How to Use MS Project WBS Codes in Microsoft Project 2013?
In this article, we will discuss how to use the MS Project WBS codes that are still supported in Microsoft Project 2013. This tutorial is also applicable for Project 2016 , Project 2019 and Office 365 users.
You’ll learn:
- MS Project WBS Code – An Overview
- How to Create a WBS Code in MS Project?
- How to Renumber WBS MS Project Code?
- FAQs – WBS Microsoft Project
WBS Microsoft Project – An Overview
A Microsoft Project work breakdown structure (WBS) is a decomposition of a project into parts. It is usually hierarchical in nature. WBS codes provide a means of numbering the tasks in a project according to such a hierarchy.
They are often used according to standards developed by national and international bodies. It can provide a valuable link to other management and administrative elements of projects, such as finance and procurement.
In earlier versions, MS Project WBS code was a major feature. Partly, because many users of project management software were using the codes.
In more recent times, project management software is being used by a much wider range of people and WBS codes are generally used less. But for those who do use them, they are still an essential feature of Project 2013.
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How to Create a WBS Code in MS Project?
Let’s take an existing project and create WBS codes for the tasks in it.
Open the project, and select the Project tab. In the Properties group click WBS.
Select the option Define Code….
The WBS Code Definition dialogue is used to define the WBS codes that we need.
At the top of the dialogue, there is a preview field that shows how the codes will look. This is built up as you make selections in the dialogue.
Next, there is the first user-enterable field where you enter a prefix for the codes. In this project, we’re building a house. Let’s suppose that we are building 6 houses code A-F. This is the plan for House B. So, we’ll use a prefix of B for the WBS codes in this project.
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Now, you can define as many levels below this as we need. Our lowest (outline) level of task is 3, so just define codes to the 3rd level. At each level, you can choose from the available Sequence options.
You can specify a length for that part of the code and can select a separator. Note that you could also choose to have no separator at all.
As you make these choices the resulting WBS codes can be previewed at the top of the dialogue.
Note the two important options near the bottom of the dialogue. One specifies whether you want Project 2013 to generate WBS codes for new tasks.
Checking the other causes Project 2013 to verify the uniqueness of newly (manually) entered WBS codes.
Click OK.
To see the WBS codes you need to show the WBS column in the table. Having done that, this is what some of the codes look like.
How to Renumber Microsoft Project WBS Code?
One very important aspect of Microsoft Project WBS codes is that although they can be automatically created, they are not automatically modified when you change the schedule.
You might expect them to be renumbered if you change the sequence of tasks in a plan or insert new tasks, but they aren’t.
The reason for this is that it is often the case that once a task has Microsoft Project WBS codes you definitely do not want that code to change as you may already have used it in references to other entities inside or outside your project.
For example, the code may have been used to procure resources from an external source.
However, you may actually want or need to renumber the MS Project WBS code and there is a facility within Project 2013 to do this. Select the Project tab and then click WBS in the Properties group. Select Renumber….
The WBS Renumber dialogue lets you renumber the entire project, or you can select some tasks before you invoke it and it will just renumber those.
Suggested Reads:
Working with the Critical Path in Microsoft Project
Subtasks and Summary Tasks in Microsoft Project
How to Open an MPP File without Microsoft Project? 3 Best methods
Take a look at our free, 6-hour Microsoft Project Course RIGHT HERE.
Still, confused? These tutorials from the Simon Sez IT YouTube Channel might help.
How to Use WBS Code in MS Project
How to Use WBS Code in Microsoft Project? Part 2
FAQs – MS Project WBS Code
What is a work breakdown structure?
Work Breakdown Structure is a tool to organize and track progress in a project. It breakdown a large project into smaller units so that they are more manageable in the long run.
What is a WBS Code in MS Project?
A WBS code is a method to assign hierarchical numbers to broken down tasks of a bigger project. This is done for ease of reference by other management departments.
Closing Thoughts
That’s everything about how to use WBS codes in MS Project. If you have any questions regarding this or any other Excel feature please let us know in the comments. We are always happy to help.
If you need more high-quality MS Project guides, please check out our free MS Project resources centre.
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Simon Calder
Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA.He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!
