Edit Phase Arrows, Task Bars and Milestones

Available from Version: - 

Operating System: Windows 

empower® Add-in: Charts

If you have added tasks and milestone, phase arrows appear on the phase level.

All of these Gantt objects can be edited according to your needs.

You can edit the objects' color, pattern, shape, labels and much more.

Edit Task Bars

Whenever you hover over a task bar, you can view information about the start, end and duration of the task.

You can drag and drop a task to any position within the Gantt chart area. Doing so, you can also select multiple task bars at once and drag them to a new position.

If you press Shift on the first and last object you want to move, all objects in between will be moved and the margins between all objects are kept.

In addition, you can drag the endpoint of a task bar to enlarge or to shrink it.

If two task bars overlap, they are stacked automatically, so both bars are visible (Figure 1, “Stacked Task Bars”).

Figure 1. Stacked Task Bars

Stacked Task Bars

To add a label to the task bar, select the task bar and click on the button Label (Figure 2, “Button Label for Task”).

The label is added in the middle of the task bar. You can move the label to your preferred position. To do so, drag and drop the label.

If you move a task bar, its label is moved as well.

To remove a label from a task bar, select the task bar and click on the button Label again.

Figure 2. Button Label for Task

Button Label for Task

Alternatively, you can change the time span for a task by clicking on the button Date Settings (Figure 3, “Button Date Settings for Task”).

A dialog box opens.

Figure 3. Button Date Settings for Task

Button Date Settings for Task

Here, either type in the dates in the input fields (Figure 4, “Date Settings for Tasks” (1)) or select a time span from the calendar (Figure 4, “Date Settings for Tasks” (2)).

You can also change the date format in the upper right corner (Figure 4, “Date Settings for Tasks” (3)).

If you have finished, click on the button OK.

Figure 4. Date Settings for Tasks

Date Settings for Tasks

To change the color of a task bar, select the task bar and click on the button Colors (Figure 5, “Button Colors for Task”). Then, select a color form the color picker.

Figure 5. Button Colors for Task

Button Colors for Task

In addition, you can display the task bar in a certain pattern. To do so, select the task bar, click on the button Pattern and select the pattern you want to use (Figure 6, “Button Pattern for Task”).

Figure 6. Button Pattern for Task

Button Pattern for Task

If you want to display the task bar transparently and with a dashed line, click on the button Toggle Dashed (Figure 7, “Button Toggle Dashed for Task”).

Figure 7. Button Toggle Dashed for Task

Button Toggle Dashed for Task

To adjust the task bar's shape, click on the button Bars and select the shape you want to use (Figure 8, “Button Bars for Task”).

Figure 8. Button Bars for Task

Button Bars for Task

To delete a task bar, select the task bar and click on the button Delete (Figure 9, “Button Delete for Task”).

Figure 9. Button Delete for Task

Button Delete for Task

Note

All of these changes can also be applied on multiple task bars at once. To do so, select the respective task bars at once and apply the formatting settings.

Note

You can move the task bars right-angled by pressing Shift.

In addition, all objects dock to each other when moving by default, unless you press Alt. Objects can be moved freely by pressing Alt or using the cursor keys.

You can also select a task and press Ctrl to copy the task bar and move the copy to your preferred position.

Note

For further information regarding custom colors, see Use Custom Colors.

Edit Milestones

Whenever you hover over a milestone, you can view information about the milestone's date.

You can drag and drop a milestone to any position within the Gantt chart area. Doing so, you can also select multiple milestones at once and drag them to a new position.

If you press Shift on the first and last object you want to move, all objects in between will be moved and the margins between all objects are kept.

Milestones are inserted with a label by default.

The label is added next to the milestone. You can move the label to your preferred position. To do so, drag and drop the label.

If you move a milestone, its label is moved as well.

To remove a label from a milestone, select the milestone and click on the button Label (Figure 10, “Button Label for Milestone”).

Figure 10. Button Label for Milestone

Button Label for Milestone

Alternatively, you can change the date for a milestone by clicking on the button Date Settings (Figure 11, “Button Date Settings for Milestone”).

A dialog box opens.

Figure 11. Button Date Settings for Milestone

Button Date Settings for Milestone

Here, either type in the date in the input field (Figure 12, “Date Settings for Milestone” (1)) or select a date from the calendar (Figure 12, “Date Settings for Milestone” (2)).

In addition, you can decide if the milestone should be displayed at the start, in the middle or at the end of the day (Figure 12, “Date Settings for Milestone” (3)).

You can also change the date format in the upper right corner (Figure 12, “Date Settings for Milestone” (4)).

If you have finished, click on the button OK.

Figure 12. Date Settings for Milestone

Date Settings for Milestone

To change the color of a milestone, select the milestone and click on the button Colors (Figure 13, “Button Colors for Milestone”). Then, select a color form the color picker.

Figure 13. Button Colors for Milestone

Button Colors for Milestone

In addition, you can display the milestone in a certain pattern. To do so, select the milestone, click on the button Pattern and select the pattern you want to use (Figure 14, “Button Pattern for Milestone”).

Figure 14. Button Pattern for Milestone

Button Pattern for Milestone

To adjust the milestone's shape, click on the button Marker Style and select the shape you want to use (Figure 15, “Button Marker Style for Milestone”).

Figure 15. Button Marker Style for Milestone

Button Marker Style for Milestone

To delete a milestone, select the milestone and click on the button Delete (Figure 16, “Button Delete for Milestone”).

Figure 16. Button Delete for Milestone

Button Delete for Milestone

Note

All of these changes can also be applied on multiple milestones at once. To do so, select the milestones and apply the formatting settings.

Note

You can move the milestones right-angled by pressing Shift.

In addition, all objects dock to each other when moving by default, unless you press Alt. Objects can be moved freely by pressing Alt or using the cursor keys.

You can also select a milestone and press Ctrl to copy the milestone and move the copy to your preferred position.

Note

For further information regarding custom colors, see Use Custom Colors.

Edit Phase Arrows

Phase arrows are inserted with a label by default.

The label is added on the left inside of the phase arrow. You can move the label to your preferred position. To do so, drag and drop the label.

If the position of the phase arrow changes due to changes within the phase, the label position is adjusted accordingly.

To remove a label from a phase arrow, select the phase arrow and click on the button Label (Figure 17, “Button Label for Phase Arrow”).

Figure 17. Button Label for Phase Arrow

Button Label for Phase Arrow

To change the date format of the phase arrow label, click on the button Date Format and choose your preferred format (Figure 18, “Button Date format for Phase Arrow”).

Figure 18. Button Date format for Phase Arrow

Button Date format for Phase Arrow

If one of your tasks or milestones is outside of the displayed date area, you can switch on the option Display Overflow Arrows under Properties in the action bar.

To change the color of a phase arrow, select the phase arrow and click on the button Colors (Figure 19, “Button Colors for Phase Arrow”). Then, select a color form the color picker.

Figure 19. Button Colors for Phase Arrow

Button Colors for Phase Arrow

In addition, you can display the phase arrow in a certain pattern. To do so, select the phase arrow, click on the button Pattern and select the pattern you want to use (Figure 20, “Button Pattern for Phase Arrow”).

Figure 20. Button Pattern for Phase Arrow

Button Pattern for Phase Arrow

To adjust the phase arrows' shape, click on the button Bars and select the shape you want to use (Figure 21, “Button Bars for Phase Arrow”).

Figure 21. Button Bars for Phase Arrow

Button Bars for Phase Arrow

If you are displaying phases, you cannot delete the generated phase arrows. However, you can hide the phases via the button Properties in the action bar.

Note

All of these changes can also be applied on multiple phase arrows at once. To do so, select the phase arrows and apply the formatting settings.

Note

For further information regarding the Gantt chart properties, see Edit Gantt Chart Properties.

For further information regarding custom colors, see Use Custom Colors.

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