WBS Schedule Pro 5.1

A work breakdown structure (WBS) allows organizing the work of a team into smaller manageable units.

WBS Schedule Pro is specifically intended to help you plan and manage your projects using the WBS approach. In this respect, an important step consists in creating charts in which the necessary tasks are outlined. Fortunately, there are multiple types of charts available, including not only WBS charts but also network and Gantt charts. Another important element is the task sheet, in which tasks are listed.

The program has a modern interface that resembles those of Microsoft Office tools like Word and Excel. The use of ribbons allows you to go straight to the desired function. You can start by defining tasks. Depending on the type of chart, you need to define such task properties as dates, costs, duration, etc. Moreover, tasks can be organized as a tree, by inserting subtasks, previous tasks, subsequent tasks and summary tasks. Fortunately, the tool is compatible with Microsoft Project and Excel, which means that you can import files generated by those popular tools.

The panel on the left allows you to pick one of the available views, which belong to two basic types: WBS Charts and Task Sheets. While the charts show information as a tree of interrelated tasks, the sheets are similar to tables.

The program comes with other quite useful features. For instance, there is a calendar in which you can schedule activities. Likewise, you can make a list of the resources needed to complete the project and use WBS codes to enhance organizing the project.

Good news is that the tool supports various ways in which you can share your project. So, besides printing, it can exported in various formats, including project files (WBS, XML and MPX), Word documents, Excel sheets, webpages (HTML) as well as pictures (JPG, TIF, BMP and PNG). Likewise, it can import and export OLE objects, which means that you can simply copy the elements from one program and paste them into another.

To conclude, WBS Schedule Pro can come in extremely handy when you are designing a project, as the use of diagrams certainly helps you visualize the structure of the project more clearly. As most products designed for businesses, this one may seem somewhat pricey. In this respect, it is good to know that licenses are purchased in batches. For your convenience, the program can be tried for 30 days with a limit of 50 tasks per chart.