m going to do it:

Finally I will click on Task 1 and put 100% in % Complete field and I will get:

Task 1 is disappeared, because it is done , but if I click on Completed (see the picture above), I will get:

If I go back to Group by Progress board, I will see:

Remember this. No matter in which board am I, if I put 0% Complete Task will jump into Not started column. If I put value greater than 0% and less then 100% it will jump in In Progress column. If I put 100%, then it will  jump in Completed column.

To conclude: Group by Progress Board is not editable (e.g. you cannot change bucket name, or add a bucket). It is here for Tracking purpose only, e.g is any progress according to time done (25%, 37%, etc.).

On the other hand: Group by Bucket Board is fully editable, and you can add buckets. It is here for organizing purpose. Imagine that I have 1300 Tasks. Some of them may be Architectural, some may be Constructional, etc. Let’s say that I’m tracking Constructional project, and I am going to track building a house. Some Tasks ca be related to ground floor, some for the first floor, some for roof, etc.

OR! Sprints! And that is what I’m going cover in ma next post!

Regards!