Background
One minor issue I have with Microsoft Project is that it places the split bar to the right of the Resource Names column by default every time I launch the software and create a new blank project, such as shown in Figure 1. I would prefer that the software dock the split bar on the right edge of the Duration column instead, so that I do not need to manually set the split bar location every time I create a new blank project.
Figure 1: Split bar in the wrong location
Solution
To place the split bar in a specific location for every new blank project you create, complete the following steps:
- Launch Microsoft Project and create a new blank project.
- Apply the Gantt Chart view, if not already applied.
- Drag the split bar in the location where you want to see it in every new blank project, such as docked on the right side of the Duration column.
- On the Info page of the Backstage, click the Organizer button to display the Organizer dialog.
- On the View page of the Organizer dialog, select the Gantt Chart item on the right side of the dialog (in the active project), and then click the << Copy button to copy the view to the left side of the dialog (into the Global.mpt file).
Figure 2: Organizer dialog
- When prompted in a confirmation dialog about overwriting the Gantt Chart view in the Global.mpt file, such as shown in Figure 3, click the Yes button.
Figure 3: Table Definition dialog – Set the Date Format option
- Click the Close button to close the Organizer dialog.
- Press the Escape key on your computer keyboard to exit the Backstage.
The next time you create a new blank project, Microsoft Project will dock the split bar exactly where you want to see it. For example, Figure 4 shows a new blank project I created after completing the preceding set of steps. Notice that the software correctly docked the split bar on the right edge of the Duration column as I wanted.
Figure 4: Split bar docked in correct location
