# Start a New Project File

When you start Microsoft Project, the Welcome dialog box appears. You can either click an option or close the dialog box and work on the project file.

Before you can fill a museum’s galleries with clocks, you have to build the exhibit space. And before you can create a project plan in Microsoft Project, you have to start a new project file. Like a museum consisting of galleries and side rooms ready to be filled with paintings, sculptures, and clockwork exhibits, a new project file consists of fields and views ready to be filled with information about your project’s tasks, resources, and assignments.

To start a new project file

1. Click New .
2. Enter a start or finish date.
   - To enter a start date, type the date on which you want to start your project in the Start date box.
   - To enter a finish date, click Project Finish Date in the Schedule from box, and then type a finish date from which to schedule your project in the Finish date box.

An empty project file appears. By default, the Gantt Chart view is displayed.

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