Microsoft Project 2013: The Missing Manual

Setting Up a Custom WBS Code

The WBS codes built into Project are simple outline codes with a number for each level in the outline hierarchy. For instance, a WBS code of 2.1.3 might represent the second phase of the project, the first summary task in that phase, and the third work package for that summary task. If your organization uses custom codes, you can build a tailored numbering system—called a code mask—to specify each level of your WBS code. For example, if you use abbreviations for phases, numbers for summary tasks, and letters for work packages, a customized WBS for the design phase of a project might look like this: Dsn.1.a.

To define a custom WBS code, follow these steps:

1. On the Project tab, click WBS→Define Code.

   The WBS Code Definition dialog box appears. Without a custom WBS code, Project automatically assigns WBS codes using numbers for each outline level with a period as a separator. (The fields in this dialog box don’t show this out-of-the-box format. The fields remain empty unless you specify a custom scheme for your WBS codes.)

   Note

   If you assemble several projects into a single master project (Managing Multiple Projects), you can make WBS codes unique for each project, even if they use the same code mask. If you work with multiple projects, set up the code mask for a new project before you get too deep into defining the project’s tasks. That way you don’t have to renumber all the tasks later. In the WBS Code Definition dialog box’s Project Code Prefix field, type ...