Edit Phase Arrows, Task Bars and Milestones

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. Doing so, you can also select multiple objects at once while pressing Ctrl and drag them to a new position.

Task bars can also be dragged outside of the Gantt chart area. At least one day of the task bar 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.

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”).

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.

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.

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)).

To do so, expand the drop-down menu and select your preferred option.

If you choose to apply a custom date format, a dialog box opens (Figure 5, “Custom Date Format for Task Bar”).

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.

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 6, “Apply Task Bar Date Format to All Elements”).

Then, click on the button OK.

Your settings are applied to your chart.

To change the color of a task bar, select the task bar and click on the button Colors (Figure 7, “Button Colors for Task”). Then, select a color from the color picker.

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 8, “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 9, “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 10, “Button Bars for Task”).

To delete a task bar, select the task bar and click on the button Delete (Figure 11, “Button Delete for Task”).

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 objects at once while pressing Ctrl 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.

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

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 12, “Button Label for Milestone”).

Alternatively, you can change the date for a milestone by clicking on the button Date Settings (Figure 13, “Button Date Settings for Milestone”).

A dialog box opens.

Here, either type in the date in the input field (Figure 14, “Date Settings for Milestone” (1)) or select a date from the calendar (Figure 14, “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 14, “Date Settings for Milestone” (3)).

You can also change the date format in the upper right corner (Figure 14, “Date Settings for Milestone” (4)).

To do so, expand the drop-down menu and select your preferred option.

If you choose to apply a custom date format, a dialog box opens (Figure 15, “Custom Date Format for Milestone”).

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.

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 16, “Apply Milestone Date Format to All Elements”).

Then, click on the button OK.

Your settings are applied to your chart.

To change the color of a milestone, select the milestone and click on the button Colors (Figure 17, “Button Colors for Milestone”). Then, select a color from the color picker.

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 18, “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 19, “Button Marker Style for Milestone”).

To delete a milestone, select the milestone and click on the button Delete (Figure 20, “Button Delete for Milestone”).

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 21, “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 22, “Button Date format for Phase Arrow”).

If you choose to apply a custom date format, a dialog box opens (Figure 23, “Custom Date Format for Phase Arrow”).

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.

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 24, “Button Colors for Phase Arrow”). Then, select a color from the color picker.

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 25, “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 26, “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.

If you want to use the same styling for all task bars or all milestones, you can use the first object of this type as a reference.

To do so, insert the object into the Gantt chart and style it according to your requirements.

Then, insert other objects of that type.

All objects of the same type that you insert behind the one that you have styled as a reference are styled the same way.

All common properties such as fill color, pattern, border color, label position and label styling are applied on these objects.

For labels, the date format is also applied. Free text is not transferred.