Use Markers

Available from Version: -

Operating System: Windows

empower® Add-in: Charts

In a Gantt chart, use different markers to display certain events and circumstances.

The following options are available:

  • Holidays – Display relevant holidays in your chart.

  • Date Line – Display a vertical line for a specific date.

  • Highlight – Highlight a specific time span in your chart.

  • Delay – Display a delay for a time span in your chart.

  • Connector Line – Connect tasks and milestones using connector lines.

You can access these options via the button Markers in the action bar (Figure 1, “Button Markers”).

Figure 1. Button Markers

Button Markers

Note

Alternatively, you can access the options Add Highlight, Add Date Line and Add Connector by clicking into the empty calendar area (Figure 2, “Options in Context Menu”).

Figure 2. Options in Context Menu

Options in Context Menu

Add Holidays

To add holidays to your Gantt chart, follow the following steps:

  1. In the action bar, click on the button Markers.

    A drop-down menu opens.

  1. Choose the option Holidays (Figure 3, “Option Holidays”).

    A dialog box opens.

Figure 3. Option Holidays

Option Holidays

  1. To expand the options for a country, click on the little arrow symbol next to the country.

  2. Then, choose the regions whose holidays you want to add.

    You can add holidays of multiple regions and multiple countries at the same time.

  3. Click on the button Insert (Figure 4, “Choose Holidays”).

Figure 4. Choose Holidays

Choose Holidays

The holidays you have selected are now shown in your Gantt chart.

A label is automatically added to the holiday. You can edit the label according to your needs.

To edit the holiday formatting, click on the holiday. In the menu, you can hide the label, choose a new time span and change the fill color (Figure 5, “Editing Options for Holidays”).

Alternatively, you can move the holiday to another date using drag & drop.

Holidays can also be dragged outside of the Gantt chart area. At least one day of the holidays must remain in the Gantt chart area.

If you drag multiple objects outside of the chart area, part of these objects can also be dragged out of the Gantt chart area completely. Only one day of the outermost object must remain in the Gantt chart area.

To delete a holiday marker from the chart, click on the button Delete.

Figure 5. Editing Options for Holidays

Editing Options for Holidays

Manage Holidays

You can always add, edit and delete personalized holiday categories. For example, you could add holidays for another country or specific holidays for your company.

To add a new holiday category, follow the following steps:

  1. In the dialog box, click on the pen symbol (Figure 6, “Pen Symbol for Holidays”).

    A dialog box opens.

Figure 6. Pen Symbol for Holidays

Pen Symbol for Holidays

  1. Click on the button New Country (Figure 7, “Button New Country”).

    A folder is added to the list.

  2. Adjust the folder name.

Figure 7. Button New Country

Button New Country

  1. Select the new folder in the folder tree on the left-hand side.

  2. Click on the button New Calendar (Figure 8, “Button New Calendar”).

    A folder is added.

  3. Adjust the folder name.

Figure 8. Button New Calendar

Button New Calendar

  1. Select the new folder in the folder tree on the left-hand side.

  2. Click on the button New Entry (Figure 9, “Button New Entry”).

    A new entry is added.

Figure 9. Button New Entry

Button New Entry

  1. Select the new entry in the folder tree on the left-hand side.

  2. Here, adjust the entry name (Figure 10, “Edit Entry” (1)).

  3. Then, either select the start and end date in the calendar or type them into the input fields (Figure 10, “Edit Entry” (2)).

  4. To save your new entry, click on the button Save (Figure 10, “Edit Entry” (3)).

Figure 10. Edit Entry

Edit Entry

You can always edit an entry by choosing it from the list and clicking on the button Edit (Figure 11, “Button Edit”).

Figure 11. Button Edit

Button Edit

To delete an entry, choose its folder and select the entry from the list.

Then, click on the button Delete (Figure 12, “Button Delete for Entry”).

Figure 12. Button Delete for Entry

Button Delete for Entry

To delete a calendar folder, select its top-level folder from the folder tree on the left-hand side and then choose the calendar folder from the list.

Then, click on the button Delete (Figure 13, “Button Delete for Calendar Folder”).

Figure 13. Button Delete for Calendar Folder

Button Delete for Calendar Folder

To delete a whole country folder, navigate to the section Holidays and select it from the folder overview.

Then, click on the button Delete (Figure 14, “Button Delete for Country Folder”).

Figure 14. Button Delete for Country Folder

Button Delete for Country Folder

If you delete a folder or an entry, you will be asked to confirm the process. To confirm, click on the button Yes (Figure 15, “Deletion Confirmation”).

Figure 15. Deletion Confirmation

Deletion Confirmation

If you have created a holiday which you want to share with other colleagues, you can export the folder and forward it.

To do so, follow the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the section Holidays.

  2. In the folder overview, choose the folder you want to share.

  3. Click on the button Export (Figure 16, “Button Export”).

  4. Choose a location to save the folder.

    The file will be saved in .xml format. It contains all entries from the folder.

Figure 16. Button Export

Button Export

To import holidays you have received from another colleague, follow the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the section Holidays.

  2. Click on the button Import (Figure 17, “Button Import”).

  3. Find the file you want to import and click on the button Open.

    The new folder will be displayed in your folder overview.

Figure 17. Button Import

Button Import

Note

The existing calendars are already complete and they will be updated by empower if needed.

They cannot be deleted or edited.

Important

You need to add separate holiday entries for each holiday type and for each year.

Use Date Lines

Date lines can be used to mark a date in your project calendar. For example, you can add a date line to show that a specific task or milestone should be completed on that date.

To add a date line, follow the following steps:

  1. In the action bar, click on the button Markers.

    A drop-down menu opens.

  2. Choose the option Date Line (Figure 18, “Option Date Line”).

Figure 18. Option Date Line

Option Date Line

  1. Either type in a date into the input field or click on the calendar symbol to select it from the calendar (Figure 19, “Choose Date for Date Line”).

  2. Then, click on the button OK.

    A dashed line will be added to the project plan.

Figure 19. Choose Date for Date Line

Choose Date for Date Line

A label is automatically added to the date line. You can edit the label according to your needs.

To edit the line formatting and settings, click on the date line.

In the menu, you can change the line color, disable the label and change the date (Figure 20, “Editing Options for Date Line”).

To hide the label, click on the button Label. To unhide the label, click on the same button again.

To delete a date line, select it and click on the button Delete.

Figure 20. Editing Options for Date Line

Editing Options for Date Line

If you click on the button Date Settings to change the date, a dialog box opens.

In this dialog box, select the date on which you want to insert the date line (Figure 21, “Date Settings for Date Line” (1)).

Alternatively, type in the date into the input field for Date (Figure 21, “Date Settings for Date Line” (2)).

Here, you can also choose at which position in the day the date line should be inserted. To do so, expand the drop-down menu for Position within the day and select your preferred option (Figure 21, “Date Settings for Date Line” (3)).

In addition, you can change the date format for the date line label.

To do so, expand the drop-down menu and select your preferred option (Figure 21, “Date Settings for Date Line” (4)).

Figure 21. Date Settings for Date Line

Date Settings for Date Line

If you choose to apply a custom date format, a dialog box opens (Figure 22, “Custom Date Format for Date Line”).

Here, either choose a format from the list or enter a new one into the input field.

A preview is displayed above the input field.

Then, click on the button OK.

Figure 22. Custom Date Format for Date Line

Custom Date Format for Date Line

If you want to apply the selected date format to all elements in your Gantt chart, tick the checkbox for Apply to All Elements (Figure 23, “Apply Date Line Date Format to All Elements”).

Then, click on the button OK.

Your settings are applied to your chart.

Figure 23. Apply Date Line Date Format to All Elements

Apply Date Line Date Format to All Elements

Alternatively, you can move the date line to another date using drag & drop.

If date lines are moved together with other objects, they can also be dragged out of the Gantt chart area itself.

Use Highlights

Highlights can be used to mark a specific period in the project plan. For example, you could mark when colleagues working on the projects are on vacation.

To add a highlight, follow the following steps:

  1. In the action bar, click on the button Markers.

    A drop-down menu opens.

  2. Choose the option Highlight (Figure 24, “Option Highlight”).

Figure 24. Option Highlight

Option Highlight

  1. Either type in the dates into the input fields or click on the calendar symbols to select them from the calendar (Figure 25, “Choose Dates for Highlight”).

  2. Then, click on the button OK.

    The highlight will be added to the Gantt chart.

Figure 25. Choose Dates for Highlight

Choose Dates for Highlight

A label is automatically added to the highlight. You can edit the label according to your needs.

To edit the highlight formatting, click on the highlight. In the menu, you can change the fill color and the dates. In addition, you have the option to hide the label (Figure 26, “Editing Options for Highlight”).

Figure 26. Editing Options for Highlight

Editing Options for Highlight

If you click on the button Date Settings to change the time span, a dialog box opens.

In this dialog box, select the time span in which you want to insert the highlight (Figure 27, “Date Settings for Highlight” (1)).

Alternatively, type in the dates into the input fields in the upper left corner (Figure 27, “Date Settings for Highlight” (2)).

Figure 27. Date Settings for Highlight

Date Settings for Highlight

Alternatively, you can move the highlight to another date using drag & drop.

Highlights can also be dragged outside of the Gantt chart area. At least one day of the highlight must remain in the Gantt chart area.

If you drag multiple objects outside of the chart area, part of these objects can also be dragged out of the Gantt chart area completely. Only one day of the outermost object must remain in the Gantt chart area.

To delete a highlight, select it and click on the button Delete.

Use Delays

Sometimes, projects may encounter delays. These delays can be marked in the Gantt charts.

To add a delay, follow the following steps:

  1. In the action bar, click on the button Markers.

    A drop-down menu opens.

  2. Choose the option Delay (Figure 28, “Option Delay”).

Figure 28. Option Delay

Option Delay

  1. Either type in the dates into the input fields or click on the calendar symbols to select them from the calendar (Figure 29, “Choose Dates for Delay”).

  2. Then, click on the button OK.

    The delay will be added to the Gantt chart.

Figure 29. Choose Dates for Delay

Choose Dates for Delay

A label is automatically added to the delay. You can edit the label according to your needs.

To edit the delay formatting, click on the delay. In the menu, you can change the fill color and the dates. In addition, you can either hide the label or the whole delay (Figure 30, “Editing Options for Delay”).

Alternatively, you can move the delay to another date using drag & drop.

Delays can also be dragged outside of the Gantt chart area. At least one day of the delay must remain in the Gantt chart area.

If you drag multiple objects outside of the chart area, part of these objects can also be dragged out of the Gantt chart area completely. Only one day of the outermost object must remain in the Gantt chart area.

Figure 30. Editing Options for Delay

Editing Options for Delay

If you choose to hide the delay, the delay is removed from the calendar area and only the arrow underneath the calendar area remains.

To revoke this action, select the hidden delay and click on the eye symbol again.

To delete a delay, select it and click on the button Delete.

Use Connector Lines

Tasks and milestones can be connected using connector lines. This can help to display the dependency between tasks and milestones.

To add connector lines, follow the following steps:

  1. In the action bar, click on the button Markers.

    A drop-down menu opens.

  2. Choose the option Connector Line (Figure 31, “Option Connector Line”).

    In the calendar area, start and end points of tasks and milestones are marked with dots.

Figure 31. Option Connector Line

Option Connector Line

  1. In the calendar area, either click on two dots subsequently to connect them or drag a line from one dot to another (Figure 32, “Draw Connector Line”).

    The connector line will be added between the two dots.

Figure 32. Draw Connector Line

Draw Connector Line

To edit the connector line formatting, click on the connector line. In the menu, you can change the line color and dash style (Figure 33, “Editing Options for Connector Line”).

Figure 33. Editing Options for Connector Line

Editing Options for Connector Line

In addition, you have the option to lock the connector line. This will lock the connected tasks, so if you move one of them, the connected ones will move accordingly.

To do so, select the connector line and click on the button Lock Connector Lines (Figure 34, “Button Lock Connector Lines”).

To unlock the connector line, click on the same button again.

Figure 34. Button Lock Connector Lines

Button Lock Connector Lines

To delete a connector line, select it and click on the button Delete.

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