Add a bitmap symbol to the toolbox

Any bitmap can be used as a Milestones symbol. Bitmap symbols must reside in the folder which contains all user-defined symbols (the Symbols folder).

Use a bitmap as a symbol:

1. Copy the bitmap and paste it into the Symbols folder.

   • To find this folder which contains the user-defined symbols, choose Tools | Program Options | Folders. Notice the path as shown next to Symbols(*). For example, the Symbols folder could be the "My Documents" folder.

2. In the toolbox double-click on the symbol which should be replaced with the bitmap symbol.

3. Under User Defined Shapes, choose the bitmap symbol from the list. The list contains all .SYM and .BMP files in the Symbols folder.

 Bitmap symbols must be .BMP files. Use a picture editor, such as Paint, to convert .JPG and other picture formats to the .BMP format.  Also, bitmap symbols should be embedded in the schedule.   Double-click the symbol in the toolbox and   Embed Above Symbol in File.

Embed bitmap symbols

Embedding bitmap symbols is highly recommended.  If the symbols are not embedded in the schedule other people who receive the schedule via e-mail will see a blank where the bitmap symbols are supposed to be.  

Embed a symbol in the schedule

1. In the toolbox double-click on a previously established bitmap symbol.
2. Below the list of User Defined Shapes,  Embed Above Symbol in File.

Export all bitmap symbols

1. In the toolbox double-click on a previously established bitmap symbol.
2. Click the Export all BMP symbols button.

Clipping Symbols

A clipping symbol is used to overcome the problem of some bitmap symbols having a white rectangular background when printed, that overlays the underlying bar and schedule.  Only use a clipping symbol for non-rectangular bitmap symbols.  Also, as clipping symbols do not work with metafiles, don't use a clipping symbol if the schedule will be copied to another application as a metafile.  (OK for bitmaps)

Example of white rectangular background issue:

In this example, a bitmap is used as a symbol. This is how it appears on the screen:

However, when printed, the bitmap's rectangular background appears, as shown below. By creating a clipping symbol, the rectangular background coloring is removed from the printed schedule.

Create a clipping symbol using Milestones symbol maker:

1. Be sure that the bitmap symbol to be clipped has been added to the Toolbox.

2. Choose Tools | Other Tools |   Create or Edit Custom Symbol.

3. Within the Symbol Maker, choose File | Choose Symbol Overlay.

4. Next to Toolbox Symbol, choose the bitmap symbol to be clipped and then choose Select.

5. The bitmap symbol appears (it is not selectable). The purpose now is to trace around the image, cutting away the background so that it does not appear on the printed schedule.

6. Click on the Symbol Maker's add tool .

7. Using the left mouse button, click on a grid point close to the edge of the image. Continue to click on other grid points while tracing around the image. Finish by clicking on the beginning grid point.

8. Once the image has been completely, choose File | Save to Symbol File. Name the symbol and Save.

Apply a clipping symbol to the bitmap symbol

1. In the toolbox, double-click any symbol slot which not in use. Under User Defined Shapes, choose the clipping symbol named in Step 8 above. Click OK.

2. In the toolbox, double-click the bitmap symbol to which the clipping symbol is to be applied. Next to Clipping Symbol for printing, choose the symbol which added to the Toolbox in the previous step.

3. Choose OK.

Clipping symbol example

As shown below, longhorn1.bmp is the original bitmap symbol whose surrounding background was printing as a white rectangle. To remove this white background, the bitmap's image was used as a symbol overlay in the Symbol Maker. After clipping around it and naming the new symbol, that new symbol was added to the Toolbox and selected as the Clipping Symbol for printing. Thus, the longhorn1.bmp symbol will print without the white background because the clipping symbol prevents it.

 Use the built-in Milestones Symbol Maker to create custom symbols.  Symbols created with the symbol maker can be filled, are sizable and work very much like Milestones' built-in symbols.