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Calculated field

A field in which the value is determined by Microsoft Project based on information in other fields. Microsoft Project recalculates the value either automatically or when you specify, depending on the settings that you choose.

Calculated filter

A filter that compares the values in two fields for the same task or resource. For example, the Cost Overbudget filter compares baseline costs to currently scheduled costs and then displays or highlights only tasks whose scheduled costs are higher than their baseline costs.

Collapsing

In an outline, hiding the tasks that are subordinate to summary tasks, leaving only the summary tasks visible. This shows only the major phases of your project. You can also expand and collapse resources in the Resource Usage view.

Consolidated file

A file that contains one or more inserted project files. The inserted projects can retain links to their source projects so that any changes to the inserted projects in the consolidated file are passed on to the source file, and vice versa.

Constraint

A restriction or limitation you set on the start or finish date of a task. For example, you can specify that a task must start on a particular date or finish no later than a particular date. See inflexible constraint, flexible constraint.

Contour

The shape of how scheduled work for an assignment is distributed across time. With a contour, you can better control how Microsoft Project schedules the work of a resource assigned to a task. Contour examples include flat, back-loaded, front-loaded, bell, and turtle.

Cost

The total scheduled cost for a task, resource, or resource assignment or for an entire project. Sometimes referred to as current cost.

Cost rate table

A table containing different rates for a resource, such as the rates for different kinds of tasks and for increases or decreases in salary. Microsoft Project uses these rates to calculate costs for tasks.

Criteria

In a filter, the instructions that specify which tasks or resources should be displayed when the filter is applied. For example, the criterion for the filter Completed Tasks is any task whose percent complete value is 100 percent.

Critical path

The series of tasks that must be completed on schedule for a project to finish on schedule. Each task on the critical path is a critical task.

Critical task

A task that must finish on time for the entire project to finish on time. If a critical task is delayed, the project completion date is also delayed. By default, a critical task has zero slack time. A series of critical tasks makes up a project’s critical path.

Current date line

The dotted vertical line in the chart portion of a Gantt Chart or Resource Graph view indicating the current date.

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