Tips for changing your schedule to look like the "Makeover" schedule

Answer:

Here's the schedule to which you are referring:

Following are tips for converting a schedule.  Below the article, download the schedules and view other makeover options.

Tip: While converting a schedule to a "no columns" schedule, we recommend that you leave a column on the schedule.  Then, when done making changes, "hide" the column.  (It is easier to make extensive changes to a schedule when the schedule has columns.)  

1. Using the (arrow tool), click the current project title.  The toolbar changes to Current Object: Title.

2. In the Background Color section, click the top color square and pick a color.

3. In the Title Text Settings section, Insert extra space under title.

4. In the Border and Shadow section, for Border Type, choose Width of Schedule.

5. In the Border and Shadow section, for Shadow, choose Small and choose a color.

1. In the toolbox, double-click any symbol which you are not using.

2. On the Symbol Shape tab, for Standard Shapes choose 28 (blank/null).

3. For the symbol usage (Normal, Comment, Status, Baseline), choose Comment.

4. On the Text and Date Properties tab choose Hide for Date Placement and Middle Right for Text Placement.

5. Using the large in the toolbox, select the symbol which you created.

6. Add the symbol to the first line of the schedule, close to the start date of your schedule.

7. Repeat for other sections on your schedule.  To line them up just be sure the symbols are all on the same date.

        For each swim-lane section, do this:

1. Using the (arrow tool), click once in the column for the first task row to be colored.

2. Hold down the Shift key and click once in the column for the last task row to be colored that is in the same group.

3. The toolbar will change to Current Object: Task Row. On the toolbar, choose More Task Row Options and then Gridline/Shade.

4. Click the Shading tab.

5. Apply New Selections to all three sections.

6. Under Left Columns, Shade the task row.

7. Select a Shade Color, and other options for shading.

8. Click OK.

Set up the horizontal bar in the toolbox:

1. In the toolbox, double-click the horizontal bar you are currently using for your tasks.

2. For Bar Type, choose the second one

3. Choose colors for Fill Color, Shadow Color and Line Color.  On our example we used a dark orange for Fill Color and Line Color and a lighter orange for the Shadow Color.

4. For Type of Effect choose Fade to Center(V).  For Target Color, we used a light yellow.

5. Your Sample bar might look something like this:

Set the text to center on the bar

1. In the toolbox, double-click the symbol which you use for the start date of your tasks.

2. For Symbol Shapes, choose 28 (null).

3. On the Text and Date Properties tab, for Date Placement choose Hide.

4. Also on the Text and Date Properties tab, for Text Placement choose Middle and Bar.

Add the text to the bars

1. On your schedule, use the (Arrow tool) to select the start date symbol for one of your tasks.  The toolbar changes to Current Object: Symbol

2. In the toolbar, on the Text tab, for Line 1: enter the text you would like to see on the bar.

3. Press the Apply Text Changes button (on the toolbar).  The text should now appear on the bar.  (Repeat for other tasks)

Note:  If you would like to have the bars in each section have their own colors as we show in our example, you can either customize the individual bar color or you can set up multiple bars (each with their own colors) in your toolbox.  The second method will save time!

Set up the pie symbol in the toolbox:

1. In the toolbox, double-click any unused symbol.

2. Set the Symbol Shape to 97 (the special pie symbol.)

3. From the list (Normal, Baseline, Comment, Status), choose Comment Symbol.

4. On the Color/Pattern/Size tab, specify a color for Fill Color and for After Status Color.  They should be the same color.

5. Using the large in the toolbox, select the symbol which you created.

Set up the pie symbol in the toolbox:

1. In the toolbox, double-click any unused symbol.

2. Set the Symbol Shape to 97.

3. Choose Comment Symbol.

4. On the Color/Pattern/Size tab, specify a color for Fill Color and for After Status Color.  They should be the same color.

Add the pie symbol to a task line:

1. Click the  large in the toolbox.

2. Also in the toolbox, click once on the pie symbol you just created.

3. Add the symbol to one of your task rows.

4. The pie symbol should reflect the % complete of that task.

Display the % complete as text:

1. Use the (Arrow tool) to select the pie symbol that is on your schedule.  The toolbar changes to Current Object: Symbol.

2. In the toolbar, For Text Placement, choose Middle and Right.

3. Also in the toolbar, in the Text tab, for Line 1: enter &percentcomplete.

4. Press the Apply Text Changes button (on the toolbar).  The % complete should now appear as text.

Copy the % complete symbol to other task rows:

1. Use the (Arrow tool) to select the pie symbol that is on your schedule.  

2. Hold down the Ctrl key on the keyboard.

3. Drag the pie symbol to another task row.

4. Repeat for other tasks which you would like to show the percent complete symbol.

Change any symbol on the schedule:

1. Double-click the symbol in the toolbox.

2. Change the Symbol Shape.  For example, the box symbol is # 63

Original schedule:  Version 2015  Version 2017

Makeover #1:   Version 2015  Version 2017

Makeover #2:   Version 2015  Version 2017

Makeover #3:   Version 2015  Version 2017

Makeover #4:   Version 2015  Version 2017