DotProject is an easy to use, robust open source project management software that you can use to organize project teams and tasks on your web site. If you are looking for an easy to install project management system for your site, DotProject offers the perfect solution. This is a software that I have personally fallen in love with - it is so versatile and usable, it's a software that every web designer needs! It is useful for organizing your web design project tasks and contacts, and so on. But I have also used it for other projects: just recently, to plan a national Conference in Nursing Informatics,
and an Honor Society fall dinner for a group I belong to. I can't recommend it enough, and it is free!


TAKING A LOOK FIRST & INSTALLATION

To view the program in action, the main DotProject site features a working demo of the software that you can access online at http://www.dotproject.net/demo/ (User and password are admin). The interface that you can view within the software is supported by efficient PhP, Apache and MySQL databases, which can store all of the tasks, files, resources, contact names,. company profiles, tickets, calendar items, start and completion dates (which the software monitors), and meeting reminders that are commonly used in a variety of professional projects. There is also a forum and email areas you can use to set up instant online communication between members as well.


THE ADMINISTRATION AREA

Within the administration area you can set up the users who will be granted access to your project area. Roles and duties can easily be assigned to each user so that you can protect files that should not be viewable by all, and allow easy access to whatever you want each user to be able to see or use.

Files can be uploaded in a variety of formats and are organized according to project, company, tasks, and so on. Tasks can also be prioritized, and organized according to company, project, and user defined. To help you to learn how to work with the various categories and abilities within the software, the main site features a robust online "course" that walks you through each of the steps in setting up the software and using each feature at:
http://training.dotproject.net/



Click to see Enlarged Screenshot of Admin Area

A SHINING STAR IN OPEN SOURCE

You can also download alternate skins for this software from http://www.w8.se/dotproject/themes, This program really is a great application that will please many web site owners looking for a reliable and professional looking project management system for their site . The main site also offers a lively support forum where you can ask questions and find answers at http://forums.dotproject.net/ The authors deserve both kudos and a reward for such an amazing program. especially since they are offering it free, as open source software. To sum the program up in their own words, the authors state, "dotProject is a volunteer supported Project Management application. There is no "company" behind this project, it is managed, maintained, developed and supported by a volunteer group and by the users themselves. The software is free to anyone who would like to download it. Day to day support is provided free by volunteers."