Questions
The things worth knowing before you open a project file here.
Is it really free?
Yes. There’s no account, no email sign-up, no trial, no ads and nothing to buy. Every tool works fully the first time you open it.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Every tool reads your file inside your browser, and nothing you open is sent anywhere. The site has no accounts, no database and no analytics, and its security settings stop your browser from sending data to any other server. The privacy page shows how to check this yourself in ten seconds, by turning off your Wi-Fi.
Which files work?
Spreadsheets: Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .xlsm, .xlsb), OpenDocument (.ods), and CSV or tab-separated text. Schedules: Microsoft Project XML and Primavera P6 .xer files, or a schedule laid out in a spreadsheet. The Meeting Cost Calculator also reads calendar files (.ics). Each tool page says what it needs, and every tool has a sample to try first.
Can it open my Microsoft Project .mpp file?
Not directly. An .mpp file is Microsoft Project’s own format, which only Project can read. In Project, choose File, Save As, and pick XML Format. That file opens here.
Are these tools certified or endorsed by PMI?
No. Nothing here is affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by PMI or any other body. The tools use the profession’s common methods, such as critical path, earned value and three-point estimating, under their plain names. Each tool page sets out its method, its assumptions and what it does not do, so you can judge it for yourself.
How do I know the numbers are right?
Every figure shows its work: the inputs, the formula and the assumptions sit beside the answer. Before a tool goes live, its arithmetic is checked against worked examples with known answers, and the date it was last checked is at the foot of its page. The methodology page explains how. A good habit with any new tool is to run a project you already know the answer to, and see whether it agrees.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, every page works on a phone. For large schedules and spreadsheets, a computer is more comfortable.
Who runs the site?
The PM Toolbox is built and run by Curt Zilbersher. There’s more on the About page.
Something looks wrong, or there’s a tool I wish existed.
Email hello@thepmtoolbox.com. Please describe the problem rather than attaching your project file, because the whole point is that your files stay with you.