Microsoft Project Online desktop client service description

Article
04/25/2023

Microsoft Project Online desktop client is a project management program that features automated scheduling, project resource management, and built-in reporting. Project Online desktop client can be used as a standalone application or it can connect to Project Online. Project Online desktop client is the subscription version of the Project Professional desktop client.

Available plans

Project Online Desktop Client is available through two subscriptions: Project Plan 3 and Project Plan 5. For more information on subscriptions that enable users for Microsoft Project Online desktop, see Compare Project Management Solutions and Costs | Microsoft Project.

Feature availability

The following table lists the major Project Online desktop client features available across plans (this table may change without notice).

Project Online desktop client features

Feature	Description
Project and task management
Baselines	Set project baselines to monitor current performance against past performance.
Calendar view	Track important project and task deadlines and milestones on a weekly or monthly calendar view.
Critical path	Visually track the tasks that represent the longest path through the project.
Deadlines	Establish and track important project and task deadlines.
Dependencies	Set and visually track dependencies between tasks.
Gantt view	Visually track and understand project dates, dependencies, and assignments in a hierarchical Gantt view.
Grid view	Plan and manage projects using a hierarchical grid view of tasks.
Master projects	Group smaller related projects under a single master project.
Milestones	Establish and track important project and task milestones.
Network diagram	View tasks, dependencies, and the critical path of your project in a network diagram view.
Task scheduling	Use task start and end dates, effort, work, lead and lag times, and dependencies to get an accurate schedule of project dates.
Team planner	Track the allocation and capacity of all project team members, including non-project work and non-working time.
Timelines	Visually track and understand project dates, dependencies, and assignments in a timeline view.
Inactive tasks	Use inactive tasks to track work without affecting resource availability or allocation and without affecting the project schedule.
Summary tasks	Plan, manage, and track deliverables and phases using summary tasks.
Task inspector	View factors that affect the scheduling of a task, such as a changed start date or error messages.
Task path analysis	See how one task connects to other tasks by highlighting its task path throughout the project.
Resource and financial management
Resource leveling	Resolve resource conflicts or over allocations by automatically leveling the assignments.
Work, generic, and material resources	Add resources to a project, such as work resources like people, generic resources like carpenters, and materials resources like computers and cement.
Project costing and budgeting	Compare planned progress and budget to actual time and costs.
Resource costing	Track and manage the resource costs of your project.
Reporting
Custom reports	Build custom reports for projects, programs, portfolios, and resources.
Out-of-box reporting	Use pre-built reports to understand project, program, portfolio, and resource data.
PDF and XPS output	Save a Project file as a PDF or XPS file.
Usability
Auto-complete	Get suggestions for task or resource names and dependencies as you type.
Filtered views	Filter project plans by any value in the plan.
Graphical indicators	Understand task status, assignments, and more with graphical indicators.
Multi-level undo	Undo multiple changes at the same time by using the Undo menu.
Sorting and grouping	Use custom sorting and grouping to get a focused view of your project, tasks, and resources.
Customization and integration
Custom fields	Add custom fields at the project, task, and resource level to track data important to your organization and projects.
Forms	Create and deploy custom forms to capture important project data.
Formulas	Calculate and capture important data using formulas across tasks and projects.
Templates	Create templates for common projects including project plans, teams, and assignments.
.mpp import/export	Create new projects from existing .mpp files or create an .mpp file of an existing project.
Excel import/export	Create new projects from Excel files or create an Excel file of an existing project.

Learn more

For more information about Project Online Desktop Client, check out the following resources:

Create and Install a Project

Service considerations

Project Online Desktop Client is available in commercial, education and GCC, GCC High and DoD subscriptions.

Learn more about Office 365 US Government here.

Messaging

To stay informed of upcoming changes, including new and changed features, planned maintenance, or other important announcements, visit the Message Center. For more information, see Message center.

Licensing terms

For licensing terms and conditions for products and services purchased through Microsoft Commercial Volume Licensing Programs, see the Product Terms site.

Accessibility

Microsoft remains committed to the security of your data and the accessibility of our services. For more information, see the Microsoft Trust Center and the Office Accessibility Center.