The most-read IT project management posts on TechRepublic in 2012 feature Microsoft Project 2010 tutorials, tips on using visuals in a project requirements document, and more.

1. Create the timeline view in Microsoft Project 2010

If you use PowerPoint or Visio to create milestone reports, find out how using Microsoft Project 2010 Timeline View instead can save you time and a lot of hassle.

2. Why critical path is critical to project management

If the PMBK definition of critical path has you puzzled, read Dr. Andrew Makar’s explanation of this project methodology in real-world terms.

3. Manual vs. autoscheduled tasks in Microsoft Project 2010

Microsoft Project 2010 gives you the option of scheduling tasks manually or letting Project use the scheduling engine. Andy Makar explores these options for project managers.

4. Free project collaboration tools that rock

Andrew Makar explains why these three project collaboration tools are worth a look: Cohuman, Asana, and Trello.

5. Three strengths of a technical project manager

TechRepublic contributing writer Shannon Kalvar lists the three considerable and unexpected strengths a skilled IT manager can leverage to accelerate project completion and improve project quality.

6. View the critical path in Microsoft Project

Learn how to view the critical path in Microsoft Project and interpret the data by reading this tutorial by Dr. Andrew Makar.

7. Microsoft Project Professional 2013 new features preview

After using the Microsoft Project Professional 2013 Preview, Will Kelly reports back on a handful of appealing new features and tools.

8. How to use Microsoft Project 2010’s rule-based resource leveling

Learn how to set up your project schedule to use a manual rule-based resource leveling technique in Microsoft Project 2010 that minimizes resource leveling headaches.

9. Use Visio 2010 for visualizing and presenting project schedules

Learn how to create a project timeline in Microsoft Visio 2010, import project schedule data into a Visio timeline, create a WBS with Visio, and get your diagram into a presentation or document.

10. Keys to using visuals in a project requirements document

Pictures are worth a thousand words, but be sure to put words in them, too. Find out what other tips consultant Ken Hardin offers about using visuals in a project document.

Thanks to our IT project management contributing writers and readers for your contributions this year. Let us know what topics you’d like to see cover here in 2013.