Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.

Most projects begin their lives outside of Microsoft Project, often as a simple task list in another program. When you’re ready to get started, you can copy a task list in Word, Outlook, or PowerPoint and paste it into Project without losing the formatting or outline structure. You can also copy and paste from Project, and copy and paste pictures in Project.

Copy a task list in Word, Outlook, or PowerPoint

For example, your boss might send you a draft plan in Word that looks like this:

Tasks outlined in Microsoft Word image

  1. In Word, Outlook, or PowerPoint, select the task list you want to copy to your new project, and press Ctrl+C.

    Note: Make sure to use bullets or tabs to show the relationships between tasks.

  2. In Project, select File > New > New Project to create a new project.

  3. Select the first row in the Task Name column.

  4. Select Task > Paste, or press Ctrl+V.

    Paste button on the Task tab

    The tasks appear in Project with the same font, color, and outline structure they had in Word.

    Image of a task list outline imported from Microsoft Word

Project converts the bulleted list into summary tasks and subtasks, which gives you a head start on organizing your project. From here, there are several ways to go:

Copy and paste from Project

Need to send a quick status? Copy data from Project and paste it into an Outlook, Word, or any Office program. The formatting you created in Project, including the column headings, comes over with it.

  1. In Project, select the data you want from the table section of any view.

  2. Click Task > Copy, or press Ctrl+C.

    Copy button on the Task tab

  3. Open the other program and paste the data. (In most cases, click Home > Paste or press Ctrl+V.)

If you paste into Word or Outlook, you can use all the power of the table tools in Office to format the table the way you want. In programs like PowerPoint, Visio, and Publisher, the table becomes an image you can modify.

Top of Page

Copy and paste pictures

Sometimes your reports need more flair than a table of data provides. While you can’t copy and paste the pictures in a Gantt Chart, Network Diagram, or Calendar, Project does provide several ways to share visual information from your plan:

  • Draw a timeline    Add a timeline of project highlights to any view, and then drop it into a status report, email it to your team, or add it to a PowerPoint slide.

  • Use an OfficeArt report    You can use Project to create vibrant reports — including charts, tables, and links — of whatever project info you want.

  • Make a PDF Adjust the view so you see the parts you want to share, and then save the project as a PDF file.

  • Copy as a picture Select Task > Copy > Copy Picture, and then choose your settings to create a GIF image you can use in other programs.

Top of Page

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×